Shahsavan Tribe in the Course of HistoryHamshahri; Persian Morning Newspaper By: Abdolhussein Saeedian April 17, 2001, No. 2379 Page: 5 
Summary: Over hundred of thousand Azari speaking Shahsavan tribespeople whose ancestors supported Shah Abbas I, the Safavid king, are living in Ardabil and Meshgin-Shahr regions in northeastern Iran. The tribe is zealous to observe its rites and customs and some of them still lead a migratory life like a hundred years ago. History of Shahsavan Tribe More than hundred of thousand of Shahsavan tribesmen and tribeswomen, divided into several branches, are living in northeastern Province of Ardabil. The majority of these people are either living in villages or the townships surrounding provincial capital city of Ardabil, but they continue to follow their past nomadic customs. Over 5,000 Shahsavan tribespeople still lead a migratory or semimigratory life in Ardabil Province. Shahsavans speak Azari Turkish and believe in Shia faith. The book called "Bostan ul-Siahe (The Garden of Travel)" says: "Shahsavan is a tribe which flourished during the time of Shah Abbas. The reason for their prominence is that a group of ungrateful Qezelbash (red clothed) fighters deserted Shah Abbas and revolted. The king said: `Shahsavan, Galseen' i.e. whoever loves the king come and join me. Thus, each tribe that defeated the rebel Qezelbashes were called Shahsavans or lovers of the king by Shah Abbas. Shahsavans follow their genuine and ancient traditional custom and like every other tribe in the country they were not immune from dangers and calamities at different periods of their life. Various accounts have been given about the history of emergence of Shahsavans and their relations with other tribes and dynasties. At the end of the 16th century A.D. when many Sunni and Shia tribes escaped the tyrannical rule of Ottoman Empire and sough refuge in Iran, also Younsavan, a tribal leader, visited Shah Abbas and sought permission to move his tribe into Iran. Shah Abbas named them Shahsavans and allowed them to choose their own quarter. They chose and settled between Ardabil and Kalibr-e Moghan regions up to the area where Aras and Kor rivers met. Apparently Younsavan Pasha and his contemporary tribesmen were the real leaders of the present Shahsavan tribe. At the beginning of the 19th century a series of military operations were carried at the Shahsavans' headquarters specially when Abbas Mirza led the Iranian army against the invading Russians, and the Shahsavan migratory tribe suffered much during the disastrous Aslandouz War. According to Golestan Treaty between Iran and Russia, the Russians occupied Talesh and northern parts of the Moghan Plain and threatened the winter quarters of the Shahsavan tribesmen. During the second war between the Iranians and Russians in solar year 1241 (18th century) those Shahsavans who lived north of Moghan Plain joined the Russian army and those who were at the south joined Abbas Mirza's army along with Afshar tribesmen. Shahsavan Social and Political Organizations Like all other tribes in Iran Shahsavan tribe enjoy their own tribal organizations and arrangements. As a whole an "eel" (a bigger tribe) is composed of several tribes. The tribe is composed of several clans and the clans are subdivided into "goobeks", "oobehs" and families. Meshgin-Shahr and Ardabil tribes have united themselves and have formed the Shahsavan Eel. Normally the government appoints an eel leader or "eelbeig" to head each eel in order to exercise discipline, collect tax and attend to tribal needs. Each tribe is managed by a beig or chief who is appointed by the eelbeig or grand tribal leader. All that has survived from these early Shahsavans have joined over 30 other tribes in Meshgin-Shahr and they lead a migratory life. But after `Land Reform', tribal power was diminished to almost nil in Iran. Nowadays the sect is a political and administrative classification and is administered by an elder or headman. A sect at times is managed by two elders. Each clan is divided into several goobeks which are formed of 20 to 40 families. These families normally have a single ancestor and their clannish name are derived from their great grandfather. Others are relatives of the clan or servants and shepherds who are hired by the clan. At times several clans claim to be of a single ancestor. History says in the beginning Shahsavan tribe was composed of 32 clans, but gradually side clans emerged and multiplied and formed bigger sects or clans. The Shahsavan Eel is composed of two tribes which live in Ardabil and Meshgin-shahr (a city in northeastern Province of East Azarbaijan). Shahsavan Summer and Winter Resorts The summer resort of the Shahsavan tribe is the Ahar and Meshgin-Shar elevations at the skirts of Mount Sabalan and their