The Kurdish Origin (The Ancient Kurds)

The Ancient Kurds are of Caucasian and Indo-European origin. They migrated to the Zagros Highlands before 3100 B.C. and through 1000 B.C.

There were many groups of nations of the Ancient Kurds that lived in the Zagros Highlands between 3100-1000 B.C, but the existence of at least nine nations have been documented.

Most Historians believe that the following eight Nations are of Caucasian origin and that they migrated to the Zagros from the Caucasus region north of the Zagros highlands, and they spoke different Dialects of the Caucasian language.
They are the nations of:

• Guti, Subari, Lullu, Kassite, Mitanni, Mani, Urartu, Nairi

Historical Overview of the Nine Kurdish Nations

Guti Nation: also called the Gutu.

• The Guti nation founded the Gutium Kingdom within the Zagros and their Kingdom was documented around 3100 B.C.
• This nation occupied most of the present day Kurdistan of Iraq, from the rivers Sirwan and Diyala to the Great Zab River.
• Later some of the Guties lived in other parts of Kurdistan (In present day Kurdistan of Iran and Turkey).
• The term Judi has been originated from the term Guti.
• This Nation controlled Sumer and Akad in the years 2237-2112 B.C.
• Their Capital was the city of Arapkho (In or around the city of Kirkuk). Their other well-known city was the city of Arbilum (Arbil or Hawler).
• This nation lasted until the first Millennium B.C.
• The Guti was assimilated later into the Subari and Lullu Nations.
• The Guti nation is considered as the Kurds’ most ancient ancestors.

Subari Nation: The western region of the Subari was referred to as the Hurrian nation.

• The Subari nation was founded within the Zagros Highlands as of 3000 BC.
• They lived in present day Kurdistan of Iraq, Syria and Turkey.
• The Subari also is called Subartu or Subaru.
• The Subari lasted until the 7th century B.C.

Lullu Nation: The Lullu nation also called Lullubum.

• They lived primarily in the Shehrazor region in Sulaimaniyah.
• The Lullu nation had Kingdom in the Zagros around 2800 BC.
• The Assyrian called the Lullu nation as Zamwa.
• Also some of the Lullu nation lived in Syria and Iran
• The Lullu nation is considered as the Ancestors of the Lori people in the Luristan region, which is located south Kurdistan of Iran.
• Their Capital was called Arak-di (Arbat). Their Kingdom ended in 700 B.C.

Kassite Nation: Also the Kassite is written as Cassite, and in the Bible it is called Kushu.

• The Kassite nation is a mix of the Guti, Subari and Lullu nations.
• They lived south of Kurdistan. Their original homeland was located in the present day Kurmanshah and Luristan regions south Kurdistan of Iran.
• The Kassites first controlled the Lullu, Guti and Subari nations of the Zagros Highlands, then conquered Sumer and Akad and all Mesopotamia and created Empire for nearly 600 years, Circa 1746-1171 BC.
• Their Empire extended to the Caucasian region and the Caspian Sea.
• Their capital city was known as Dur Kurigalzu (Agar Quf) about 30 Kilometers west of Baghdad.
• After the Kassites lost their Empire, their Kingdom in the Kurmanshah and Luristan regions lasted until the end of the 7th Century B.C. and the Kassite nation was existed until the first century A.D, then the name Luristan appeared in the region.

Mitanni Nation: The Mitanni nation also was called Hurrian Nation.

• Most Historians believe that the Mitanni nation is a branch of the Subari nation.
• The Mitanni or Hurrian nation founded an Empire called Hurri-Mitanni Empire which lasted for more than 600 years, during the period approximately 1500-880 BC.
• The heartland of the Mittani (Hurrian) Nation was west of Kurdistan of Iraq, South Kurdistan of Turkey and Kurdistan of Syria.
• Their Capital was Washshukanni which was located around the Khabur River (In Kurdistan of Turkey, south of Diyar Bakir), later they moved their Capital to the city of Arapkho (Kirkuk), after they controlled the Guti land.
• At their widest extent, they controlled the land from the Mediterranean Sea (Including the Gulf of Iskenderon) to Azerbaijan, also including Syria and Palestine. They were at constant war with the Hittite Empire in Anatolia.
• The Assyrians slowly weakened the Mittani Empire, and finally defeated them around 880 B.C.

