Kurdish revolt against the Ottoman Empire
Bitlis uprising |
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Bitlis uprising (1914) (Turkey) |
Date | Early March – 4 April 1914 |
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Location | |
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Result |
Ottoman victory
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Belligerents |
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Kurdish rebels Supported by: Russian Empire |
Ottoman Empire |
Commanders and leaders |
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Mullah Selim[1] Sayyid Ali[1] Sheikh Şahabeddin[1] |
Unknown |
Strength |
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"thousands"[2] |
Garrison at Bitlis: Unknown, but less than the Kurds[2] Reinforcements: Unknown |
The Bitlis uprising was a Kurdish uprising in the Ottoman Empire in early 1914.[2] It was supported by the Russian Empire.[2] It was fought concurrently with an unrelated Kurdish uprising in Barzan in the Mosul Vilayet, which was also supported by Russia.[2] Later Kurdish nationalist historiography portrayed the uprising as part of a Kurdish nationalist struggle, but its actual causes laid in opposition to conscription and taxation.[2] The uprising began in early March, with a skirmish between Kurdish fighters and Ottoman gendarmes, where the latter was forced to retreat.[2] The Kurds subsequently laid siege to the city of Bitlis, and captured the city on 2 April.[2] Ottoman forces were then dispatched from Muş and Van and suppressed the uprising.[2] After the defeat of the uprising on 4 April, one of the rebel leaders, Molla Selim, successfully sought asylum in Russia.[2]
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