Qu'aiti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Qu'aiti State of Shihr and Mukalla
ٱلدَّوْلَة ٱلْقُعَيْطِيَّة ٱلْحَضْرَمِيَّة ٱلْقُعَيْطِي al-Quʿaytī
|
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1858–1967 | |||||||||
 .svg) Top: 1939-1967;
Bottom: 1880-1939  Coat of arms
|
|||||||||
Map of the Qu'aiti State and the Protectorate of South Arabia
|
|||||||||
| Status | 1858–1888: Independent state 1888–1963: Part of the Aden Protectorate 1963–1967: Part of the Protectorate of South Arabia |
||||||||
| Capital | Ash-Shihr (until 1915) Mukalla (from 1915) |
||||||||
| Government | Sultanate | ||||||||
| HH Sultan | |||||||||
| Historical era | 19th and 20th centuries | ||||||||
|
• Established
|
1858 | ||||||||
| 1888 | |||||||||
|
• Disestablished
|
30 November 1967 | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Today part of | Yemen | ||||||||
The Qu'aiti Sultanate of Shihr and Mukalla, often called Qu'aiti, was a state in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, this area is part of Yemen. Its main city was Mukalla. The Sultanate was divided into six areas. These included Al-Mukalla, Ash-Shihr, Shibam, Du'an, the Western Province, and Hajr. Ash-Shihr and Shibam were also very important cities.
The Qu'aiti Sultanate stretched along the Indian Ocean coast. It reached the border of the Mahra Sultanate. It also covered the central valleys and oasis towns of Hadhramaut. The Sultanate even controlled the southern part of the Empty Quarter desert.
Contents
History of the Qu'aiti State
The Qu'aiti family's story began with Umar bin Awadh al Qu'aiti. His sons became important leaders in the army of the Nizam of Hyderabad State in India. In 1858, they took control of the town of Shibam from their rivals, the Kathiris. This helped them gain power over the Hadhramaut region.
Early Conflicts and British Involvement
In 1866, Sultan Ghalib bin Muhsin of the Kathiri tribe took the town of Shihr. He captured its fort. At this time, the Qu'aiti tribe held the inland town of Shibam. The Qu'aiti leader, Shaikh Abdulla, worried that Mukalla would be next. He feared his access to the sea would be cut off. So, he asked his brothers, who served in Hyderabad, for help.
The British government was asked to step in. However, they chose not to get involved directly. They also did not allow an armed group from India to help.
In April 1867, Awadh bin Umar, also known as Sultan Nawaz Jang, arrived near Shihr. He was Abdulla's brother. He blocked the sea and attacked Sultan Ghalib bin Muhsin. Awadh won, making his brother Abdulla the leader of Shihr. The Kathiri Shaikh tried to retake Shihr later that year but failed. The Qu'aiti family kept control of the port and its area.
Control of Mukalla and Treaties
In 1873, Salih bin Muhammad, the leader of Mukalla, died. He had signed a treaty to stop the trade of enslaved people in Mukalla. His son, Umar bin Salih, took over. The Qu'aiti leader of Shihr offered to help Umar against a rebellious local leader. The Qu'aiti leader entered Mukalla fort with 600 followers. He then demanded money, claiming the previous leader owed him.
Umar bin Salih had no choice but to agree. He signed a treaty to give up half of Mukalla and other areas. In return, he would receive a large payment. But fighting continued. Umar allied with the Kathiri. The Qu'aiti, with help from their relatives in Hyderabad, bought a ship. This ship was stopped by the British. The Qu'aiti leader had to promise to send it to Bombay without attacking any Hadhramaut ports.
In 1873, the Qu'aiti leader of Shihr also signed a treaty. He agreed to stop the trade of enslaved people in Shihr and its areas.
The British government tried to stay out of the conflicts. But in 1876, they helped arrange a truce between the leaders. This truce lasted for two years, then one more. Still, no lasting peace was found. Fighting started again in 1880. The Qu'aiti leader captured Burum. The leader of Mukalla eventually signed agreements.
In November 1881, the leader of Mukalla gave himself up to a British ship. He was taken to Aden. The Qu'aiti leader took control of Mukalla and its areas.
Becoming a British Protectorate
In 1882, the Qu'aiti leader of Shihr and Mukalla became a British "stipendiary." This meant he received a yearly payment from the British. He also paid a large sum to support the former leader of Mukalla.
