Said bin Taimur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Said bin Taimur
Sultan Said in 1958
Sultan of Oman
Reign	10 February 1932 – 23 July 1970
Predecessor	Taimur bin Feisal
Successor	Qaboos bin Said
Born	13 August 1910 Muscat, Muscat and Oman
Died	19 October 1972(1972-10-19) (aged 62) London, England
Burial	Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, England Royal cemetery, Muscat
Spouse	Sheikha Fatima bint Ali al-Mashani Sheikha Mazoon bint Ahmed bin Ali al-Mashani
Issue	Qaboos bin Said
House	Al Said
Father	Taimur bin Feisal
Mother	Sheikha Fatima bint 'Ali Al-Sa'id
Religion	Ibadi Islam

Said bin Taimur (Arabic: سعيد بن تيمور) was the 13th Sultan of Muscat and Oman. He was born on August 13, 1910, and ruled from February 10, 1932. His time as sultan ended on July 23, 1970, when his son, Qaboos bin Said, took over.

Said bin Taimur belonged to the House of Al Said, a royal family. He became sultan in 1932 after his father, Taimur bin Feisal, stepped down. Said was only 21 years old when he became ruler. He worked to unite the country and bring different areas, like Muscat and Oman, together. After the country was united, he moved his home from the capital city of Muscat to a town in Dhofar Governorate. In 1951, Muscat and Oman became fully independent states under his rule.

Early Life and Education

Said bin Taimur was born in 1910. He went to Mayo College in Ajmer, India, from 1922 to 1927. There, he became very good at speaking English and Urdu.

When he came back to Muscat in 1927, some people thought he should study more in Beirut. However, his father worried that studying there might make him too interested in Western ideas. Instead, his father sent him to Baghdad for a year to study Arabic literature and history.

Starting His Political Career

After studying in Baghdad, Said bin Taimur started working in the Omani government. In August 1929, he became the head of the Council of Ministers. His father, Sultan Taimur bin Feisal, was having trouble managing the country. This opened the door for Said to become a new leader.

The British government liked Said. In February 1932, when he was 21, Said became the new Sultan. The country he inherited had many debts, especially to Britain. To become truly independent, Oman needed to improve its economy. So, from 1933 until 1970, Said controlled the country's money and spending.

Family Life

In 1936, Said married his second wife, Mezoon al-Mashani. She was a cousin of his first wife. In 1940, Mezoon gave birth to Said's only son and future ruler, Qaboos.

Said had three children:

• Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said
• Sayyida Hujaima bint Sa’id bin Taimur Al-Sa’id
• Sayyida Umaima bint Sa’id bin Taimur Al-Sa’id

His Time as Sultan

Becoming Sultan

When Said became Sultan, he took control of the remaining parts of the Omani Empire. This included nearby areas like Oman and Dhofar, and also Gwadar in the Arabian Sea. Oman had a long friendship with the United Kingdom since 1798 and had been protected by Britain since 1891.

International Relations

As Sultan, Said kept a good relationship with the United States. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited Said and his father to visit the U.S. Said traveled from California to Washington, D.C.. He visited the White House and saw the FBI Headquarters. He also honored George Washington at Mount Vernon.

During World War II, Sultan Said worked closely with the British. Several airfields were built in Oman for the Royal Air Force. This helped keep supply routes open for Britain and its allies.

How He Ruled

Oman had a lot of oil wealth, which could have helped Said modernize the country. In 1951, Britain officially recognized Oman's independence. However, Said faced challenges from within his own country. Imam Ghalib bin Ali, a religious leader, wanted power for himself.

The Imam's revolt in Jebel Akhdar was stopped in 1955 with British help. This made Saudi Arabia and Egypt unhappy, as they supported the Imam. In 1957, they supported another revolt by the Imam, which was also put down by 1959.

In 1958, Said sold Gwadar to Pakistan. In 1967, Britain returned the Khuriya Muriya Islands to Oman.

Over time, Said became more distant from his people. In 1965, he made deals to export oil, but he did little to improve the lives of Omanis. The benefits of these oil deals did not reach the people until after he was removed from power in 1970.

In 1965, the region of Dhofar had a revolt. This time, it was supported by China and some Arab countries. There was also an attempt to assassinate Said in 1966. These events made Said even more unpredictable in his rule. He made strict rules, like banning smoking in public or playing football. He even kept his own son, Qaboos bin Said, under house arrest in the palace.

Before he was overthrown in 1970, Oman had very few modern services. There were only three schools in the whole country. Only about 5% of people could read and write. There were also only about 6 miles (10 km) of paved roads.

His Removal from Power

Qaboos, Said's son, returned from his studies in the United Kingdom in 1964. He had studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served in the British Army. After returning, he was placed under house arrest by his father. Said did not speak to his son for the last 14 months before the change in power, even though they lived in the same palace.

On July 23, 1970, Qaboos successfully took control from his father in a palace coup. He had help from the British and his uncle. Said was then sent to live in the United Kingdom. He spent his last two years at the Dorchester Hotel in London. He was first buried in Brookwood Cemetery in Woking, England. Later, his remains were moved back to Oman and buried in the royal cemetery in Muscat.

Honours

• Hon. Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE): 1945
• Hon. Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG): 1965

External links

• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Death of the Last Feudal Arab State
• Sultan Said touring British tanks

See also

In Spanish: Said bin Taimur para niños