Aqrabi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ‘Aqrabi Sheikhdom
مشيخة عقربي
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| State of the Federation of South Arabia | |||||||||
| 1770–1967 | |||||||||
 Map of the Federation of South Arabia |
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| Capital | Bir Ahmad | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
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• 1946
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1,000 | ||||||||
| • Type | Sheikhdom | ||||||||
| Historical era | 20th century | ||||||||
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• Established
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1770 | ||||||||
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• Disestablished
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1967 | ||||||||
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‘Aqrabi (Arabic: عقربي ‘Aqrabī), also known as the Aqrabi Sheikhdom (Arabic: مشيخة العقربي Mashyakhat al-‘Aqrabī), was a small state in the British Aden Protectorate. It later joined the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South and then the Federation of South Arabia. Its main town was Bir Ahmad.
The state ended in 1967 when the People's Republic of South Yemen became independent. Today, the area where Aqrabi once was is part of the country of Yemen. The people of the Aqrabi tribe were known for their bravery.
Contents
Where Aqrabi Was Located
The Aqrabi people lived along the coast from Bir Ahmad to a place called Ras Amran. Their land stretched inland to an unknown point between Bir Ahmad and Wahat. Bir Ahmad was their only town, though it was more like a village.
A Brief History
The leaders, called sheikhs, of Aqrabi became independent from the Sultans of Lahej around the year 1770. This meant they started ruling themselves.
Early Dealings with the British
After the British took control of Aden in 1839, they made an agreement with the Aqrabi Sheikh, Haidara Medhi. However, relations became difficult. In 1850, an Aqrabi group killed a sailor from a British ship. This led the British to block off the port of Bir Ahmad for several years. This blockade stopped ships from coming in or out.
Friendly relations did not start again until 1857. At that time, the Aqrabi Sheikh promised peace and good will.
Changes in Leadership and Land Deals
In 1858, Sheikh Haidara Mehdi stepped down as leader. His son, Abdulla, took his place. In 1863, Sheikh Abdulla made a deal with the British. He agreed not to sell or give away any part of the Little Aden peninsula to anyone except the British government. In return, he received money and a monthly payment.
The British government wanted to fully own the Little Aden peninsula. After long talks, they bought the land on April 2, 1869, for a large sum of money. The Sheikh's monthly payment was also increased.
Conflicts and Treaties
There was often tension between the Aqrabi and a neighboring tribe called the Abdali. In 1887, this tension led to fighting. The Abdali tribe surrounded Bir Ahmad. Because this fighting affected British areas, the British stepped in. Peace was made on September 6, 1887.
The British also wanted to buy a strip of land along the coast. This land would connect their areas at Al Hiswa and Bandar Fukum. An agreement was reached on July 15, 1888. The Aqrabi Sheikh sold this land for another payment.
In 1888, a special agreement called a Protectorate Treaty was made with the Aqrabi. This treaty meant the British would protect the Aqrabi Sheikhdom. This treaty was officially approved in 1890.
World War I and Later Years
Sheikh Abdulla died in March 1905. His son, Sheikh Fadhl bin Abdulla bin Haidara, became the new leader.
During World War I, in 1915, the Turkish army commander in Lahej tried to make the Aqrabi Sheikh fly a Turkish flag. The Sheikh refused and sent the flag to the British in Aden. Because of this, the Turkish commander was very angry. The Turks then captured the Sheikh and imprisoned him for about a year. He was later released but kept under watch until the war ended. Many Aqrabi people had to leave their homes and were cared for in Aden.
After the war, the Aqrabi Sheikh and his people received money to rebuild Bir Ahmad. By 1931, the Aqrabi Sheikhdom had about 1,000 people.
End of the Sheikhdom
The Aqrabi state joined the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South in 1960. It then became part of the Federation of South Arabia in 1963. The last Sheikh, Mahmud ibn Muhammad Al `Aqrabi, was removed from power on August 28, 1967. The Aqrabi Sheikhdom officially ended in November 1967. This happened when the People's Republic of South Yemen was formed.
Rulers of Aqrabi
The leaders of the Aqrabi Sheikhdom were called Shaykh al-Mashyakha al-`Aqrabiyya.
Sheikhs
- 1770 - 1833: al-Mahdi ibn `Ali al-`Aqrabi
- 1833 - 1858: Haydara ibn al-Mahdi al-`Aqrabi
- 1858 - 8 Mar 1905: `Abd Allah ibn Haydara al-`Aqrabi
- 1905 - 9 Jun 1935: al-Fadl ibn `Abd Allah al-`Aqrabi
- 9 Jun 1935 - 1957: Muhammad ibn al-Fadl al-`Aqrabi
- 1957 - 28 Aug 1967: Mahmud ibn Muhammad al-`Aqrabi
See Also
