Khan Ahmad Khan Ardalan

Khan Ahmad Khan Ardalan was the Ardalan beglerbeg (governor) of Kurdistan from 1617/18 to 1637.^[1][2] Before his tenure, he lived as a hostage at the royal court in Isfahan, where he spent his adolescence.^[3] There he reinforced the bond between the Safavids and Kurds by marrying Zarrin Kolah, a daughter of Shah Abbas I (r. 1588–1629).^[2][4] In 1617/18, Shah Abbas I dismissed Khan Ahmad Khan's father Halow Khan Ardalan as the governor of Kurdistan and had him sent to Isfahan, where he died in 1627/28. Khan Ahmad Khan was sent to Ardalan in his stead.^[2] In 1633, Khan Ahmad Khan rebelled after his two sons were blinded by Shah Safi (r. 1629–1642).^[5] Khan Ahmad Khan was defeated in 1637 and died in the same year. He was replaced by his cousin Soleyman Khan Ardalan.^[6]