The Jaff tribe, a well-established clan in Kurdistan, has a rich history dating back 900 years. It is widely recognized as the largest clan in Kurdistan, with a membership of 4 million individuals. Despite Kurdistan not being an independent state, it has its own regional government, culture, language, music, food, and history.
Mahmud Pasha Jaff, born in 1262, formed a strong alliance with the Ottoman Empire and emerged as the leader of the Jaff tribe. He was renowned for his fair rule and efforts to promote peace and unity among Kurdish tribes. Under his leadership, the Jaff tribe expanded its influence across southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Mohammed Pasha Jaff, born in 1714, was also a respected leader of the Jaff tribe. He fought for human rights and advocated for Kurdish autonomy. He is remembered as one of the earliest leaders to openly champion human rights and built the Sherwana Castle, the ancestral home of the Jaff family.
Osman Pasha Jaff, born in the late 1850s, governed the region with wisdom and bravery. He worked towards women’s suffrage in the Middle East and received recognition from the Ottoman Empire for his administrative skills. He was entrusted with maintaining peace along the borders, including Persia, and was honored with the Shah of Persia’s sword for his peacekeeping efforts. Lady Adela Khanem Jaff, a skilled administrator and peacemaker, collaborated with Osman Pasha in governing the region.
Dawood Fattah al Jaff, also known as “The Lion of Kurdistan,” was appointed as the leader of the Jaff tribe and served as a Royal Minister in Iran. He focused on achieving independence for Kurdistan, promoting peace, and defending human rights.
The history of the Jaff tribe encompasses numerous leaders who fought for human rights, independence, peace, equality, and women’s empowerment. While much of the historical information about the Jaff tribe may be in ancient languages or non-English sources, there are resources available, such as the National Archives of the United Kingdom and Turkey, books, articles, interviews, treaties, acknowledgments, photographs, and documents that provide further insights into Jaff history.
The current leader of the Jaff tribe is Nozad Dawood Fattah Al Jaff.
The Jaff tribe started in the year 1114 by Zaher Beg Jaff. The Ottoman Empire bestowed on them the name Pasha, a noble title, in the 1700s.
Dawood Beg Jaff and Shah of Iran
President Jimmy Carter, Sardar Beg Jaff, and Shah of Iran
Dawood Beg Jaff with the President of Iraq, Abdul Karim Qasim, in 1958.
Books of Jaff’s
Click on images to open the files.
Minorsky 1945 Tribes West Iran
CLICK. Jaff Family History from 1114 – 2014
CLICK. Personalities of Kurdistan
Pg. 103-104 talks about Adela Khanum Jaff
CLICK. British Documents on Foreign Affairs: Reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print
CLICK. Halabja and the Jaff tribe
CLICK. Adela Khanum Jaff and the Ardalan Persian Divanship
CLICK. Iraq & The Persian Gulf – Naval Intelligence Division
A book written by the British Naval intelligence division, acknowledging that Osman Pasha Jaff and Princess Adela Jaff are the makers of Halabja.
CLICK. Minorsky’s acknowledgement
Minorsky’s Russian acknowledgement of the Jaff’s Zohab heritage from the conflicts of Ottoman Sultan Murad IV’s Ottoman Safavid war 1623-1639.
CLICK. To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in disguise
CLICK. A Short History of Iraq – Thabit Abdullah
On page 62 it explains the origin of the Jaff conflicts and claims over the Persian Zohab region, dating back to Ottoman Sultan Murad IV’s war with the Persians in the 16th century. The treaty of Zohab would divide the Jaff lands in half between Persia and The Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1639 during the Ottoman Savafid war.
This treaty would declare the boundaries for the modern Middle East countries.
This would be the root of all Kurdish conflicts and division.
CLICK. The Encyclopedia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information.
Saryas Jaff
Claiming that Mahmud Pasha Jaff was detained in Mosul after participating in a revolt with Mahmud Barzinji in 1810.
CLICK. The Naqshbandi-Khalidi Order and Political Islam in Turkey
http://www.hudson.org/research/11601-the-naqshbandi-khalidi-order-and-political-islam-in-turkey
Mohammed Seyh Said Seyda El Cezeri, head of the Seyda clan of modern day Cizre, Turkey, was a disciple of Jaff Sheikh Khalid I Baghdadi. El Cezeri received a diploma from Baghdadi. El Cezeri was friends with Kurdish insurrectionist Sheikh Ubeydullah, who Mahmud Pasha Jaff was aligned with, who was also a disciple of Khaled I Bagdadi.
Turkish President Recip Erdogan is also a follower of Jaff Sheikh Khaled I Baghdadi.
