In the history of Kurdistan, in every region, several names and families are considered a part of that region’s history and identity. These families and clans could have positive or negative influences on these areas due to their powers or professional capabilities. For instance, the “Simko” family i.e. Simayl Agha in Targawar and Margawar region and “Shekhan Nahri” in both parts of North and East of Kurdistan, and the “Jaf” family in both parts of South and East of Kurdistan and “Qazi” family in Mahabad and “Ardalan” family in Sina (Sanandaj) and many other families and clans that cannot be named here for it might make a long list.
Among all these families, one of the most well-known families in the Ardalan region was the Wakil family. This family was famous in the Ardalan region and Sina City. They had an important role in the history of this region. Their name is included in all those books that are written on the history of the Ardalan dynasty and Sina City.
In fact, this family’s history goes back to the Safavid era, and their name remains popular as a title.
Let us find out where this title came from originally and trace back its history; and what place did they have among the rulers of Kurdistan during the Ardalan dynasty.
In order to find the main clue, we need to take a look at “The political history of the Wakili Family in Kurdistan” by “Rostam Alikhani”. The author discusses this topic in the first chapter of his book elaborately. He says:
“Wekalat” (being presentative) was considered as important as the governmental agency or trustee and this title was very significant to the Ardalani “Rulers”. This title was also very important politically. In fact, this was a title being granted at the king’s court and it was first innovated by the “Aq Qoyunlu” officials and “Shah Abbas” from the Safavid dynasty followed the same route during his reign through which he would choose some trustworthy men under the title of Wakil (representative) to take care of some certain affairs.
This rank was popular among Iranian kings until the Zand dynasty. However, the Qajar dynasty made many changes in their court, one of which was changing the “Wakalat” rank into “Wazarat” (ministry). The important point here was that these two ranks were only distinct lexically i.e. the name of the title changed however the essence of the title stayed the same and a Wazir (minister) had to do what a Wakil (representative) was doing before.
This is why the titles of Wakalat and Wazarat had the same connotation in the court of the Ardalans.
According to the authors of the Ardalan Emirs, a minor branch of the Ardalan clan was mentioned in history as the sons of “Khalid Bag” that is “Mir Khoshnaw” during the reign of “Khan Ahmad Khan” who was in charge of ruling at the same time as “Shah Abbas”. Since this clan was responsible for being the representative of the Ardalan dynasty from the time of the Afsharid’s reign, kept the title of Wakil. Based on the book mentioned above this family was originally from “Ma’moun Bag Ardalan” who was one of the Mirs of the Ardalan dynasty at the time of “Shah Tahmasb” of the “Safavid” dynasty.
“Mullah Mohammad Shirifi Qazi” who was a historian, wrote about the origins and ancestors of the Wakil family of Kurdistan as follows: Ma’moun Bag’s offspring in Kurdistan had several different branches. The first branch included those who were in charge of ruling the provinces and states. This branch was descended from “Mir Alamaddin”. The second branch was descendants of “Mir Askandar”. The third branch belonged to the “Ibrahim Bag” family. The head of this clan was “Khosrow Bag” and his father “Darvish Bag” who were well-known, respected figures. This clan was well-known for a hundred years in Kurdistan and they had the title of Wakil. They were also in charge of receiving the taxes and they were “Ishik Aghasi” which meant the chief of the castle’s affairs on the outside of it so that they would run out of the castle errands.
Darvish Bag revolted twice against “Ali Qoli Khan” but they called for peace finally by some benevolent figures meddling. Ali Qoli Khan offered his sister to marry Darvish Bag and this led to peace between them. “Mohammad Qoli Bag” was wakil of receiving taxes for sixteen years during “Nader Shah” from the Afsharid dynasty. “Ibrahim Bag”, “Mir Ali Sultan”, and “Khosrow Bag” (with the same official rank) and also a more famous figure named “Mohammad Rashid Bag” at the time of “Khosrow Khan” until the day he died were Wakil for thirty years and they were in charge of taxes, too. These men were also the head of their clan and the province and they were all descendants of Ibrahim Bag.
In the history of Kurdistan which is written about the Wakil and Ardalan clans, it is mentioned that: after Ma’moun Bag passed away, his son, Sorkhab Bag, became the ruler of Ardalan. He divided his lands among his offspring before his death. “Baram Bag” of Ardalan, the ancestor of the Ardalani Wakils, was one of Sorkhab Bag’s sons who took charge of “Ruwandiz” ruling after his father passed away. Most of the Ardalan court historians consider the Wakil clan of Sina (Sanandaj) as the agents or representatives of Kurdistan and the Ardalan government who had inherited this rank over the years among their family members.
The pioneer of this clan was “Khalid Bag”, the son of “Bahram Bag” and the grandson of “Sorkhab Bag” the Great.
Vakil Mansion - Sina
Sorkhab Bag, the Mir of Ardalan, who lived in the same era as “Shah Tahmasb” of the Safavid dynasty, chose his fifth son, “Bahram Bag” as the prince of “Ruwandiz” and “Amedi”. At the time of Khan Ahmad Khan I i.e. in 1025 – 1046 of Hijri, the sons of Khalid Bag realized they wanted to go to Kurdistan, the Ardalan region, and receive the rank of Wakil (representative). Thus, it makes the Wakil clan cousins of the Ardalan Mirs on their father’s side.
“Ayatollah Mardokh Rohani” in his book called “Mardokh History” and “Mastoura Ardalan” in her book called “The History of Kurds” mentioned that the Wakil clan in Kurdistan traced back to the Ardalans and they also said that the Wakil family were descendants of Khalid Bag “Mir Khoshnaw”, the son of Bahram Bag, the son of Sorkhab Bag.
What is really important is that this family had a great influence on the way the Ardalans ruled in the area. Since they were in charge of the Ardalan castle's outside affairs, they directly contacted the people and the society, making them an agent of the Ardalan dynasty and how people would think of the Ardalans. They were also in charge of receiving taxes, so they had a direct impact on people’s financial conditions. In order to find the realities behind their influences on society we need to gather more historical evidence on the matter.
Vakil Bath - Sina
