Shahsevan Nomads Tour - 8 Days

Shahsevan nomads are the name of a number of tribal groups of Azerbaijanis who live in parts of northwestern Iran, especially the plains of Moghan, Urmia, Ardabil, Kharqan and Khamseh, located between Zanjan and Tehran.

The available evidence indicates that a number of groups of the Shahsevan tribe have migrated from the Moghan plain to Kharqan and Khamseh (that, of course, should not be confused with the Khamseh tribe of Fars). The way of life of the Shahsevan tribes and many cultural features, especially the hemisphere pavilions, distinguish them from other tribal groups in Iran, even the Kharqan and Khamseh tribes. Some of these features which are of Turkish origin can be seen among other Turkic-speaking tribes of Iran. Some Shahsevan tribes are not of Turkish origin and have been able to retain some of their distinctive features.

The title Shahsevan in Persian means like king. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, this title was renamed Il-Sun or People-Friendly. Alexander bige, the famous historian of the Safavid era, used the word “King of Sion” to describe the events of the conquest of Iraq during the reign of Shah Ismail I, as well as the events of the time of Shah Tahmasb. But the political term of the slogan became important when it was applied to the supporters of Shah Ismail II, while there was a dispute between his successors over the succession of Shah Tahmasb, and in the meantime Tahmasb’s daughter named Parikhan Khanum, a powerful politician, advocated Ismail Mirza declared himself a king.

Today, in addition to large areas of Iran, the Shahsevan live in other neighboring countries, including the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Kashmir.

The origin of the nomads of the Shahsevan tribe

Despite the relatively abundant documents that exist about the history of the Shahsevan, the origins of the Shahsevan are still unclear. The Shahsevan tribe is thought to be a group of tribal groups that came together as unions around the 16th and 18th centuries. In the present century, there are three different accounts of the origin of the emperors.

One of these narrations is by Sarjan Malkam with the following description

From the beginning of his reign, Shah Abbas I inevitably confronted the extravagance of the great princes of the Ghezelbash tribes. To this end, he killed some of the Ghezelbash chiefs and established a tribe to counter the uprising of the Ghezelbash tribes, calling it Shahsevan, a friend of the king, and asked all tribal men to register as members of this tribe. The king considered this tribe as the devotees of his family. With the special support he rendered to this tribe, he distinguished it from others.

Vladimir Minorsky, in an article entitled “Shahsevan” in the Islamic Encyclopedia, points out that the available documents and evidence have somewhat confused Malcolm’s account because the historical sources of the Safavid era lead us to the fact that Shah Abbas I created a tribe. And to call it Shahsevan does not guide.

The narration of the Shahs is different from the narration of Malcolm. But it does not contradict it and there is only a difference in the details. The Shahs also confirmed the migration of their ancestors from Anatolia. The official and accepted narration of the tribes, that is also reflected in the writings of the Shahsevan tribe, has become a priority in the present century. According to the Shahs, the Shahsun tribe is composed of thirty-two tribes with equal status. The Shahs claim that they were never under the command of a senior chief. According to popular theories, the Shahs lived in Moghan during the Safavid period. However, there is a difference of opinion as to whether they are indigenous or migrating to the region and, if they accept immigration, the time of migration.

According to the existing historical traditions and documents, the Shahsevan tribe is composed of several tribes, including the natives of the Moghan plain (probably the Alans and the Aryan sect of the Aryans “Ainalians = Mirrors, Mehr worshipers”) and immigrants such as the descendants of the Afshar tribes and the Shamlu tribes Some of the Ghezelbash and Ghaz Turkic tribes of Central Asia were formed under a special political, military, and social union with the official Turkish language of the tribes, and in the 16th and 18th centuries played a colorful political and military role. In the history of the region and even Iran.

The name of the term Shahsevan

The meaning of the word Shahsevan, that contains some symbolic values, needs further research. In general, the word Shahsevan has the following meanings:

In the first place, the meaning of Shah’s subjects is inferred from the word Shahsevan.

Secondly, this word refers to the Safavid way of worshiping the Shiite religion and the Imams, especially Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), whose representatives were the Safavid kings and not their manifestation.

Thirdly, the word Shahsevan creates a strong sense of disgust and opposition to the Sunni Ottomans, who have long been enemies of the Shiite Safavids. The proclamation of a king by the tribal chiefs meant that they considered following the king’s orders as their religious and moral duties.

In the fourth place, the meaning and concept of Shahsevan can be sought in the sense of patriotism and Iranism among the Shahsevan people.

