Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani جاسم بن محمد آل ثاني
Emir of Qatar
Reign	18 December 1878 – 17 July 1913
Predecessor	Mohammed bin Thani
Successor	Ahmed bin Muhammed Al Thani Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani
Born	1825 (1825) Muharraq, Bahrain
Died	17 July 1913(1913-07-17) (aged 87–88) Lusail, Qatar
Burial	Lusail Cemetery
House	Thani
Father	Mohammed bin Thani
Religion	Islam

Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (Arabic: جاسم بن محمد آل ثاني; born around 1825 – died 17 July 1913) is known as "The Founder" of the State of Qatar. He had many children, including 19 sons and 37 daughters.

Early Life and Becoming a Leader

Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was born around 1825 in Fuwayrit, Qatar. He was the oldest son of Mohammed bin Thani. From a young age, Jassim learned how to manage the country's affairs. He helped guide Qatar through important times and changes.

When he was about 21, Jassim moved to Al Bidda with his father. He quickly became a strong young leader among his peers. He showed his leadership by protecting Qatar from invaders, like those from the Emirate of Nejd.

Unifying Qatar and Dealing with Big Powers

Jassim wanted to make Qatar a single, independent country. Under his leadership, Qatar became a strong and stable nation. He brought different tribes together to build Qatar's future and secure its borders.

He also had to deal with two powerful empires: the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Both wanted to control the Persian Gulf region. Jassim used smart strategies to protect Qatar's interests from both of them.

Time in Prison

In 1867, Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was put in prison by the ruler of Bahrain. Jassim had traveled to Bahrain to talk about a Qatari bedouin who had been captured. His demand for the bedouin's return angered Bahrain.

Bahrain, with help from Abu Dhabi, attacked major Qatari cities. This caused a lot of damage. In return, Qatar attacked Bahrain in 1868. Many people died, and many ships were sunk. Jassim was later set free in exchange for captured Bahraini people.

Conflicts with the Ottoman Empire

In April 1871, the Ottoman Empire sent an army to Eastern Arabia. They wanted to land troops in Qatar. Sheikh Jassim agreed to let them land and even flew the Ottoman flag. By December, he allowed the Ottomans to send military gear and 100 soldiers to Al Bidda.

In January 1872, Qatar officially became part of the Ottoman Empire. Sheikh Jassim was made its local governor, called a kaymakam.

Qatar's Independence and Ottoman Disagreements

December 18, 1878, was a very important day. Sheikh Jassim took power, and this marked the start of the modern State of Qatar. He worked very hard to get Qatar recognized as an independent country by both the British and Ottoman empires.

Even though some local tribes didn't like it, Jassim first supported Ottoman rule. However, relations between Qatar and the Ottomans soon became difficult. In 1882, the Ottomans refused to help Jassim in a fight against Abu Dhabi.

Jassim also fell out of favor with the Ottomans because some Qataris complained about his actions. The Ottomans even tried to replace Jassim as governor in 1888.

Sheikh Jassim became a strong opponent of the Ottoman Empire. He didn't like their attempts to control Qatar more. They tried to put their own officials in cities like Zubarah and Doha. They also set up a customs office and sent more soldiers. In early 1892, Jassim quit his role as governor. He also stopped paying taxes to the Ottoman Empire in August of that year.

Standing Up to the British Empire

Besides opposing the Ottomans, Sheikh Jassim also stood against the British Empire's attempts to control Qatar. In 1882, he told British Indian pearl traders to leave Doha and closed their shops.

He gave up his control over Doha that same year. Soon after, members of the Bani Hajir tribe attacked the pearl traders. This made the traders leave Qatar and lose their profits.

The Battle of Al Wajbah

In October 1892, the Ottoman Empire sent an army of about 200 soldiers to Qatar. This was because Sheikh Jassim had stopped following their rules. The army arrived in February 1893, with more soldiers coming from Kuwait.

Sheikh Jassim worried he might be captured or killed. He fled first to Al Daayen, then to Al Wajbah Fort, which is about 10 miles west of Doha. Many Qatari tribes joined him there.

A Fight for Freedom

The Ottoman governor sent a letter to Sheikh Jassim. He demanded that Jassim send his troops away and promise loyalty to the Ottomans. But Sheikh Jassim refused to obey. He also said he was too sick to meet the governor. Instead, he sent his brother, Ahmed bin Muhammed Al Thani, to talk.

In March, after a month of talks, the Ottoman governor lost patience. He put Sheikh Jassim's brother and 13 to 16 important Qatari tribal leaders in prison on an Ottoman ship.

Because of this, a big battle happened in March 1893. Sheikh Jassim led his Qatari troops, made up of several tribes, against the Ottoman soldiers. The Qataris won a great victory! The Ottomans had no choice but to free the Qatari prisoners. In return, Sheikh Jassim allowed the captured Turkish soldiers to travel safely by land to Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.

This battle was a huge moment in Qatar's history. It was one of the most important battles in Qatar's fight for independence and freedom. The fort Sheikh Jassim used in the Battle of Al Wajbah was Al Wajbah Fort, located in Al Rayyan.

Later Years and Passing Leadership

The British tried to help solve the problems between the Turkish soldiers and the Qatari tribes. However, they couldn't accept Jassim's offer to put Qatar under British protection. The Turks eventually made peace with Sheikh Jassim.

Sheikh Jassim then moved to live peacefully in Lusail. He left the daily running of the country to his brother, Sheikh Ahmed bin Muhammed Al Thani. Sheikh Jassim had been writing to the British government about giving up control of Doha since May 1884.

Sheikh Ahmed was known as a smart and remarkable person. He was popular and had a lot of influence among the people.

Death

Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani passed away on the afternoon of July 17, 1913. He was buried in Lusail, a village about 24 kilometers north of Doha. Lusail is located in the municipality of Al Daayen.

Children

Sheikh Jassim had 19 sons. Here is a table with more information about them: