The Administrative Geography of the Old Cities of Abhar-Zanjān Plain: A Study on the Sultānīyya City During the Islamic Period

The Zanjan-Abhar plain is one of the most important region in the north western of Iran. However, now, it remains as an unknown place historically and archaeologically. This paper aims to examine the position of citis suited in the grand Abhar-Zanjān plain in the system of administrative division in Iran from the Early Islamic to the Qajar period. The results show that Zanjān and Abhar towns were considered sometime in Jebāl province, sometime in Deilam and sometime in Azarbaījān. In the 8th A.H century, by the construction of Sultāniyya in Sharouyaz, it became as seasonal capital of the Ilkhan with an independent administrative identity and distinguished city from Abhar and Zanjān. In early 10th A.H century and with the decline of Sultāniyya, its position reduced to a village in Jebāl or sometimes in Azarbaījān, affiliated to Zanjān and by the end of 13th A.H. century was a village depended to khamseh province.