| This article is part of the Kurdish history and Culture series |
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| Ancient history |
| Medieval history |
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Bohtan (also Botan, Bokhan, Bokhti) also known as Cizre Botan (Jazira Botan) was a medieval Kurdish principality in the Ottoman Empire centered around town of Jazirah ibn 'Omar (modern Cizre) in southeastern Anatolia. Bohtanis were an ancient and prominent branch of the Kurds. Yazidi became the official religion of Jazira in 14th century[1].
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The Bokhtis are mentioned by Herodotus as inhabiting eastern Anatolia and forming thirteenth Achaemenid district, (together with Armenia). Furthemore, Vladimir Minorsky connects Bukhtis with Haftanbokht, a Parthian ruler of Kermanshah region.
In the early 8th century Bukhtis and Bajnawi Kurds ruled the area surrounding Sinjar and Jazira mountains known under name Zozan by Arab geographers. Yaqoot Hamawi describes their residing area to be from Ikhlat to Salmas which included many strongholds belonging to Bokhtis; he also mentioned town of Jardhakil as their capital.
The emirate lost its independence and was directly governed by the Ottomans in 1847 following the massacres of Badr Khan.
The main branches of Bukhtis were Brasbi, Dasni and Sindi. According to Sharafkhan Bidlisi in his time some Bukhtis followed Yazidi faith, furthermore he states that previously Bukhtis were among the Kurdish groups who were fully Yazidi. [2]