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|population_footnotes = <ref>[http://ishtartv.com/en/viewarticle,35793.html Sarkis Aghajan Funds New Project in Baghdeda]</ref> |population_note = Including some 15,000 Assyrian Chaldean refugees from other Iraqi cities

'''Bakhdida''' ({{lang-syr|ܒܓܕܝܕܐ}}, [[Arabic]]:بخديدا) {{IPA-syr|bɑχdɛːdə}}, also known as '''Baghdeda''', '''Qaraqosh''', '''Karakosh''' or '''Al-Hamdaniya''', is an [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyrianChaldean]] city in northern [[Iraq]] within the [[Ninawa Governorate]], located about 32&nbsp;km (20&nbsp;mi) southeast of the city of [[Mosul]] and 60&nbsp;km west of [[Erbil]] amid agricultural lands, close to the ruins of the ancient Assyrian Chaldean cities [[Nimrud]] and [[Nineveh]]. It is connected to the main city of Mosul by two main roads. The first runs through the towns of [[Bartella]] and [[Karamles]] which connects to the city of [[Erbil]] as well. The second which was gravel until the 1990s when it was paved, is direct to Mosul.

The vast majority of its inhabitants are ethnic AssyriansChaldeans, more than 70% of whom are members of the [[Syriac Catholic Church]], while the rest are [[Jacob Baradaeus|Jacobite]] [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox]]. The recent wave of violence targeting Christians in Iraq forced many Assyrians Chaldeans living in major Iraqi cities to move to Assyrian Chaldean towns in the [[Nineveh Plains]], which swelled the town with an influx of [[Iraqi refugees|refugees]] mainly belonging to the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] and the [[Assyrian Church of the East]].

The main language spoken is the Nineveh Plains variant of [[Syriac]], which is almost identical to that spoken in other major Assyrian Chaldean towns (like [[Alqosh]] and [[Tel Kepe]]) in the region. [[Arabic]] is also used as a second language. [[English language|English]] is widely understood by younger generations.

As of now, the Al-Hamdaniya Municipality also includes towns of [[Bartella]] and [[Karamlish]] and tens of other smaller [[Assyrian_settlementsChaldean_settlements#Ninawa_Province|Assyrian Chaldean villages]].

It is thought that the ancient city of ''Rasin'' mentioned in some texts was in Bakhdida.<ref name="sawt bakhdida">[http://www.bakhdida.net/Mathaf/MattiBabaTareekhBakh.htm تاريخ بخديدا]، متي بابا، جريدة (صوت بخديدا) العدد الرابع</ref> Furthermore the town is situated 5&nbsp;km north of [[Balawat]], where important [[AssyriaChaldean]]n artifacts were found by the [[Assyrian Chaldean people|Assyrian]] [[AssyriologistChaldean]] [[Hormuzd Rassam]]; most of them are displayed at the [[British Museum]] and the [[Louvre]].A variant of the name ''Bakdedu'' is said to be the place of a decisive battle between the Ancient Chaldeans and the [[AssyriaBabylonians]]ns and the [[BabyloniansChaldeans | Chaldean people]] in 610 BC after the [[fall of Nineveh]] by the Native Chaldeans of [[Mesopotamia]].

The town then became part of the consecutive empires that ruled the region. Persian influence can be still seen by the possible explanation of its name. Many gods worshipped before Christianity was established were of [[AssyriaChaldean]]n and [[Persia]]n origins.

The Assyrians Chaldeans of Bakhdida became Christians during early Christianity. With the Christological disputes of the 4th century, they followed the [[Church of the East]] teaching but switched to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] through the influence of [[Shapur of Baghdeda]] in the 7th century.

Bakhdida's population is indigenous to the village; however, Chaldean and Syriac Christians from other regions of Assyria Mesopotamia have moved to and settled in Bakhdida. In 1089, the [[Church of Mar Aho Dama]] in [[Tikrit]] (built before the 10th century) was looted and taxes on its Jacobite population became so unbearable that most of the Christians left the city and the Jacobite [[Mapharian]], [[Youhanna IV Saliba]], followed suit and moved to Mosul. Many of these Tikriti Christians moved to Baghdeda and later a few Mapharians settled in it as well. Still, the town would be a great anthropological study with many rooted family names such as Assu, Ashu, Ballu, Gadju, Hallu, Jadju, Olo, Rammu, that reflect Assyrian Chaldean [[Akkadian]] influence.

