1)The Struggle Against

Bahrain, 1828-1867
2)The Rise of the Al-
Thani
3) Treaty of 1868
 Conflict with Bahrain, 1830s
 Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Hakim (ruler) of Bahrain (son of Ahmed “the conqueror in
1783)
 Bahrain contested between Al-Khalifa, Saudis (come in 1840s), Omanis (threat in 1830s want
Bahrain back) (island with significant resources and imp trade routes and island natural fortress.)
 Fears Saudis and pays them tribute, but eventually stops
 Considers Qatar his domain, particularly northern area.
 Interferes in Qatar
 Taxes
 Pearl trade
 Pre-emtive strikes against his perceived enemies
 Attacks Abu-Aynayn in Doha in 1828 in retribution of one of them killing someone in BH,
and people of Bidda dispersed.
 Conflict against people of Huwailah an important political economic stronghold. Many
people who left zubara cause of al khalifa went to huwailah. Became place of unity for
people against al khalifa of BH.
 Leader here is Isa bin Tariff, Sheikh of Al-bin-Ali tribe
 Major Qatari leader before Mohammed bin Thani
 Allied with the Saudis. First Saudi state destroyed by Egyptians but had desert climate to protect them
from total annihilation from Egyptians.
 Abdullah Al-Khalifa attacked him in huwaila as consequence of alliance, 3 Oct 1835 with 1,000
men.
The Second Saudi State

 1840 – Egyptian forced

(Moh. Ali) withdraw
from al-Hasa
 Revival of Wahhabi
Power in Riyadh
in najd region
 Faisalbin Turki in
charge, 1843-1865
 Saudis retake Al-
Hasa
Al-Khalifa Tribal War (or “Civil War in
Bahrain”) 1840-1843
 Between the successors of Ahmed “the conqueror” Al-Khalifa
 Abdullah bin Ahmed (Abdulla faction) vs. Mohammed bin Khalifa bin salman
(Salman faction)
 Initially Abdullah was Hakim of Bahrain but then he was deposed by Mohammed
bin Khalifa
 In this conflict, Zubara and other parts of northern Qatar play a vital role
 A piedmont (area for launching attacks) against Bahrain
 Area of refuge for the losers of the conflict.
 Esp. Khor Hassan
 Area that the Bahraini ruler needs to secure.
 Bahraini civil war continues to catalyze the decline of Qatar’s north
(1840s) and its replacement by the east, esp. Doha, Wakra, Al-Khor area.
 Saudis exploit conflict to seize control of Al-Khalifa, as do Qatari tribes, to free
themselves of Al-Khalifa rule.
Isa bin Tariff against Abdullah bin
Ahmed Al-Khalifa who was forced to leave huwaila and
go to abu dhabi after defeat, and planned things there
 Joins Mohammed bin Khalifa (Salman) in attack on Bahrain, 1842
 Qatari tribes like Abu Aynayn and Maadhids join like 1766 and 1810
 Mohammed bin Thani of Fuwairit joins
 Attack on Bahrain and overthrown of Abdullah bin Ahmed
 Mohammed bin Khalifa becomes ruler of Bahrain
 Soon Qatari tribes turn against him as well.
 He suspects they are conspiring with his enemies who is Abdullah
 They reconcile with Abdullah bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, who finds refuge in Khor Hassan
 Isa bin Tariff and Qatari tribes pursue Realpolitik (politics of realism) for
independence from Al-Khalifa ruler of Bahrain.
on 7 November 1847, they [Isa bin Tariff and
his deputy] jointly wrote to Samuel
Hennell:

“We write to inform you with regard to Mahomed bin Khuleefa and his brother
Ali, who have acted treacherously towards us, in return for the good, which as
you know we did them. They had launched six Buglahs, and two Buteels, when
the Commodore arrived at Bahrein, and put a stop to their proceedings. He also
wrote an interdictory letter to us, and we desisted (from all hostile
preparations). Subsequently Ali bin Khuleefa put to sea with the Buglah Tuweela,
and three boats, and cast anchor at Fowairut in Kutr [Qatar]. We know not,
what his object may be, but you are aware that Haweyla [Huwailah] is our
country, and we fear but he should take it. Such is the way in which they harass
and annoy us in exchange for the services we rendered there.” From Rahman
reading.
Battle of Umm Suwayya, 1847
after 10 days of letter
 Mohammed bin Khalifa sent 1,000 men to surround Fuwairit
 Isa bin Tariff and Abullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa had force of 600 men
 17 Nov. 1847, Battle of Umm Suwayya near Fuwairit
 Isa bin Tariff killed along with 80 of his men.
 Abdullah defeated and flees to Najid.
 Mohammed bin Khalifa takes charge of Qatar.
 Attacks Bidda to punishes Al-bin-Ali, Isa’s tribe
 Maintains an Al-Khalifa wali (agent) in Doha-
Wakra area.
Ali. His brother.
 Al-Thani hijra from Fuwayrit to Doha

The Al-Thani – Background

 Al-Thani come from the Maadhid tribe of Nejid,
 Founder of the Maadhid was Maadhid bin Musharraf, governor of the
Jabrin oasis in central Arabia.
 The al-Thani claim descent from Bani Tamim tribe of central Arabia, since the
Maadhid
was a branch of this larger tribe.
 Migrated from SE of Qatar peninsula to al-Rowes and al-Zubara.
 Early 18th c. migrated to Qatar
 Thani bin Mohammed born in Zubara, wealthy pearl merchant
 Mohammed bin Thani (r. 1788-1878)
in Fuwayrit
Al-Thani hijra from Fuwayrit to
The Al-Thani – Background
 Mohammed bin Thani comes to Doha after defeat at Battle of Um Sumayya
 1848
 Economic and political reasons like pearl diving
 Used diplomacy to survive
 With Mohammed Al-Khalifa, paid tribute
 With Saudis, paid tribute to protect from faisal bin turki
 paidtribute With Abu-Dhabi tribes, who interfered with khor Obaid who
would then may go to Doha. Common for enemies of sheikh of abu dhabi to
escape to those 2 places creating tension.
 His leadership of Doha noted by
 British in 1851, who held him accountable for piracy pirate

Distance and climate made al khalifa not able to maintain control in doha
Visit of William Gifford Palgrave to Doha
(al-Bidda)
 British explorer and Arabic scholar
Visited al-Bidda (Doha) in 1863 and met with Muhammed
Bin Thani
- recognized him as leader of entire region
- “He is famous for his
wisdom and simplicity, which signify his wit. He is
obstinate and practical. He gained information in arts,
poetry and medicine through study. He is a religious
man.”
-Jassim bin Muhammed bin Thani is “rasher
than his father and his palace looks like a castle.”
Saudi invasion of Doha and the blockade
against Qatar
 Faysal bin Turki who is leader there in hasa (Saudis took over in hasa in 1840s) demands Mohammed bin
Khalifa’s submission to his rule and tribute payment
 Joins Abdullah faction, Mubarrak bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa.
 Faysal goes to Doha, Al khalifa has north. Faysal Comes to Qatar to use it against Al-Khalifa, 1851
 Mohammed bin Thani and tribes of Doha and Wakra welcome him and turn against Ali (the wali) Al-
Khalifa who flees.
 Saudis prepare for invasion of Bahrain
 Beginning of Al-Thani – Al-Khalifa conflict. Qatari tribes with Saudis too. New conflict al thani al khalifa
 In response, Mohammed bin Khalifa blockades Doha from the sea, first blockade of Qatar
 Appeals to the British for help who get convinced after first declining as Mohd told them how sea will be
dangerous for British interests due to war and how Saudi control of BH will be dangerous for british interests.
Demanded Faysal refrains from attack.
 Doha still blocked. Even through pearling season of 1851, having huge economic consequences on Doha and
Wakra. This gave people of Qatar to find dif solutions to defy challenge. Good relation of mohd bin thani with
Saudi got supplies from Hasa
 Blockades Al-Hasa coast.