winter resort is the eastern Moghan Plain near Aras River which is 150 km far from the summer resort. The Shahsavan summer and winter resorts are quite distinct. The tribes first move from the winter quarter to a temporary spring quarter and then to their summer quarter. Upon their return and before settling at winter quarters they stop at an autumnal stopping place which is close to winter quarter. The path leading from winter to summer quarter is called Eel-rah or tribal path. Normally there are traditional stopping stations for the tribe. Originally the Shahsavan pastures were wholly owned by that tribe but the migrating nomads have a right to let their animal graze at Moghan Plain and have ownership rights in Sabalan pastures. Therefore it is normal for them to buy, sell or lease their pastures. At their summer resort they pitch four to five big felt tents at a distance of about 100 m from each other in the middle of the pasture. During winter two or three groups pitch their tents together and move together. Dress The dress of Shahsavan tribes resemble all other tribes in Iran. The men wear jackets, trousers and a kapi cap and the women wear a colorful rob covering their whole body with a skirt and pants like the Qashqaie or Gilani nomadic women. They wear also a scarf like other regions in the Iran. During festivals and special occasion the women wear a waistcoat adorned by silver and gold coins and tinsels. The Shahsavans earns their living from animal husbandry and since they enjoy better summer and winter quarters they lead a more prosperous life compared with other tribes in the country. The majority of the tents of Iranian, Arab and even North African tribesmen are woven by goat wool, but the Shahsavan tents resemble those in Central Asia. They first raise a wooden skeleton and then cover it with felt. They purchase the wooden poles from the market and change them once in three years. Between seven to eight persons live in each tent. Semicircular tents have also become popular in the past and present. Of course at times they employ Koomeh tents which resemble a lobby and are smaller and much more rough than a felt tent. Meanwhile since tarpaulin tents are cheaper they are gradually replaced by felt tents. The felt tent is composed of a ceiling and between 24 to 32 wooden poles covered by felt according to the size of the tent or the wealth of its owner. The felt covering and its interior and exterior decoration display the social dignity of the owner. Customs and Rites a. Festivals: During holidays the families visit each other and help the poor families by giving flour, oil or meat. b. Courting and Wedding: Two members of the family of the bridegroom enter the bride's tent and conclude a marriage pact which is very important for them and eat sweetmeats. During the interval between the courting and marriage the families of the two sides do not communicate with each other. After reaching agreement the family of the bridegroom visit the bride's family and carry a scarf, a necklace, a mirror, fabrics and sweetmeats. Several days later the guests are invited to the wedding party. The guests bring presents such as a hunting gun, a mirror, sweetmeat and the like; and as soon as the guests approach the groom's house, the musicians welcome them. The guests stay all the night at the bridegroom's house and give presents to the cook and the kitchen server. After several days of rejoicings in the groom's house, on the last day the guests visit the bride's house and bring the bride to the groom's house. When the bride exits to walk to the bridegroom's house, a child from the bride's family ties a beautiful belt over the bride's waist and the bride walks to the bridegrooms' house. A mirror is carried in front of the bride and her dowry follow the procession. When the bride approaches the bridegroom, the groom throws a red apple or flower to the bride. Meanwhile the wrestlers and musicians entertain the guests. c. Divorce: Divorce Is Scarce Among Shahsavans. d. First Baby: Whether an infant boy or girl, no ceremony is observed during the birth day until the sixth day of the childbirth when several relatives assembly, choose a name for the baby and the Holy Quran reader recites from the Holy Book. e. Circumcision: The baby boy is circumcised at 1 or 2 years age and the man who holds the baby during the operation must be a respectable figure in the tribe, especially in the family of the bridegroom. Farming and Handicraft Farming and handicraft is a secondary business after animal husbandry among Shahsavans. Their major handicraft are kelims, jajims (loosely woven coarse blankets), animal hanging bags, horse saddles, rolling beds, and other native articles. The material for the handicraft is obtained mostly from their livestock.  Front Page |