CLICK. Here is a British source about Sheikh Ubeydullah rebellion, was friends with Khalid I Baghdadi.
CLICK. Khalid I Baghdadi
This is all about Khalid I Baghdadi’s disciples of the El Cezeri clan, who became Sheikhs under his guidance. Most of it is in Turkish.
The El Cezeri clan is a Kurdish religious clan of Cizre of the Red Medrese. Cizre was leveled recently in 2015 in war between the PKK and the Turkish Army.
Khalid I Bahdadi is a major religious leader of the Jaff tribe, he influenced the political structure in Modern day Turkey from the Government Diyanet to the ruling AKP.
Khalid influenced the belief system of the Kurds in South Eastern Turkey as well, and that their religious leaders were his disciples, which is what the paper talks about. Cizre is a main cultural center for Turkish Kurdistan.
CLICK. In Quest for God and Freedom: The Sufi Response to the Russian Advance in the North Caucasu
This book explains in detail Sheikh Khalid I Baghdadi Jaff and his rise to prominence, and spread of his influence within the 19th century Ottoman Empire, and transformation of it’s belief system.
Sheikh Khalid I Baghdadi would shape Mahmud Pasha Jaff and even Sheikh Mahmud Barzinji’s belief system. His influence spread in response to the Russian Armenian expansion within the Ottoman Empire with the rise of such Khalidi figures as Sheikh Ubeydullah of Nehri.
Mahmud Pasha Jaff would join in Ubeydullah’s war against Russian Armenian subversion, and would fight the Pro Russian Hamavands, conquering Persian Zohab.
CLICK. Living in Romantic Baghdad
This is memoir of Ida Donges Staudt, an American Missionary teacher, who taught one of Adela Khanum’s daughters at a School opened by an American Mission Board. She has nothing but praise for Adela Khanum.
CLICK. Soane at Halabja
Within this book is mentioned Tahir Beg’s Education and knowledge.
Ely Banister was directed to Halabja by the Ottoman Sheikh Ul Islam from Constantinople, who was the successor of Sheikh Khalid I Baghdadi of Sanandaj.
Amin Effendi was a German medical doctor, who advised Lady Adela Khanum Jaff, and hated Soane.
Tahir Beg found out that Soane was British and sent him away for fear of reprisal from the Ottoman government.
CLICK. Iran at War
This is a book about Adela Khanum’s cementing ties with the Qajar emperor, Mohammed Agha Qajar in his rise to power against the Zand in his war for the Persian throne.
CLICK. Document collections
CLICK. Involvement of the Jaff under Mahmud Pasha Jaff in the Armenian and Kurdish Khalidiyya Sectarian violence in the aftermath of the Russo Ottoman war of 1878.
CLICK. Mahmud Pasha Jaff and The Triumph of the Jaff Tribe’s Inevitable Destiny
CLICK. Annual Report of the American Bible Society, Volumes 70-76
A piece most unique to the Jaff, concerning Christian Jaff scholar of the insurrectionist Sheikh Ubeidullah in the 1880s, Keffee Effendi. Keffee Effendi was translating Christian texts for the Armenians, who were revolting against the Ottoman Empire along with Sheikh Ubeydullah.
The Jaff have a hand in the Armenian Christian identity through Keffee Effendi.
CLICK.. Jaff family findings
Report on the Sulaimania district of Kurdistan
CLICK. The Ottoman Origins of Modern Iraq
This book mentions Mohamed Pasha Jaff’s appointment as governor of Gulanbar by the Mutasarrif of Suliamania, and a document that states this in 1869.
CLICK. Kurds, Turks and Arabs: Politics, Travel and Research in North-Eastern Iraq, 1919-1925
London, 1957
Cecil J. Edmonds
CLICK. Narrative Of A Residence In Koordistan, And On The Site Of Ancient Nineveh; Vol. I
The Jaff are mentioned on pages: 11, 12, 15, 153, 155, 156,164,165,169,170,175,187, 205,226,227,229,231,233,234,235,236,238,242,269,280,328,329,330,334,340,341
CLICK. Narrative of a residence in Kurdistan, and on the site of ancient Nineveh
Here are pages about the Jaff’s relationship to the Babans before Mohamed Pasha Jaff became the governor of the Shahrizor of the present day Garmiyan Region of Kurdistan. The chief was Kai Khosrow Beg Jaff. Pg. 109, 112, 118, 123, 129
One page mentions the history Khalid I Baghdadi. Pg. 141
One page mentions the Mohamed Pasha Jaff and his father, Qadir Beg Jaff. Pg. 188
One page mentions the Jaff’s relation to the Ardalan. Pg. 217
CLICK. The Ottoman Reformation and the Muslim Generation
This book is about how Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II ultimately dealt to contain Mahmud Pasha Jaff during his insurgencies in the aftermath of the Russo Ottoman war of 1878 and how the he was considered a great threat by not only the Ottomans but the Barzanis as well, who were rivals in region.