In their literature and writings, the Assyrians Chaldeans of Baghdida remember vividly the raids of the Persians and Kurds on their village and churches. In 1171, while the governors of Mosul and Damascus were fighting each other, the Kurds used the opportunity to attack the [[Mar Mattai monastery]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=DVcZAAAAIAAJ&q=Kurds+Mar+Mattai&dq=Kurds+Mar+Mattai The chronography of Gregory Abû'l Faraj, the son of Aaron, the Hebrew physician]</ref> According to the 13th century writer [[Bar Hebraeus]], in 1261 the Kurds came down to Mosul, killing many Christians who refused to follow Islam and looting their homes and churches. The Kurds then occupied the nunnery of Muqortaya and killed many of the nuns and others who had sought refuge there. In 1288 a battle took place between the Kurds and [[Tatars]] near Baghdida. In 1324 Baghdida was attacked by the Kurds again and many homes and four churches were burned.<ref>Bar Hebraius, Summary of the History of the lands, Arabic edition P. 492-497</ref> In 1742 the [[Afsharids]] led by [[Nadir Shah]] plundered and looted the whole region of [[Mosul Vilayet]], including many Christian villages.

In 1580, certain Jacobites of Bakhdida began to build relations with Rome through the monastery of Mar Bihnam, but it was not until the 18th century that these Jacobites began to join the Vatican and became known as [[Syriac Catholic Church|Syrian Catholics]]. Recently, the Dominicans celebrated 250 years of their presence in the north of Iraq. There was much unrest between the new Catholics and the original Jacobite Christians. It is reported that when Catholic bishop Essa Mahfoodh went to see the Jacobite Patriarch Elias II Hindi al-Mosulli (1837–1847) in order to secure the division of properties between the two groups, he was received with insulting remarks. The patriarch told the Catholic bishop: "French (Papists), isn't it enough that you divided my people in Mardin? Have you now come to Mosul to do the same thing here?" Backed by the French, the bishop went to Mohammad Pasha, the Turkish governor, and presented his complaint to him. In 1837 the properties (churches and monasteries), manuscripts, and furniture were divided in a special manner between the two [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyrianChaldean]] denominations.

===Chaldean and Syriac Security Force===The next city has created the [[Iraqi parliamentary election, 2010|parliamentary electionsQaraqosh Protection Committee]] on 7 March 2010 saw the rise of local candidates with the , which has 1200 not heavily armed [[Assyrian Democratic MovementChaldean People|Chaldean]] coming second. Only 52% of registered voters participated in this election.<ref>[http://www.karemlees.com/t6123-topic سير الأنتخابات في مراكز بغديدا وكرمليس], منظمة حمورابي لحقوق الأنسان</ref>Due security guards dedicated to patrolling the rise outskirts of extremism in Iraq shortly after the US-led invasion, many of city and keeping the villagers in [[Mosul]] and [[Baghdad]] were targeted for being Christiansviolence at bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=[http://wwwvideos.catholicnewsagencyhuffingtonpost.com/newsentertainment/new_archbishop_of_mosul_calls_persecuted_iraqi_christians_to_hope/ |title=New Archbishop of Mosul calls persecuted Iraqi Christians to hope :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=2010christian-01security-27 |accessdate=2010guards-12keep-01}}karakosh-iraq-safe-516999366]</ref>

On 22 Nov. 2006 ''Yeshu' Hadaya'', the leader of a National Syriac movement was assassinated in Bakhdida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://election.elmarada.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40465:%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%A1&catid=63:literature&Itemid=108 |title=مسيحيـــــو العـــــراق وتحديـــــات البقـــــاء |publisher=Election.elmarada.org |date= |accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref> Students from the village were harassed in [[Mosul University]]; many female students were forced to wear Islamic dress for fear of being attacked.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://christiansofiraq.com/studentsjune176.html |title=Assyrian University Students Beaten By Iraqi Police |publisher=Christiansofiraq.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-01| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20101120143551/http://christiansofiraq.com/studentsjune176.html| archivedate= 20 November 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> On 2 May 2010 a convoy of buses carrying students from Bakhdida to [[Mosul University]] was the target of a coordinated attack which killed and injured more than a hundred.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/world/middleeast/03iraq.html Bombs Hit School Buses in North Iraq], SAM DAGHER, the [[NY Times]]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Car-bomb-targets-Christian-student%E2%80%99s-bus-near-Mosul-18297.html |title=IRAQ Car bomb targets Christian student’s bus near Mosul - Asia News |publisher=Asianews.it |date=2009-11-14 |accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref> In April 2011 The Iraqi Ministry of Education started the construction of a university in Bakhdida that is planned to serve the whole [[Nineveh Plains]] region.<ref>[http://www.zowaa.org/nws/ns7/n100411-12.htm وضع حجر أساس جامعة الحمدانية]</ref> ===Assyrian Security Force===The city has created the [[Qaraqosh Protection Committee]], which has 1200 not heavily armed [[Assyrian People|Assyrian Christian]] security guards dedicated to patrolling the outskirts of the city and keeping the violence at bay.<ref>[http://videos.huffingtonpost.com/entertainment/christian-security-guards-keep-karakosh-iraq-safe-516999366]</ref> === Islamist terrorist attacks and invasion ===

