ARDALAN

Ardalan: translation

Ardalan was an old Kurdishemirate, which by the 14th century ruled over large amounts of territory on either side of the centralZagros Mountains. According to theSharafnama, Baba Ardalan was a descendant of the earlierMarwanidKurdish dynasty.

In more recent times, along with the rivalBabans, Ardalan dominated the territory on either side of what is today theIraqi-Iranianborder. In the 19th century, Ardalan corresponded roughly with the present Iranian province ofKordestan. Thewalis(governors) of Ar-dalan, with their capital at Sinna (now known as Sanandaj), were hereditary rulers known for their loyalty to thePersian Empire. They epitomized the decentralized system of rule the later Safavids and their Qajar successors employed. The literary language of Ardalan was Haurami, aGuranidialect. Under the patronage of theArdalancourt, a large body of Kurdishliteraturewas produced in Gurani.