CLICK. Ottoman-Iranian Borderlands: Making a Boundary, 1843-1914 – Sabri Ateş
This book supports my hypothesis about Mahmud being Hamid. The graph is for the Zohab region, which this book states Mahmud Pasha Jaff occupied.
CLICK. The translation of Chirikov’s books … mentions the Jaff family
The book written by Colonel Egor Ivanovich Chirikov in Russian language, entitled: Putevoi Zhurnal by Turetsko Persidiskomu razgranicheniiu in 1849-1852.
It is clarified why Mahmud Pasha Jaff lost power over the Jaff to his brother Osman Pasha Jaff, and the popularity of the Ottoman Sultan and Qajar Shah.
CLICK. The official translations of all the Ottoman Empire National Archives in Turkey that mention the Jaffs. THe documents mention Mohamed Pasha Jaff.
CLICK. The Andover Review
On page 22 and 29 you can see the information about Kefee Effendi (was Jaff during Mahmud Pasha Jaff’s time), Said Pasha, and Bahri Pasha Jaff.
CLICK. Mahmud Pasha Jaff and The Triumph of the Jaff Tribe’s Inevitable Destiny
CLICK. Lees documents
CLICK. Notes on The Southern Tribes of Kurdistan
CLICK. National Archives in London, United Kingdom that mention the Jaff’s
CLICK. Kurds, turks and arabs
CLICK. Official Documents Jaff Family of National ARCHIVES OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE.
Jaff data
CLICK. Jaff tribe website
Translations
Putevoi Zhurnal
Translation of this page is from a Russian book by E.I. Chirikov. The title of the book is Putevoi Zhurnal. It states in page 445 that the Jaff tribe had a dispute with the Qajar Persian government over their summer residences within Khunishehr. Colonel Chirikov of the Russian Imperial Army was part of the Russian British Persian Ottoman Border Commission to mediate in this dispute during 1884. This was in the aftermath of the Russo Ottoman war of 1878 and the Sheikh Ubeidullah revolts. Also, the Jaff had besieged Qasr I Shirin in Persia to take vengeance on the Hewreman and Aziz Bey Faction of the Jaff tribe, which had killed Mohamed Pasha Jaff.
Translation also says:
Colonel Chirikov deals with both Ahmed Bey and Khasro Bey Jaff of the Suliamania faction of the Jaff, who were sons of Mohamed Pasha Jaff. Mahmud Pasha Jaff’s power was dwindling at this time, and Osman Pasha Jaff had not yet succeeded him. The Shahrizor Jaff’s who were directly under Mahmud Pasha Jaff of 500 tents were in full revolt, and were burning villages as stated on this page.
Mahmud Pasha Jaff might mentioned as the Chief of the tribe by Chirikov in the graph, but the name stated is Hamid Bey. I can find no record of a Hamid Beg Jaff in other sources. Hamid Beg Jaf might be a Russian pronunciation of Mahmud Beg Jaff.
This page declares that Russian border commission stayed with the Jaff tribe, and that Colonel Chirikov noted that they were the best dressed of all Kurdish tribes.
Final message pg 603 is not about the Jaff tribes crops, but the taxes they payed to Persian government in the disputed Zohab lands they had occupied. 20-50 Tuman. They also payed taxes in Sheep and cattle.
References
Arfa, Hassan. The Kurds. London: New Left Books, 1968.
Bailie, Fraiser K. Travel in Kurdistan. London: Bangor House, 1970.
Beltons D.K. Kurds, Arabs (The Memdin of Wallac Lyon in Iraq) 1918-1944. London: Field House, 2002.
Cecil J. Edmonds, Kurds, Turks and Arabs: Politics, Travel and Research in North-Eastern Iraq, 1919-1925,London, 1957.
Claudius, Gims R. Narrative Residence in Kurdistan and Site of Ancient Nineveh. England: Geag International Publisher, 1972.
Derk, Kinnan. The Kurds: A Kurdistan. New York: Oxford University press, 1970.
Drivbr Gr. Kurds and Kurdistan. London: Zed Press, 1920.
Ely Banister Soane, To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in Disguise, London 2007
Edmunds, C.G. Kurds, Turks and Arabs. London: Oxford University Press, 1957.