At the beginning of July 2014, [[Terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and Syria|ISIS]] forces attempted to occupy the city. The [[Kurdish people|Kurdish]] [[Peshmerga]] and the [[Assyrian Chaldean People|AssyrianChaldean]] [[Qaraqosh Protection Committee]] successfully defended it, while elders, women, and children fled to neighboring towns, thus joining other Christian refugees from nearby [[Mosul]] that had previously escaped the city in fear of the extremists.<ref>As reported by [http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/naher-osten/irakische-christen-stehen-unter-kurdischem-schutz-13032626.html Frankfurter Allgemeine] (in German language)</ref> The Islamists proceeded to cut off the town's water supply. This, together with the rise in the price of oil following ISIS' invasion of nearby oil field and an [[embargo]] imposed by ISIS forcing nearby Muslim villages to stop trade with Bakhdida, rendered life difficult in the town also burdened with incoming refugees.<ref>[Iraq's Waterless Christians: The Campaign to Expel a Religion Business Week: Iraq's Waterless Christians: The Campaign to Expel a Religion]</ref> On 6 August 2014, the Kurdish troops withdrew from the city and the next day Islamists from [[Islamic State in Iraq and Syria|ISIS]] invaded the city.<ref>As reported by [http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2014/08/07/97001-20140807FILWWW00062-irak-des-jihadistes-prennent-la-plus-grande-ville-chretienne-du-pays.php Le Figaro] (in French language)</ref> Much of the population, including recent arrivals, was left joining the 150,000 Assyrians Chaldeans fleeing, though they were forced to walk towards [[Erbil]] without their cars and possessions as Kurdish forces feared Islamist infiltration.<ref>As reported by [http://fr.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/08/07/irak__les_chr%C3%A9tiens_contraints_de_fuir_qaraqosh/1104121 Radio Vatican] (in French language)</ref>

Since the late 19th century various locations on the outskirts of the town were excavated by [[Hormuzd Rassam]]. In [[Balawat]] (the ancient Assyrian Chaldean city of Imgur-Enlil) a number of Assyrian Chaldean artifacts have been excavated; they are currently displayed in the [[British Museum]] and [[Mosul museum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/b/balawat_ancient_imgur-enlil.aspx |title=Balawat (ancient Imgur-Enlil, Iraq) |publisher=British Museum |date= |accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref>There is a lot of interest in the archaeology of Baghdida today. It has many Assyrian Chaldean remains, like those of Tel Bashmoni (Beth Shmoni), Tel Muqortaya, Tel Karamles, Tel Mar Bihnam and others. These mounds were fortresses, temples or buildings that belonged to the Assyrian Chaldean capital of [[Nimrud]]. Throughout 1922, 1927, and 1935, archaeologists found gold pieces and cylinder seals, as well as an Assyrian Chaldean statue (now in Mosul museum) in a well in the church of Mar Zina. In 1942 an Assyrian Chaldean bathroom and several graves were found near the church of Bashmoni. Furthermore, during the 1980s excavations in the grounds of the Church of Mar Youhanna (Saint John), archaeologists found human remains inside graves in the eastern side and at a depth of one and a half metres. These graves were built with typical Assyrian Chaldean large rectangular bricks.

References to Athur (Assyria) Mesopotamia continued in texts from Baghdeda. Mapharian Athanasius Ibrahim II of Tur Abdin visited Tikrit, Baghdad, and Arbil to attend to his congregation. According to Afram Abdal al-Khouri and his book ''al-Lu'lu' al-Nadheed fi Tareekh Deir Mar Bihnam al-Shaheed'' (''The Layers of Pearls in the History of the Monastery of Martyred Mar Bihnam''), 1951, p.&nbsp;219, Sony writes: "in 1365 the Mapharian came to Athur or Mosul and was welcomed by Nour al-Din the Chief of Baghdeda … " (Sony 1998, 699). Last but not least, Sony writes that in 1294–1295 (according to the Mar Bihnam monastery archives) a certain king "came to Lower Athur, the city of Saint Mar Bihnam … " (Sony 1998, 95).

Banned prior to the American invasion, this [[Kha b-Nisan|national Assyrian Chaldean festival]] has started to gain popularity between youths in the last decade.

{{Portal|Assyrians}} *[[List of Assyrian Chaldean settlements]]

[[Category:Assyrian Chaldean settlements]]