Zerzari or Zerzarok, Zarzariyya, Zirzariyya (, ), was a Kurdish tribe during the Middle Ages. The Zarzariyya were most likely a branch of the Hadhbani tribe, they made a Military cavalry unit in the Ayyubid Sultanate.
The name of the Tribe is a combination of ZÃÂr (, ; ) and Zar or Zarok (, ; ), which means "Golden child".
The ZarzÃÂrë tribe originally came from the Erbil region. Based on al-ÿUmarëâÂÂs (d. 1349) descriptions, they controlled a strategic mountainous area roughly bounded by the Dukan lake in the south, à  ino/Ushnu in the north, the Qandil mountains in the east, and Rawanduz (ḪuftiyÃÂn) in the west. Their tribal strongholds included ḪuftiyÃÂn al-ZarzÃÂrë (Rawanduz), Ḫuftëá¸ÂkÃÂn/RustÃÂq al-ZÃÂb (Qala Diza), and SëdakÃÂn (?), forming a triangle that allowed them to dominate this key corridor between the Ilkhanid-controlled Azerbaijan and the Erbil plains leading to the Jazira steppe. Though geographically small, this âÂÂpocketâ held crucial strategic importance, controlling a key pass between the Mongol-held Azerbaijan region and the plains of Erbil. From the mid-13th century, sources note the ZarzÃÂrëâÂÂs independence from major states, with neighboring groups such as the BalkÃÂn, who controlled the ḪÃÂn pass on the Qandil Mountains, acting merely as their auxiliaries. Some sources mention a place called BilÃÂd MalÃÂzkurd (YÃÂzkurd/BarzÃÂrkut/BazÃÂrkurd), but its exact location remains uncertain and should not be confused with Mantzikert (Malazgirt) in historic Armenia, which lies far outside the ZarzÃÂrë homeland.
The ZarzÃÂrë are among the oldest Kurdish tribes documented in Arabic historiography. They first appear in records through notable individuals such as Al-Adil ibn al-Sallar, who became vizier of Fatimid Egypt in 1148.
The ZarzÃÂrë were heavily involved in the armies of the Zengids and later the Ayyubids. They were also recruited by the Artuqids of Diyar-Bakr and the Atabegate of Mosul. During the Ayyubid era, many ZarzÃÂrë emirs served prominently in the army. Notable military leaders included à  Ã«rkà «h b. BÃÂḫil al-ZarzÃÂrë, one of the Ayyubid commanders during the Siege of Acre, and Nà «à ¡Ã«rwÃÂn al-ZarzÃÂrë, who swore allegiance to Al-Afdal after Saladin's death. In addition to their military prominence, the tribe also produced intellectuals such as á¸ÂiyÃÂ' al-Dën Muḥammad b. ÿUṯmÃÂn al-Irbilë al-Kurdë, a commentator on al-Firà «zÃÂbadë's work.
Imad al-Din al-Isfahani described the ZarzÃÂrë troops, part of the Ayyubid army, as: "Zirzariyya who mocked the lion, clothed in bravery and naked of all defect." This reflects the tribe's reputation as fierce and valorous warriors.