Ardalan
Ardalan () was a hereditary Kurdish vassaldom in western Iran from around the 14th century until 1865 or 1868 with Sanandaj as capital. The territory corresponded roughly to present-day Kurdistan Province of Iran and the rulers were loyal to the Qajar Empire. Baban was its main rival. Gorani was the literary language and lingua franca. When the vassaldom fell, literary work in Gorani ceased. History. According to Sharaf al-Din Bitlisi, the renowned Kurdish historian, the earliest known leader of the tribe, Bani Ardalan, was a descendant of "Ahmad b. Marwan" also known as "Nasr al-Dawla Ahmad ibn  Marwān", who was the ruler of Marwanid Emirate in 1011–1061 centered in Amid. He settled down among the Goran Kurds in Kurdistan and toward the end of the Mongol period took over the Sharazor, where he established himself as an absolute ruler. Bani Ardalan's family also declared themselves descendants of the legendary Saladin.