The social structure of the Shahsevan tribe

The pyramid of the production organization of the Shahsevan tribe starts from the family and ends in the gens and clans. In the past, the tribes were headed by houses, which today enjoy significant socio-economic and political benefits, but their power over the Illyrian Khans of other tribes such as the Qashqai was very small. At the head of each small category was an official called Aq Saql.

Social characteristics of Shahsevan tribe

Housing

The Shahs are called a collection of several pavilions and huts set up in one place. The place where Obe is located or the place where the tents are erected is called Yurd. The main feature of the yard is the crescent-shaped (arched) slats, that at the time of the first pavilion or ridge are placed there, to place the farm (woolen bed) and other furniture, and the tent poles at a distance of approximately one meter outside the slate. Crescents are arranged. The main reason for picking these stones is to keep the woolen furniture safe from contact with the ground to prevent moisture from penetrating into them. Usually every nomadic person remembers for the rest of his life in which Yurd he was born. Each of these yurts also has specific contract titles or titles, some of that may be reminiscent of a historical event or event. Due to the fact that in comparison with other nomadic regions of Iran, both cold and hot regions of Shahsevan (Yeylagh (cooler countryside) Gheshlagh (warmer areas)) have a cold climate, so Shahsevan nomads have experienced to use a tent that is as harmonious as possible with the environmental conditions. Have.

Pergola and ridge

The pavilion and ridge are the main dwellings of the Shahsevan tribes in the summer. The pavilion is one of the characteristics and signs of the Shahsevan tribes, which is a hemispherical tent with a corridor-shaped tent and is usually smaller than the pavilion and is not made of rough material and canot be compared with the pavilion that is made with precision, skill and elegance. The pavilion is always accompanied by a ridge.

Clothing

Today, the clothes of Shahsevan men and women are the same as the clothes of the villagers around the region, and any change in the type or shape of the clothes of the villagers has occurred. These changes have also been observed in the composition and type of clothes of the Shahsevan tribes. In ancient times, the men and women of the region wore special clothes, which today, even in the most remote parts of Azerbaijan and elsewhere, no trace of it can be seen. Shahsevan women (although some, especially older women) have to some extent retained the traditional texture of their clothing and in some cases have not introduced any new patterns or combinations in the traditional texture of their clothing.

Handicrafts of Shahsevan tribes

In the economic study of Shahsevan nomads, handicrafts are placed after livestock and agricultural activities. Nomadic life, that is based on animal husbandry and production of livestock products, especially sheep and goats, has made it possible to provide raw materials for the production of various handicrafts by using the taste and creative art of Shahsoni women.

Among the handicrafts produced by Shahsevan nomadic women are: carpets and rugs – kilims, zillows, jajims and sacks – plush (tent) – chogha or barak – hats – gloves – socks – giwa – shoes – mats – mats – salt shaker and ….

Favorites of the nomads of the Shahsevan tribe

The Shahs use animal products such as wool for handicrafts, that they create in the form of handicrafts in the form of handicrafts in the form of handicrafts that are the result of art, taste, thought, historical memories and perceptions of nature and the surrounding environment. Some of the maps, such as the seal, represent the four elements of the world, while others depict the nature of the flower and plant in geometric shapes, and there are other maps depicting animals based on myths or personal interest.

Nowruz and Syrian Wednesday ceremonies

Nowruz and Syrian Wednesday are the happiest days of the Shahs. On Wednesday night, they make various nuts from chickpeas and roasted wheat, etc., light a fire, and the children jump over it and bathe on Wednesday morning. On Nowruz, they paint the eggs and visit them and distribute the eggs among the children, and finally they all gather and go to the house of Aq Saql or the head of the tribe. They believe that at the turn of the year, the running water stops moving for a moment and the trees drop their heads to the ground.

Courtship and wedding ceremonies

At the request of two white-bearded men from the groom’s family, they go to the tent of the groom’s father and make a covenant, which they attach great importance to. After eating sweets and immediately after agreeing to the engagement, the groom’s family goes to the wedding place and brings a crow scarf, necklace, mirror and sweets. A wedding may take up to twenty days. During this period, parties are held and on the last day of each party, a sum of money (sweets money) is paid to the landlord.

In this trip, we intend to accompany the Shahsevan tribes. Get to know the people of this tribe. Travel with them to experience their beautiful life. Talk to them at night in the tent and enjoy their funny stories. Let’s try the special and delicious foods of this tribe. This trip is planned with a focus on the Shahsevan tribe, along with visiting  historical and beautiful monuments of Iran.