Relations of Kurds with Armenians (951-1150)

The Kurds and Armenians are indigenous peoples of the Near East. Historically, Armenians resided in the Caucasus and Anatolia, while the Kurds inhabited Upper Mesopotamia and southwestern Iran. Although the places where Kurds and Armenians lived were close to each other, the question of when, where and how the relations between the two communities began has not been answered due to the lack of comprehensive research on the subject. Armenian historians were interested in Armenian-Kurdish relations in the early 9th century and conducted preliminary studies. Although some researchers, including N. J. Marr, found the Kurds to be closer to Georgians and Armenians than the Caucasian peoples, this view did not gain wide acceptance. Since the early 20th century, some Kurdish intellectuals have claimed that the two communities share the same religion, lineage, and culture, though these assertions were not supported by rigorous research. Moreover, Armenian chronicles provide limited information about any significant historical partnership between the two groups. Modern Armenian historians tend to dismiss these Kurdish claims as unreliable. This article seeks to answer the question of when, where, and how relations between Kurds and Armenians began during the Middle Ages. As there are no extant Kurdish sources describing the early history of the Kurds, Armenian chronicles, Islamic historical sources, and the works of modern scholars were consulted. According to the evidence found in Armenian chronicles and Islamic sources, Kurdish-Armenian relations appear to have originated in the 10th century. This conclusion is based on primary source material.