History of Maliks

In simple terms, a Malik is a tribal leader. Maliks represent tradition of the Assyrians of the north. Maliks were tribal elders who were respected by the peoples of their respective tribes. They were considered intelligent, although illiterate, the Malik would act as mediator between his people and local Governments and officials. Maliks were appointed by the Assyrian Patriarch.

According to Assyrian legend, a man from the family of Nebuchadnezzar, his name Mandu, went out from the city of Assyria. It is not clear from which city. He travels accompanied with four brothers, Barut, Yosip, Bakus and Essi. Mandu has promised that he would settle in a place where they could feed him head and shanks of a sheep. After a long trip Mandu and his brothers arrived at a place named Pachu. (This was the birthplace of ‘Paa – Cha’, an Assyrian dish using tripe or the linings of a sheep’s stomach) A poor man fed them head and shanks of a sheep. Mandu saw that he had reached his destination and decided to stay there and become the head of the town. He chose a good place opposite to the town which now is known as Zara’ish. He built a house for himself here.

One day as Mandu was walking in the forest, he saw four birds. He also saw a black stone and nearby a Church whose door was closed. In his dream on that very same night, he saw the key to the door of the Church and a chandelier buried under the black stone. Next morning he went and picked up the key from under the black stone. He opened the Church and entered into it and prayed. From that day that Church has been a place for worship for all the residents of the town.

One day as Mandu was walking according to his habit, he saw a large cave filled with bones of men. He inquired and was told that men had escaped from Persians and had hid themselves in this cave. The Persians found the cave and lit a fire before the entry into the cave and the men in it were killed. Around the town used to live some pagans who Mandu converted to Christianity. He killed those who refused to accept Christianity. Mandu did not kill known families and ordered them to go and live in a nearby town. They went as ordered. Their descendants still remain but have not increased.

Descendants of Malik Mandu became Maliks who also took the name of Mandu.

During the time of one of the Maliks, Mar Shimon (this was the name of every Assyrian Patriarch) fled from Assyria. The Persians came and captured the entire region. They took Mar Shimon to Persia and permitted him to live in the town of Shinu. When Mar Shimon settled there, he built a large Church. After a long period of time, Malik Mandu rescued Mar Shimon from Persians and took him to the town of Zarnish. From that time for 60 years, the Patriarchs lived in the town of Zarnish. The grave of one of the Patriarchs is in the town’s cemetery.

It is not clear why Mar Shimon left Zarnish and settled in Tirgonia. He later moved to Qochanish which was given to him as a gift by Malik Mandu. Mar Shimon did not stay long in Qochanis because the town was near Gulamarj and was under the rule of a Kurdish Mira. Therefore he was obliged to move to Dizen. Malik Mandu was not pleased that Mar Shimon had left Qochanis. He conferred with the Kurdish Miras of Gulamarj on how he could return Mar Shimon to Qochanis. He went to Dizen and burned Mar Shimon’s house. Later, they collected money and built a house for him and invited him to Qochanis It was in this way Mar Shimon was made to accept the invitation to go and settle in Qochanis.

The chair of Malik Mandu was inherited by Malik Aron. He attacked the Kurdish Khirwat castle, took it and destroyed it. It was a big victory. Malik Aron was followed by another who took the name Mandu. He, also like former Maliks, was a man of war. When there was a friction, Malik Khubyar of the tribe of Baz, attacked the town and killed its inhabitants.

Malik Mandu was followed by Malik Suleiman and during his time the Ottoman Government thought it was necessary to place Government officials in these regions. The Government appointed local Rayis (Chiefs) in each of Gulamarj, Gawar and Shamdinin (Shamsdin). These Rayis were trying in every way to prevent fighting between the Assyrian tribes. Therefore Malik Suleiman and Malik Shlimon who followed him, both had kept peace among the tribes. Malik Shlimon was followed by Malik Warda. They say that he was bribed by Urmar, Chief of a Kurdish tribe, not to help the Assyrian tribes when Kurdish tribes attacked them. The Kurds attacked, plundered and killed and stole cattle. Malik Warda did not interfere to defend the Assyrian tribes that were attacked by Kurds.

Malik Eshu, who followed Malik Warda, attacked Assyrian tribes of Tkhumi and took away 2000 heads of sheep. At this time the tribes of Diz attacked Tkhumi, occupied the lands of Kirsu and put cattle in their planted fields. Malik Eshu attacked the tribes of Diznayi, and took their cattle. He controlled their fields and collected their farming produce for himself.

Malik Eshu was followed by Malik Mirza. Nothing is known about this Malik. During the time of Malik Khalil, who followed Malik Mirza, Kurdish tribes attacked Jilu tribes and took 2000 heads of sheep.Malik Khalil complained to the Turkish government. Later, he took 400 strong men from his tribe and 40 Turkish soldiers and attacked the Kurdish Urmar and forced him to pay Malik Khalil 400 Liras, 682 sheep, 7 mules, 4 cows, some carpet/rugs and other items.

