Military Power of Kurdish Tribes and the Pattern of Power Balance in the Safavid Era: A Case Study of Zanganeh and Kalhor Tribes

During the Safavid period, one of the main challenges for social order in Iran was the central government's control over tribes and nomadic groups, particularly the Kurdish tribes. At this time, Kurdish tribes, especially Kalhor and Zangeneh, operated independently and did not adhere to central authority. The Zangeneh and Kalhor tribes, as significant Kurdish groups in western Iran, had different approaches in their interactions with the Safavid state. The present research examined the role of these two tribes in the power balance of the Safavid government, aiming at explaining how this balance was established and what consequences it had for each tribe. The research hypothesis suggests that during the early Safavid rule, the Kalhor acted more independently, while the Safavid government relied more on the Zangeneh tribe. Findings indicate that the Zangenehs' proximity to the center of power increased their political influence and allowed them to bring the Kalhors under control. During Shah Ismail's reign, more attention was directed towards the Kalhor tribe; however, following their rebellion and the establishment of Kalhoristan in Baghdad, which distanced them from central authority, the balance shifted in favor of the Zangeneh tribe.