Peace between Bahrain and Saudis
 British used the Saudi-Bahraini conflict to gain own foothold in Bahrain
 Al-Khalifa forced to sign a protectorate treaty in 1861
 Bahrain’s conflicts proves the Treaty of Peace of 1820 to be too weak
 Surrenders foreign policy powers to British, to make foreign policy decisions.
 Gains protection against Saudis
 British recognize independence of Bahrain and Al-Khalifa rule in Qatar

 British solve the conflict on a traditional tribal basis

 Al-Khalifa is the tax collector for Saudis and others in Bahrain and Qatar
 Al-Thani pays him and he pays Saudis
 Eventually he stopped paying Saudis but kept taking the payment from the Qataris.
 His wali, agent, is his political authority in Doha-Wakra area. To show AL Khalifa govern here.

 Conflict between the Al-Khalifa and Al-Thani

 Over Al-Khalifa exploitation and despotism
 Over friendly Al-Thani relations with Saudis
 Push comes to shove in 1867

1865, Faysal dies 4 years later and civil war between two sons adbdullah and saud. Not threat to
Bh anymore. So tax now collected for al khalifa still.
The Wakra Incident of 1867
 Ali the Wali’s men
attacked an al- Naim
caravan in Wakrah
market.
 Imprisoned its sheikh, Ali bin
Thamer
 Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammad,
Mohammad bin Thani’s son,
mobilizes Qatari tribes against
the Al-Khalifa wali
 Wali flees to Khawr Hassan
 Mohammed bin Khalifa lured
Sheikh Jassim to Bahrain
and imprisoned him.
Attempt to obliterate Doha and Warka

 Invasion of Wakra and Doha in October of 1867 –

 Muhammad bin Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi

“…the towns of Doha and Wakrah

were, at the end of 1867,
temporarily blotted out of existence,
the houses being dismantled and the
inhabitants deported.”
-JG Lorimer, Gazetteer of the Persian
Gulf, Vol. 1, 1915
-British political agent called it a
“barbarous act.”
Battle of Damsa

Saudis unwilling to take action

against Bahrain for Qatar.
June 1868, Qatari tribes attack Bahrain on
sea
Battle of Damsa (naval battle)
60 ships sunk and 1,000 men killed.
Qataris imprisoned two big shaykhs of the Al
Khalifa and exchanged them for Shaykh Jassim bin
Mohammad.
British investigation of the violation of
the Treaty of Truce.
 British political resident, Col. Lewis Pelly, investigates conflict between Al-
Thani and Al-Khalifa
 Violation of 1861 treaty and trucial treaty
 1 Sept. 1868, interview Mohammed bin Thani on their
 ship near the port of Warka.
 Al-Thani reports on "Bahraini pirates" who destroyed their property and
towns. Refer to Moh bin Khalifa, as a “criminal” who "during a quarter of a
century was increasingly becoming the terror of his neighbors..."
 A thief and terrorist, taking all wealth to Bahrain, which unlike Qatar was
blessed with natural resources...
 Pelly convinced and travels to Bahrain 5 days later.
British investigation of the violation of
the Treaty of Truce.

 Pelly attacked at his fort and deposed Mohammed bin Khalifa.

 Installed their own person as leader in Bahrain, Sheikh Ali.
 Ali agreed to imprison Mohammed bin Khalifa and to pay a fine of 100,000 German
Crowns for Bahrain’s violation of Treaty of 1861.
 Mohammad bin Khalifa joins the Abdullah faction in effort to overthrow Ali.
 The British defeated them both and sent them to exile in India
 Replaced Sheikh Ali with his son Sheikh Isa Al-Khalifa
 British pressured Bahrain to remove itself completely from Qatar
 Qatar now became its own separate state entity.
 The Treaty of 1868

