Origins The ruling family of Ardalan belonged to the Ardalan tribe, also known as Bani Ardalan tribe, whose name may has been suggested to have been acquired from a
Turkic rank. The ruling family considered themselves to be descended from
Saladin (), the founder of the
Ayyubid dynasty (1171–1260/1341). Some Ardalan monarchs claimed descent from
Ardashir I, the founder of the
Sasanian Empire. During the Safavid hegemony, the Ardalans were deeply involved in the conflicts between the Iranian and Ottoman empires, they shifted their Allegiance to the Ottomans whenever it suited them. By 1736,
Nader Shah had overthrown the
Safavid dynasty and started expanding the borders of Iran both to the east and west. He fought numerous wars against the
Ottoman Empire from the start of his reign until his death in June 1747. Some of the lands controlled by the Kurdish rulers were repeatedly transferred during these battles. The Ottomans and Nader Shah occupied Ardalan more than any other of those regions. In addition to these states, Ardalan was also invaded by the principalities of
Mukriyan,
Baban, and
Shahrizor. Soon after Nader Shah's assassination,
Karim Khan Zand became the new ruler of Iran. He gained control over most of the country, and before the winter of 1749, had launched a military operation against Ardalan. Its ruler, Hasan Ali, attempted to diffuse the conflict despite his lack of preparation, but failed. The Zand army destroyed his capital, Sanandaj. Kurdish rulers were never awarded important posts in the Zand dynasty's administrative hierarchy, such as the office of
beglerbegi (governor-general). Hereditary positions required royal approval, and Karim Khan did not always acknowledge the rulers those who were in line to take over their inherited domains. == Literature ==