Kaskay people that lived in the southern regions of Iran and particularly in the province of Persia have had an important role in respect of the introduction of their history within the Iran communities. The Kaşkay Province was established in the years of turmoil (rebellions) that broke out all over the country pursuant to the murder of Nadir Shah Afşar in the year of 1747. There were violent struggles between the tribes in order to establish dominion as a central government. The provinces of Khorasan, Azerbaijan (Iran), Isfahan and Fars were the important centres of these fights. There were various fights among the Afsar people in Khorasan and Azerbaijan and Bayat and Bahtiyarlı people and Zend people in Isfahan and Persia. Several regions and cities used to change hands during these fights.

The Turkish tribes that lived in the province of Persia felt the need for abandonment of the offences among them and the integration against the raids of the other groups. Kerimhan Zend and Ali Merdanhan Bahtiyarlı who were the commanders of Nadir Shah united their forces and they declared Ismail Safevi the III as he Shah. As a result of the violent struggles, Haşimhan took Bayat, Shiraz and the surrounding cities from Bahtiyari and Afsar people and he declared himself as the governor of the Persia.

Kaşkay Province was known as the most powerful tribe of Persia. In the beginning, there were 24 tribes that were united under this structure and then, some tribes and some families joined this union. Although Haşim Han had some attempts to attenuate this powerful tribal union (1954), he could not succeed.

In the year of 1795, the army of Kerimhan Zeyd firstly invaded Shiraz and then the entire province of Persia and he put an end to the dominion of Bahtiyarlı people. Therefore, Kerimhan declared that he was the ruler of the entire country and Shiraz was the capital city. In the period of the dominion of Kerimhan (1755-1779), Kaşkay people did not fight with Kerimhan thanks to the precautions taken by Cani Ağa, their head. This peculiarity enabled them to have close relation with the pallace. Kerim Han managed Cani Aga due to their ancestors. Six persons that had come before Cani Ağa, the subordinate ruler of this lineage were recognised and well-known people (Emir Gazi Şahlu, Gazu Ağa, Cani Ağa, Sefer Ali Ağa, Muhammed Ağa, Namdar Ağa). The tribe itself was known and became famous under the name of Kaşkay. The seventh generation, Cani Ağa (second) became the Ilbeyi (bey of the province). Following Cani Ağa, his son, Hasan Han was the ruler of the province of Kaşkay. Therefore, Kaşkay people gained power. They determined their winter residences and plateaus and they continued this system permanently.

Some of the tribes of Kaşkay people (communities) joined into the army established by Kerim Han. The leading groups of Kaşkay people (Kelanterler, Kethüdalar, etc.) constructed various caravanserais, small mosques, public baths and miscellaneous buildings. Firuzabad turned into a Kaşkay city. In this period, Kaşkay people were able to introduce themselves as a big provincial union. Kerim Han got the benefit of their views about the internal and foreign affairs. Pursuant to the death of Kerim Han in 1779, the severe struggles reappeared in the country.

The son of Kerim Han’s brother, Zeki Han declared that Ebulfeth Han, one of the children of Kerim Han was the ruler and established dominion under his name. Kerim Han’s brother, Sadık Han declared himself as the ruler. Therefore, the conflicts and the disappointments among Zend family did not cease. In the year of 1781, the ruler of Isfahan, El-Murad Han Zend intruded Shiraz and put an end to the dominion of Sadık Han and the sons of Kerim Han. He dominated until the year of 1785 (he managed the administration). These civil struggles caused to the disintegration of the army of Kerim Han. Zend domination was fairly attenuated. Gacar people intruded into the northern province of Iran and Teheran under the leadership of Muhammed Aga Han. Afterwards, he blamed El-Murad Han, Hasan Han and Ismail Han for the establishment of Kaşkay domination and had the hands of Hasan Han be cut and burnt the eyes of Ismail Han out (3.II.v.52).

In the year of 1785, El-Muraf Han’s son and then Sadık Han’s son, Cafer Han ascended the throne. Muhammed Aga Han attacked to the province of Persia in the year of 1788 in order to abolish the Zend domination and to establish the dominion of Kacar, but he could not succeed in. Upon this failure, he aimed to disintegrate or abolish the tribal union of Kaşkay that he seemed as a threat for him. Therefore, he went away from Shiraz and Kerduman and attacked to Hüsrev Şirin plateau where the important tribes of Kaşkay people dwelled in. Since Kaşkay people had received the news beforehand, they took their herds to the hills and they defended themselves there in a crowded union. As a result of the struggle that lasted for a month, Muhammed Han had to retreat and returned to Isfahan.

Zend Cafer Han was killed in the year of 1789 and Lutufali Han Zend, the last ruler of the Zend dynasty ascended to the throne. Muhammed Han forayed again to Shiraz in the year of 1792 and invaded Shiraz and Kirman. Lutufali Han was captured in the Castle of Bam in 1795. He was killed in Teheran and upon his death, the domination of Zend family ended (6. 390-391).

In all these long struggles, Kaşkay people did not enter into the struggles on the side of any party and this enabled them to gain more power. Since Hasan Han, the Provincial governor of Kaşkay had died in this period, Cani Ağa, son of Ismail Han who was the brother of Hasan Han was appointed as the Provincial governor (Cani Ağa III). Social and Political Position of Kaşkay Province between the 19th and 21st Centuries

Kaşkay Province was established under the rule of Cani Ağa II and it was officially recognised by Kerim Han who was the first ruler of the Zend dynasty. Sons of Cani Ağa, Hasın Han and Ismail Han were greatly respected in the Palace of Zend and they were appointed to the high rank of counselling for Kerim Han.

Among all tribes and communities in Iran, Kaşkay Province is the most organised, systematic and powerful provincial union in the province of Persia. As they state, the principle of the development of Kaşkay people to a strong and powerful provincial state was based on the perfect compliance in the relations of “union of lineages”. The governors of Persia and the central government of Iran have always been anxious about the power of this province and they did their best to attenuate their force. Pursuant to the death of Kerim Han Zend, Hasan Han’s hands were cut and İsmail Han’s eyes were burnt out on the grounds that the Kaşkay people wanted to abolish the dominion of Zend family in the Province and to establish the dominion of Kaşkay in Iran. These are the most significant examples for their anxiety.

Nasreddin Shah was anxious about the development of Kaşkay Province in the 50-60s of the 19th century and he aimed to establish a new nomadic force against Kaşkar people on the grounds of the equality among the nomads in the south. Therefore, he provided the necessary conditions for the establishment of a province under the name of Hamse through the integration of the Baharlı, İnallı, Nefer, Baseri and Arabian groups among the tribes in Persia under the leadership of Gavamülmük. However, he could not succeed in this plan.

Kaşkay people rebelled against the English intruders in the years of the First World War. They also supported the combatants of Destistan and Tengistan, the democratic organisation of the province of Persia, and the Shiraz rebellion that was initiated by the native public police forces against the English supporters. Kaşkay people exhibited great heroism under the command of their chief in order to rescue the province of Persia from the English invasion between the years of 1918-1920. They caused English domination to suffer a lot of casualties at the end of the year of 1920 and they played an important role in the evacuation of Iran lands by them.

to be continued