In 1909, Malik Khalil traveled to Europe to collect money. He was dressed in his native clothes and was introduced in the presence of the Pope. He explained to the Pope that he was Malik of Jilu and added that there was no education in his country and requested the Pope’s permission to collect money to open schools. The Pope gave his permission and in a short time he collected 18,000 Manati and returned home where he began to build a school. He again went back to Europe to collect money. It appeared that he was impersonating a Catholic monk in his travels in Austria. As was learned later from the Austrian Consul, the Austrian Government had arrested Malik Khalil as they suspected that he was collecting money in the name of the Church, but keeping it for himself and had requested the Consul to introduce him personally to Austrian Government.

Upper Tyareh Maliks
The first Malik of Upper Tyareh is known as Malik Hormis. During his time, the Khan of Gulamarj, Karem Khan, became chief of the Sodan - Baba. Karem Khan attacked the Assyrians of Upper Tyareh. Malik Hormis and his men fled from the enemy. He found a safe place atop a mountain. They defended themselves for 20 days fighting ceaselessly against the attacking Kurds. After Karem Khan destroyed the villages of Upper Tyareh, he returned to his village. Malik Hormis came down and gathered all the Assyrian men who had escaped from the Kurds and settled in the village of Chamba where Malik Hormis took care of the village until his death. Every year following his death, they worshipped him and on Christmas day all the men and women of Upper Tyareh would assemble at his grave which to them is a Holy place. Here, they would conduct a funeral service. Near his grave, other Maliks that followed him and died are buried.

Little is known about the three Maliks that followed Malik Hormis, Maliks Kanawa, Benyamin and Yona. The most known Malik in this period was Ismail.

All Assyrian villages were again attacked by Kurds this time under the leadership of the Kurdish chief Badr Khan. After a three day battle, Malik Ismail was wounded. He fled to a high mountain and thought that the Kurds could not harm him. Malik Ismail later came down from the mountain near a spring and began talking with Badr Khan. By the end of their talk Badr Khan requested that Malik Ismail accept Islam and if he did he would give him anything he wanted. Malik Ismail angrily answered that he would give him anything he wanted if Badr Khan accepted Christianity. When Badr Khan heard this, he signalled his men to kill him. Malik Ismail was thus killed.

Following Malik Ismail were Maliks Benyamin, Pittu, Gindu and Yaku. There is scarce information surrounding these Maliks. The last Malik was Ismail. He was well educated and could read and write.

Lower Tyareh
The first Malik of Lower Tyareh is considered to have been Odishu, who together with Patriarch Mar Awrahim Khan, had raided the Iranian border plundering and destroying. After one of his victories Mar Awrahim Khan went to Constantinople and received from the Turkish Sultan permission to mint money on the condition that he would build roads in Gulamarj district. Mar Awrahim Khan carried out this condition, partially. The grave of Malik Odishu is in Salabagh. Every year on the second day of Christmas, religious services are held by the family of the Malik and by other families in the village. They come to his grave bringing various kinds of food and place them on Malik Odishu’s grave. The priests would first pray and after the prayers they would sit around the grave and partake of the food. Up to the present day the tribe of Upper Tyareh swears by the grave of Malik Odishu.

Malik Barkhu followed Malik Odishu. During his time the Kurds of Jezira Botan attacked Gulamarj and occupied it. Malik Barkhu joined with the leader of the Kurdish tribe of Artush, in the district of Betleshabab, Shakir, who helped the commander of Gulamarj. They attacked the Kurds of Jezira Botan and expelled them from the borders of Gulamarj.

Malik Barkhu was followed by Malik Odishu II who administered his lands peacefully. Even today his tribe point out to his grave in Salabagh. Malik Odishu II was followed by Malik Daniel. He attacked the leader of Barwar, destroyed the Qumri castle and returned with much treasure. Pleased with the bounty from Barwar, the villagers lived well and in peace for some time. Malik Daniel then proceeded to build some roads which were used for trade.

Malik Daniel was followed by Malik Barkhu. During his time the Kurds of Chal raided his villages and looted Assyrian sheep. Malik Barkhu chased them and recovered the sheep. As he was under the influence of Catholic missionaries, Malik Barkhu became Catholic. For this reason Mar Shimon removed him from the chair of Malik and replaced him with Malik Kashun. Malik Kashun up to 1909, ruled Lower Tyareh tribes.

Maliks Of Tkhumi
The Chief of the Tkhumi tribe was known as Malik Shirinshah, who had come from Nineveh to Tkhumi together with other Assyrians. He saw a Church in a forest and decided to settle near it. When he was settled, he began to fight against the Yezidis who were in that area.

