Bitlis uprising (1914)
Kurdish revolt against the Ottoman Empire
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The Bitlis uprising[a] was a Kurdish uprising in the Ottoman Empire in early 1914.[4] It was supported by the Russian Empire.[4] It was fought concurrently with an unrelated Kurdish uprising in Barzan in the Mosul Vilayet, which was also supported by Russia.[4] Later Kurdish nationalist historiography portrayed the uprising as part of a Kurdish nationalist struggle, but its actual causes laid in opposition to conscription and taxation.[4] The uprising began in early March, with a skirmish between Kurdish fighters and Ottoman gendarmes, where the latter was forced to retreat.[4] The Kurds subsequently laid siege to the city of Bitlis, and captured the city on 2 April.[4] Ottoman forces were then dispatched from Muş and Van and suppressed the uprising.[4] After the defeat of the uprising on 4 April, one of the rebel leaders, Mulla Selim, successfully sought asylum in Russia.[4]
Ottoman victory
- Uprising suppressed
| Bitlis uprising | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Bitlis Bitlis uprising (1914) (Turkey) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
Kurdish rebels Supported by: Russian Empire | Ottoman Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Mullah Selim[1] Sayyid Ali[1] Sheikh Şahabeddin[1] Abd al-Salam Barzani  Simko Shikak[2] | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Up to 8,000[3] |
Garrison at Bitlis: Unknown, but less than the Kurds[4] Reinforcements: Unknown | ||||||