Sanandaǧ

Sanandaj, also called Senna, became the centre of the Kurdish Ardalan principality in the mountains of western Iran. From their strongholds the Ardalan rulers governed a country inhabited by several Kurdish tribes. The town's position placed it between the Safavid and Ottoman realms, and its governors had to balance local authority with the demands of powerful neighbours.

Under the Safavids the Ardalan lands became a semi-autonomous frontier province, and its hereditary chiefs usually held the title of vali. Khan Ahmad Khan took over the governorship in 1615 after being raised at Shah Abbas's court. In the eighteenth century Khosrow Khan supported Karim Khan Zand and began building a great palace, the Khosroviya, in Sanandaj. After Karim Khan's death he fought rivals around the passes and eventually supported Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, extending his influence across much of western Iran.