After Shirinshah, came Malik Manu. During the time of Malik Manu, Kurds of Artush attacked the village of Khan and the Yezidis who lived there and killed many of them. The Yezidis were expelled and their lands were confiscated. Later the Artush Kurds began to kill Assyrians who had recently arrived and settled there. Malik Manu fought against them and protected his people. Malik Manu was followed by Malik Oraham who joined with the leader of Gulamarj, Mir Matan, and attacked the Kurds of Badin near Mosul, crushing and dispersing them. Later, the leader of Gulamarj attacked the Kurds of Bardasori of Iran, crushed and looted them.

Malik Oraham was followed by Malik Lachin, who attacked the Kurds of Chalm and Mirza Agha and beat them on the Zab River. He was followed by Malik Dinkha, who organized a force of three thousand men and attacked the Kurds of Artush, crushed them and took rich bounty.

Malik Dinkha was followed by Malik Gewargis, who followed the example of Malik Dinkha and attacked the tribes of Artush. Malik Gewargis was still alive in 1909 when missionaries visited the land. He attacked the tribes of Artush several times and captured a large number of cattle. As he became emboldened by his victories against the Artush tribes, he attacked the head of Urmar, Satu Agha who had stolen two thousand sheep from Assyrians and recovered them all.

The clans of Maliks in the north are divided into five families which consist of about seventy clans. It was therefore decided that the chair of Malik should be inherited, but every three years, the Malik must be elected from one of the families most qualified to be Malik.

Maliks of Baz
It is said that the tribe of Baznayeh had fled from the Assyrian cities and settled in Shiwala, a town in the Artush district. They lived there a number of centuries and were constantly attacked by Kurds who wanted to settle in the district of Baz, named after the name of the Assyrian tribe.

The earliest Malik of Baznayeh whose memory is mentioned, was Malik Yonan who repulsed the attacks by the leader of the Pizan Kurds, Mustafa Beg. Following Yonan, came Malik Daryawush who was nicknamed, Darwish. He fought against the Kurds near the city of Mosul and had tried to attack and capture the Baz district. After repulsing the Kurds, Malik Daryawush ruled freely over Baz district.

Malik Daryawush was followed by Malik Ayub who built the Churches of Baz. After Malik Ayub came Malik Kanoon. He attacked the leader of Gulamarj, Rashid Pasha and was killed in the battle field. Later, the new leader of Gulamarj, Abdullah Beg, agreed with Malik Solomon, and together attacked the Kurdish tribes of Jezira Botan and inflicted on heavy destruction on them, but Malik Solomon was killed in battle.

Malik Solomon was followed by Malik Shakha. Although he was from the family of Malik Yonan, he was from the Sha’ota village.

Following Malik Shakha was Malik Yonan II. It should be remembered that Assyrian Maliks, as Turkish subjects, used to pay a sum of money as tax to the leader of Gulamarj. Malik Yonan had however, not paid taxes for eight years and freely ruled his tribe. After meeting the leader of Gulamarj, Nuri Beg, in the Khoi village, Yonan agreed to pay taxes to avoid bloodshed.

Malik Yonan was followed by Khoshaba who was Malik for nine years and was toppled by the leader of Gulamarj for not paying taxes and was fined nine mules.

Malik Khoshaba was followed by Malik Shakha II. During winter, as it was a custom, men of the tribe were away from Baz, working near Mosul. At this time, Kurdish tribes of Pinyanis, Urmar and others raided Baz and looted its villages. In April, when men returned home, Malik Shakha gathered a strong army and attacked the Kurds killing 80 Kurds, looted them and returned home.

Malik Shakha II was followed by Odisho. Malik Odisho’s efforts must be mentioned. He applied to the Turkish Government and reduced the taxes from 60 Liras to 30. This was a significant achievement because it meant that trading in the Assyrian region was could now flourish and grow.

After Malik Odisho, other Maliks followed one after the other; Maliks Zatu, Shimon, Yaku, Yonan III and Eshai. During 1909, Malik Hormis, who several times repulsed raids by Kurds of Urmar, when necessary, could raise 900 volunteer fighters.

Maliks played a significant role in the mountainous regions where the Assyrians resided. As they were surrounded by armies of Turks and Kurds, who were pressing the Assyrians into Islamic conversion, it was the Maliks under the guidance of the Assyrian Patriarch, who negotiated battles and transactions between the so called enemies. Maliks are yet another forgotten and unknown part of Assyrian history.

Written and compiled by John Isaac 1995
Original text in Syriac / Aramaic translated, 1997 by John Isaac, Rui Tsiaris and Ninos Melki

Published, 1995, Monash University – Akkadian / Aramaic / Hebrew studies journal
Published, 1997, United Press of Victoria – The Ancient Near East

References
Jennings, (1932) Nineveh and her Children
Wallace / WCM (1876) Missions to the Ancient Near East – Rescue of the Assyrian
Gosse (1852) Assyria, her manners, customs, arts and arms
M.Y.A Lilian, (1914) Assyrians of the Van District – During the rule of the Ottoman Turks
Syriac scripts courtesy of Monash University and Oxford University (Faculty of Oriental Studies)