Mani Nation: The Mani nation controlled the area in Kurdistan of Iran south of lake Orumiyah.

• Their Capital was called Izirtu, which was located 50 kilometers from the present day city of Saqqez.
• Their Kingdom existed during the period of 900-625 B.C.

Urartu Nation: The Urartu nation also was called as Khaldi nation.

• The Urartu nation had Kingdom in the northern portion of Kurdistan, during the period of 880-585 BC. The Mountains of Ararat was named after the name of Urartu.
• They controlled the region of Van, Orumiyah, south of the Caucasus region, and at their widest extent they reached the Euphrates River and Rawanduz area.
• Their capital was the city of Van (Tospas), which they built in 840 B.C.
• The Urartu nation is a branch of the Subari (Hurrian) nation.
• The Urartu and Nairi nations, sometimes dominated each other.
• In the middle of the 8th Century B.C. the Armenian nation who where living west of Urartu nation, advanced into this Kingdom and controlled the northern part of Urartu Kingdom, which later became known as Armenia.
• The Armenians are Indo European nation, Migrated to west of Urartu Nation in 1000 B.C.
• In 606 B.C. the Median Empire controlled the southern part of the Urartu Kingdom, and the Urartu Kingdom was disappeared in 585 B.C.

Nairi Nation: The Nairi nation also was called as Nahri nation.

• The Nairi nation lived in central Kurdistan (Southeast of present day Kurdistan of Turkey), in the Hakkari Mountains, south of Lake Van and the upper Great Zab River, also their Kingdom was extended to the areas of Darsim, Badlis, Diyar Bakir and the upper part of the Tigres and Euphrates rivers.
• Their main area was the Valley of Butan (between the city of Julamerge (Hakkari) to the city of Mardin) near the Iraq and Syrian border.
• The Nairi nation were mostly independent during the periods of foreign powers control of Kurdistan, even during the Median Empire control of the Zagros Highlands, they had some kind of Independence.
• The Medes became the Nairi Nation neighbor and slowly moved into their land when the Nairi’s Kingdom was weak and they controlled their Kingdom.
• The Nairi nation was mentioned first by the Assyrians in the 13th century B.C. This Nation was powerful and rivaled the Assyrian Empire.
• They had many wars with the Assyrians. Also they helped the Medes in defeating the Assyrians.
• The Nairi land is the same land that the Greek Historian Xenophone and his Army passed through in 401 B.C. and called the people there as Kurdok (Kurdokh).
• After Xenophone, in the 4th century B.C., the Historians, began calling the Nairi land as Kurdoin
• Today some of their ancient ruins are located in the Shamdinan area in Kurdistan of Turkey in the Hakkari region.
• This nation was formed from the remnants of the nations of Subari and Guti.
• The Nairi Nation was considered as the representative of the ancient Kurds, who later assimilated with the Medes.

The Mede Nation: called Media or Median Empire

• The modern Kurdish people are the descendents of the Medes
• They migrated to the Zagros Highland (present day Kurdistan) from Central Asia (northeast of the Caspian Sea) around 1000 BC.
• They settled first between lake Orumiyah and the Caspian Sea (present day northwest of Iran). They founded the city of Akbatan (Hamadan), which became their Capital.
• The Medes ruled between 708-550 B.C.
• They established their monarchy in the year 708 B.C., which they ruled from 708 – 612 BC.
• They also established an empire (called Media or Median Empire), after they defeated the Assyrians, and ruled from 612 – 550 BC.
• Also they controlled the Persian nation who was of Indo European Origin, and were living to the south of their land.