Hitchens, Keith. “Goran, Abdulla”, In Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century. Vol. 2. 3rd ed., completely rev. and enl. Edited by Steven R. Serafin and others, pp. 276–277. Farmington Hills, MI: St. James Press, 1999
Iraq Administration Reports: 1914-1932, Vol1-10.
Joyce Blau, “Written Kurdish Literature,” in Philip G. Kreyenbroek and Ulrich Marzolph, eds., History of Persian Literature, Companion Volume II: Persian Popular Literature; Literatures in Modern Iranian Languages other than Persian, 2010, pp. 103–28.
Khanai Qobadi, Širin o Ḵosrow, ed. M. M. ʿEbd el Kerim, as Šīrīn ū Ḵusrew, akari ṝ‘irî nawdarî kurd Xanay Qubadi, Baghdad, 1975.
Menoasky Menosky. The Goran and the Kurds. London: Oxford University press, 1943.
Millingen F. Wild Life among Kurds. London: Hurst and Blackett Publishers, 1870.
Minorsky, The Tribes of Western Iran, The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, pp. 73–80, 1945. (p. 78)
Pattaoe, Hanna. Iraqi Kurdish Tribe (Part1). London: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1988.
P. Lory, “Shahrazuri” in The Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition, ed. by H.A.R. Gibbs, B. Lewis, Ch. Pellat, C. Bosworth et al., 11 vols. (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1960–2002), vol. 9, p. 219
Sadiq Safizade, Pishgouyiha-ye lI-Begi Jaff (‘The Prophecies of Il-Begi Jaff’), Teheran 1988
Soane Banister, E. To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in Disguise. London: Oxford University Press, 1912.
Stinfly, Long G. Century From Iraq History. London: Oxford University press, 1986
W. Jwaideh, The Kurdish national movement: its origins and development, 419 pp., Syracuse University Press, 2006
1. concerning Adela Khanum Jaff, the writer vladimir minorsky met her in 1913, as mentioned in his books … the tribes of western iran, the journal of the royal anthropological institute of great britain and irland 75: 73-80.
2. Iraqs new history. by: dr. abdulaziz sulaiman nawar (arabic, printed in egypt 1943)
3. A scandanavian women author by the name of hansson, wrote a detailed book on adela khanum called “kurdish women”
Jaff family Links
The National Archives
Dawood Beg Jaff
Dawood Beg Jaff: a trustee of the Shah and the Royal Court minister
Dawood Beg Jaff : First Political escort of the Shah of Iran
Dawood Beg Jaff: Member of the Iraqi parliament
Dawood beg Jaff with King Faisal and Abdol ilah
Lady Adela Jaff
Adela Khanum Jaff at the Halabja Museum.
Lady Adela Jaff or Adela Khanem born into the aristocratic Sahibqeran family. British appointed her and called her the Princess of the Brave. She was a famous and cultured chief of the Jaff tribe, one of the biggest Kurdish tribes.
Lady Adela exerted great influence in the affairs of the Jaff tribe in the Sharazor plain. She was married to Osman Pasha Jaff. The revival of commerce and restoration of law and order in the region of Halabja is attributed to her sound judgement.
1. Vladimir Minorsky has reported his meeting with Lady Adela in the region of Halabja in 1913.
2. Major Soane wrote about her in his book To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in Disguise: “a woman unique in Islam, in the power she possesses, and the efficacy with which she uses the weapons in her hands..
3. Gertrude Bell, British politician and writer, describes Adela Khanem in a letter in 1921 as follow:” The feature of Halabja is ‘Adlah Khanum the great Jaf Beg Zadah lady.
Exhibition of Mohamed Pasha Jaff
Ancestors, Sherwana Castle and Jaff towers
Mahmud Pasha Jaff, Osman Pasha Jaff, Mohammed Pasha Jaff
Sardar Dawood Jaff Mohamed Pasha Jaff
Dawood Beg Jaff or Dawood Fattah al Jaff in Life Magazine with other sheikhs, what is Time Magazine today. Jaff Towers
Shah of Iran with Sarbast Dawood Jaff Mohammed Pasha Jaff
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101048809584;view=2up;seq=12;skin=mobile
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.ah3rng;view=2up;seq=32;skin=mobile
http://rudaw.net/english/world/03032014
http://www.saradistribution.com/kurds_turks_arabs.htm
http://kurdistanwomen.blogspot.mx/2008/04/adela-khanum-princess-of-brave_2339.html
http://www.kurdipedia.org/?q=200911032319072373&lng=1
http://germiandotnet.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/19/kalar/
http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/letter_details.php?letter_id=522
http://revistakuadro.com/jaff-family-jaff-tribe-and-kurdistan/