The Clash of Empires and the Rise of Kurdish Proto-Nationalism, 1905–1926: Ismail Agha Simko and the Campaign for an Independent Kurdish State

Preface
Acknowledgments
Chronology of Simko’s Life
Contents
List of Maps
1 Introduction
2 Historical Setting: Iran on the Brink of Collapse
	Qajar Dynasty and European Imperialism
	Anglo-Russian Rivalry and the Constitutional Revolution
	Iran During First World War
	Reza Shah Pahlavi
	Western Azerbaijan, the Home of Simko and the Shakak Tribe
	Kurds of Western Azerbaijan
3 Shakak Tribe and the Rise of Simko
	Shakak/Shikak Kurds
	Rise of Simko
	Ottoman Turks Invade Western Azerbaijan
	Simko, Constitutional Revolution & Ottoman Invasion
	Simko & the Russian Occupation of Azerbaijan
	Simko & Sayyid Taha II
4 Simko, Competing Nationalisms, and the Great War
	On the Eve of the First World War
	Simko, Russian Evacuation & Ottoman Invasion
	Assyrian Refugees Arrive in Western Azerbaijan
	An Assyrian-Armenian-Kurdish Line of Defense
	Murder of Mar Shimun
	Mar Shimun’s Murder Ignites a Civil War
5 Fall of Empires and Simko’s Revolt
	Simko’s Rebellion Commences
	First Military Campaign Against Simko
	Khiyabani’s Revolt
	Sayyid Taha II as Simko’s Ambassador
	End of Khiyabani
6 Simko’s Wars and the Rise of Reza Shah
	Sayyid Taha II and Simko’s Revolt
	Battle of Tasuj
	Simko Captures Savojbolagh (Mahabad)
	Simko Defeats Amir Arshad
	Creating a Standing Army
	Momtaz al-Dowleh’s Mission to Ankara
7 Simko’s Downfall
	Lahuti’s Rebellion
	Khalu Qorban: yet Another Debacle for the Government
	Amanollah Mirza Jahanbani
	Defeat of Simko
	Simko’s Tribal Coalition Fizzles
8 In Search of a New Patron: Simko Sandwiched Between Iran and Turkey
	Simko in Northern Iraq
	Simko, Turkish Nationalists, and Russian Bolsheviks
	Simko Returns to Iran
	Simko and Salar al-Dowleh
	End of Simko
9 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index