Babanids

The Babanids were a Kurdish dynasty that ruled a principality in what is now southeastern Iraq and northeastern Iran from the early 17th century until 1851. The Babanids were a branch of the Kurdish Goran tribe and their territory was centered around the city of Sulaymaniyah, which they founded in 1784. The principality was characterized by a complex relationship with the Ottoman and Safavid empires, often acting as a buffer state between the two.

The Babanid rulers were known for their patronage of the arts and sciences, and their court became a significant center of Kurdish culture. They also played a role in the development of Kurdish literature, with many poets and scholars flourishing under their rule. The principality faced internal strife and external pressures throughout its existence. By the mid-19th century, the Babanids' power had waned considerably due to Ottoman and Persian interventions, leading to their eventual annexation by the Ottoman Empire in 1851. The legacy of the Babanids is significant in Kurdish history, representing a period of relative autonomy and cultural flourishing.