Kingdom of Kurdistan: Experiment that didn't last due to Kurdish divisions

Today marks the 107th anniversary of the establishment of the Kingdom of Kurdistan under the leadership of Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, which was declared on May 23, 1919, in Sulaymaniyah during a pivotal stage in the region’s history following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of British influence in Iraq and Kurdistan.

Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji is considered one of the most prominent Kurdish leaders of the twentieth century, having led a political and military movement aimed at establishing an independent Kurdish administration, taking advantage of the political vacuum and international conflict that followed World War I.

Rock of Freedom

Seventy years after the fall of the Kurdish Baban Emirate, Barzanji led a series of confrontations against British forces seeking to tighten their control over the region. One of the most notable battles was the Battle of Bazian Pass, where his forces managed to seize control of the strategic pass located between Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah.

The area still retains its historical symbolism among the Kurds, particularly due to the presence of the “Rock of Freedom,” which became associated with the events of those confrontations.

Declaring Kurdish Language as an Official Language

The revolution succeeded in reviving the idea of Kurdish Autonomous Administration in Sulaymaniyah, leading to the announcement of a Kurdish government and the raising of its flag officially for the first time in 1919.

From the establishment of his government, Sheikh Mahmud worked to build state institutions. He declared Kurdish the official language in government institutions, formed a civil administration and an army known as the “Kurdish National Army,” and oversaw the publication of several Kurdish-language newspapers in what was regarded as an early effort to institutionalize Kurdish identity.

Between Exile, Return, and the Declaration of the Kingdom

Following the expansion of the Kurdish uprising, British authorities arrested Sheikh Mahmud after a military campaign that same year, which included battles between both sides. He was transferred to Baghdad, where he was sentenced to death before the sentence was commuted to exile in India, where he spent more than two years.

However, his return to Sulaymaniyah in 1922 reignited Kurdish nationalist activism. He was welcomed by large crowds before later declaring himself King of Kurdistan after the British reneged on their promises to grant the Kurds autonomous rule.

Attempts to Unite the Kurdish Ranks

The authority of Sheikh Mahmud’s government extended across vast areas of South Kurdistan and reached the borders of what is now Northern Kurdistan. However, the project faced major challenges, most notably Kurdish tribal divisions and the continued British military campaigns.

Despite his repeated attempts to unite the Kurdish ranks and his calls for tribal leaders to stand against the occupation, many tribal forces failed to respond to his appeals, weakening the Kurdish experience in building an independent administration.

In 1923, British forces launched a large-scale military campaign against Sulaymaniyah, forcing Sheikh Mahmud to withdraw in July 1924 toward the Sharbazher and Pshdar regions, where he continued resistance under what became known as the “Guerrilla War” until 1927 against Iraqi and British forces.

During that period, Sulaymaniyah was also subjected to heavy aerial bombardment that caused significant destruction to the city and surrounding areas.

Barzanji’s Legacy and Messages of Kurdish Unity Across Generations

Despite exile and persecution, Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji never abandoned his political project. He returned several times to Sulaymaniyah to lead uprisings against British influence and remained until his final years a symbol of Kurdish resistance and the pursuit of independence.

Alongside his political and military activities, he was also known for his literary and cultural personality, as he was both a poet and writer in addition to being a revolutionary leader.

On October 9, 1956, Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji died in Baghdad at the age of 76. His body was transferred to Sulaymaniyah, where he was laid to rest following a large funeral procession in his hometown, leaving his name as one of the most prominent historical symbols in Kurdish national memory.

Kurds continue to recall the experience of the Kingdom of Kurdistan as one of the modern attempts to establish an independent Kurdish political entity, while repeatedly emphasizing the importance of Kurdish unity amid the ongoing political challenges facing the Kurdish issue across its four parts, including the experience of the federal Region of South Kurdistan.

History Repeats Itself Again, But in Rojava

Today in Rojava, history appears to be repeating itself once again. Kurdish achievements continue to face persistent threats despite ongoing efforts to unite Kurdish political forces and parties. However, partisan interests and internal divisions still constitute a major obstacle to achieving genuine Kurdish political unity, negatively affecting the future of these gains and leaving them vulnerable to further challenges.

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ANHA