Yezdanşêr was aKurdish leader, military officer and a relative ofBedir Khan Beg. He became shortly theMüteselim ofCizre and later led a revolt against theOttoman Empire in the mid 1850s. After the revolt failed, he was exiled toVidin, returning to the Ottoman bureaucracy in 1860s.
Yezdanşêr was born to Mir Sevdin (or Seyfeddin), a former Mir ofBohtan.[1] Yezdanşêr was also the grandson of Bedir Khan Beg's uncle and a commander of Bedir Khan's troops during his revolt against theOttoman Empire in 1847.[2] He then betrayed Bedir Khan and guided the Ottoman forces towards their decisive victory over Bedir Khan Beg.[2] In exchange for his services, Yezdanşêr was promised some position in the Ottoman bureaucracy and after the defeat of his relative he was appointed theMütesellim ofCizre in theKurdistan Eyalet.[3]: 361–363 He was soon replaced by an OttomanKaymakam, sent toConstantinople in March 1849 the same year then also toMosul.[3]: 361–363 He was prohibited to return toCizre.[3]: 361–363
Disappointed from this treatment he led a revolt which began during theCrimean War, maybe in late 1854, which was when his salary was cut.[3]: 367–368 In January 1855 Yezdanşêr denied having rebelled and offered a relative from him as a hostage.[3]: 367–368 He also put forward several demands towards the Ottomans such as the permission for his family fromMosul to join him in Cizre which should be put under his administration or the release of prisoners in Cizre andMidyat.[3]: 367–368 Not satisfied with the Ottoman response, he conqueredBitlis and raided Midyat.[3]: 369 The raid on Midyat was unsuccessful, as after they destroyed the Christian church, the Ottomans came to rescue the town and made many prisoners.[4] Officials of the British Empire were worried the Ottomans would deviate troops fighting in the Crimean war to suppress Yezdanşêr's revolt and tried to mend ties between the two parties.[3]: 370–373 The British GeneralFenwick Williams advised Yezdanşêr not to attack an Army of three states and eventually, the British compelled Yezdanşêr to surrender together with his brother and take refuge in the British Consulate in Mosul.[3]: 373 Having arrived in Mosul, the Ottoman officials attempted to apprehend him, which the French prevented.[3]: 375 Yezdanşêr and his allies remained in Mosul until September 1855, when they were escorted to Constantinople overDiyarbakir.[3]: 375 Without a leader, the revolt dispersed.[3]: 375 [5] Arriving in Istanbul, the rebels were arrested and subsequently exiled to Vidin without the knowledge of the British.[3]: 375 Lord Stratford, British consul in Constantinople protested his exile demanding his return to Constantinople, but to no avail.[3]: 377
Yezdanşêr then escaped toOttoman Bosnia in early 1858 but was captured and brought back to Vidin the same year.[3]: 377 His family was allowed to join him the next year.[3]: 377 In the mid 1860s he applied to the Ottoman bureaucracy, eventually becoming theGovernor ofAdlyie and in 1868 aMutassarif in theJanina vilayet.[3]: 377 It is assumed he died somewhen in the 1870s.[3]: 377