Bakhtiari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bakhtiari | |
|---|---|
| Total population | c. 1 million (est.) |
| Regions with significant populations | Southwestern Iran: 1,000,000 [1] |
| Language | Bakhtiari dialect of Luri, Persian |
| Religion | Shi'a Islam <tr>
<th style="background-color:#fee8ab;">Related ethnic groups</th> <td style="background-color:#fff6d9;">Other Iranian peoples</td> </tr> |
The Bakhtiari (or Bakhtiyari) are a group of southwestern Iranian people.
A small percentage of Bakhtiari are still nomadic pastoralists, migrating between summer quarters (yaylāq, ييلاق) and winter quarters (qishlāq, قشلاق). Bakhtiaris speak Luri, and are a subgroup of the Luri people.[citation needed] Numerical estimates of their total population widely vary. In Khuzestan, Bakhtiari tribes are primarily concentrated in the eastern part of the province. Bakhtiaris trace a common lineage, being divided into Chahar Lang and Haft Lang groups. The Bakthtiaris are Shia Muslims.
Bakhtiaris primarily inhabit the provinces of Lorestan, Khuzestan, Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari, and Isfahan. In Iranian mythology, the Bakhtiari consider themselves to be descendants of Fereydun, a legendary hero from the Persian national epic, Shahnameh.
Many significant Iranian politicians and dignitaries are of Bakhtiari origin.
[edit] Famous Bakhtiaris
- Sardar Assad, Bakhtiari Haft Lang Chieftain and Constitutionalist
- Soraya Esfandiary, Queen of Iran (1951-58)
- Pezhman Bakhtiari, poet (1900-1974)
- Mohammed Mossadegh, Prime Minister (1951-53) (he was also a Qajar)
- Shahpour Bakhtiar, Politician and Prime Minister of Iran (1979)
- Rudi Bakhtiar, FOX TV news-anchor and journalist
- Bahram Moshiri, Historian and scientist
- Oman Samani, poet
- Teymur Bakhtiar, Iranian general and head of Savak