On May 1, 1888, the Qu'aiti leaders, Abdulla bin Umar and his brother Awadh bin Umar, signed a Protectorate Treaty with Britain. This meant Britain would protect the Qu'aiti state. Abdulla bin Umar died later that year. His brother Awadh bin Umar continued to receive the payment and honors.
In 1902, the Qu'aiti leader was given a special honor. His title changed from "Jemadar" to "Sultan." He also received a permanent salute of 9 guns.
Succession and Modernization
Sultan Awadh bin Umar died in December 1910. He named his oldest son, Ghalib, as his successor. His will also set up a system for future leaders. The leadership would switch between the families of his two sons. Ghalib became Sultan, and the British continued his father's payments to him.
Sultan Ghalib died in 1922. His son Salih was named as his successor. However, an agreement was made with his uncle, Umar bin Awadh. Umar became Sultan, and Salih was recognized as his heir. In 1923, the British government recognized Sultan Umar. He also received a personal salute of 11 guns.
By 1931, the Sultanate had about 60,000 people. Its yearly income was estimated at a large sum.
End of the Sultanate
In the 1960s, Great Britain planned for the independence of South Arabia. The Qu'aiti state chose not to join the British-backed Federation of South Arabia. Instead, it remained under British protection as part of the Protectorate of South Arabia.
Despite promises of a vote by the United Nations, the Qu'aiti State was taken over by communist forces on September 17, 1967. In November of that year, the Qu'aiti State was forced to join communist South Yemen without a vote. South Yemen later joined with North Yemen in 1990. This created the modern Republic of Yemen.
Current Qu'aiti Royal Family
The Qu'aiti Royal Family continues to exist today. Here are some of its members:
- His Highness (HH) Sultan Ghalib II bin Awadh bin Saleh Al-Qu'aiti: Born in London on January 7, 1948. He ruled briefly from October 10, 1966, to September 17, 1967. Sultan Ghalib studied at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. He has degrees in Islamic History and Arabian Studies. He speaks seven languages. He has written books like The Holy Cities, The Pilgrimage and The World of Islam. He is married to Sultana Rashid and has children.
- HH Crown Prince Saleh Al-Qu'aiti: Born in London. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He is married to Princess Salwa Al-Huraiby and has children:
- Prince Ghalib III bin Saleh
- Princess Aliya bint Saleh
- HH Princess Fatima Al-Qu'aiti: Born in London. She has degrees from the University of Oxford. She also attended Harvard University. She is married to Prince Shad Al-Sherif Pasha and has children:
- Prince Suleyman
- Prince Hashim
- HH Princess Muzna Al-Qu'aiti: Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She has degrees from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and the American University in Cairo. She is married to Hisham Hafez. Hisham is the son of Mohammed Ali Hafez, who founded important Middle Eastern media companies. They have children:
- Prince Ismail
- Princess Sultana
- Princess Asma
Qu'aiti Sultans
.jpeg)
Here is a list of the leaders of the Qu'aiti Sultanate:
- HH Jemadar/Sultan Abdullah bin Omar Al-Quaiti – Ruled as Jemadar of Shihr from 1867 to 1882. Then as Sultan Nawaz Jang of Shihr and Mukalla from 1882 to 1888.
- HH Sultan Awadh I bin Omar Al-Qu'aiti – Ruled from 1902 to 1909.
- HH Sultan Ghalib I bin Awadh Al-Qu'aiti – Ruled from 1909 to 1922.
- HH Sultan Omar bin Awadh Al-Qu'aiti – Ruled from 1922 to 1936.
- HH Sultan Sir Saleh bin Ghalib Al-Qu'aiti KCMG - Ruled from 1936 to 1956.
- HH Sultan Awadh II bin Saleh Al-Qu'aiti – Ruled from 1956 to 1966. He had several marriages and children.
- HH Sultan Ghalib II bin Awadh Al-Qu'aiti (mentioned above in "Current Qu'aiti Royal Family") - Ruled until 1967.
- Princess Saleha bint Awadh Al-Qu'aiti
- Prince Omar bin Awadh Al-Qu'aiti, who is married and has children:
- Prince Hussain bin Omar
- Prince Mohammed bin Omar
- Princess Noor bint Omar
- Princess Maha bint Omar
- Princess Sara bint Omar
- Princess Leila bint Omar
- Princess Ghada bint Omar
See also
- Sultan Al-Qu'aiti Palace
- Hadhramaut
- Aden Protectorate
- List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
Images for kids
-
1942 stamp showing Sultan Saleh and the city gate of Ash Shihr
-
1946 Victory issue stamp
-
1955 stamp showing Sultan Saleh and lime burning