 The British Political Resident, Col. Lewis Pelly landed in Wakra and signed a
treaty with Sheikh Muhammad bin Thani, 12 Sept. 1868
 The Treaty
 Formal recognition of al-Thani’s authority and ability to govern the tribes of the
Q
peninsula, and his representation of Q people
 Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani agreed
 to return to Doha, which he left during the attack
 to direct any disagreement with Bahrain via the Resident (brits)
 to refrain from maritime warfare and not to ally himself to Muhammad Khalifa.
 Continue paying pay tax pay zaka to al-Khalifa
 Imply protect sovereignty
Other issue: The British used this to their economic advantage, and get resources of gulf
people, the pearl bank especially.
 Allow Banyans (British-protected Indian merchants) to trade in Qatar’s ports and cities
under the protection of the British.
The Significance of the Treaty of 1868
 Al-Thani recognized as rulers but had a special status that was different
from that of rulers of various Trucial states. Not entirely independent yet
in eyes of treaty. As a result, he received new power. Backing for his power
as independent sheikh
 This marked end of al-Khalifa rule in Qatar and replacement with
Al-Thani. A step toward independence.
 The treaty was a milestone in evolution of Q.
 Q. recognized as independent from Bahrain.
 Not until WWI would Great Britain enter into more formal agreements
with Q.
 The treaty marked the rise of Al-Thani and Q.'s development.
 "While it would give too much weight to the actual power and influence of the
British inside Q to suggest that Britain essentially created the social and
political conditions of Qatari society, the British did create an element of
categorical friction, a stickiness of identity, in a society that had once had a
fluid and dynamic tradition of legitimacy and power." --Fromherz
British voices on the Treaty of 1868
British Captain Francis Beville Prediaus, Political Agent in Bahrain, 1904-9 clarified
meaning behind the treaty 1868:
"At some time between 1851 and 1866, Sheikh Moh. bin Thani was enable to
consolidate for himself, no doubt with the good offices of the Wahhabis ... a compact
little dominion containing the towns of Wakra, Doha, and Bida, the independence of
which from Bahrain was practically established and ratified by the Gov of India in
1868...." --Rahman, pg.79
THE OTTOMAN The Making of Sheikh
Jassim

ERA, 1871-1913
INCREASED EUROPEAN
PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE
EAST AND GULF

1869 – opening of the

Suez canal
 REASONS FOR THE MODERN OTTOMAN
EMPIRE’S RETURN TO THE ARABIAN
PENINSULA AND GULF in 1871
Long term cause: Civil war, failure to keep
Ottoman Empire losing control over the Balkans, early 19th C. up with modernization
 Revolt against the Ottomans by the Christian Balkan people (greeks especially, efforts, nature of
ottoman imperial rule
surbs, etc?).
 “Sick man of Europe” by prime minister of Austrian empire. An empire in
decline.

The “Big Game” over the Middle East

 Great Britain, Ottoman Empire, Russia, and later, Germany looking to step in.
 1869 opening of the Suez Canal, French-British project. Med to red sea.

Ottoman Empire undergoes modernization reforms

 Tanzimat Reforms: modern state, citizenship, military

Reaction to British expansion to the Gulf and India in the 19th c.

 Indian rebellion, 1857, causing change of policy to direct rule using tech (rail).
 Trucial System making evolution by late19th C. To more protective treaties.
 British control over the Gulf, Bahrain, and intrusions into Qatar in 1860s. Steam powered
ships in 1860s. Traveling as ferry from bombai to hormus to oman coast to Bahrain to basra
to Persia back to india.
 THE SAUDI CIVIL WAR AFTER
1865 FALL OF 2ND SAUDI STATE
The immediate cause Ottoman arrival
Abdullah vs. Saud , the sons of Faisal bin Turkey (d. 1865)
civil war
Abdullah bin Faisal allies with Ottomans
Medhed Nafiz Pasha, Ottoman governor of Baghdad
Peaceful intentions towards the Gulf, did not expect to fight
any people of GULF
20 Apr. 1871, Abdullah bin Sabah Al- Sabah of Kuwait
joins a naval force with the Ottoman militia: Fear of British
intrusion. Becomes qaymaqam of the ottoman area of
Kuwait. They eventually join ottoman empire. Lends naval
force of 80 to 300 ships; use sheikh as negotiator with Gulf
sheikhs. Talks to mohd bin thani.
Establishment of the District of Najid
Najid and Al-Hasa, ruled by the Al-Sabah. For his loyalty
 OTTOMAN VS.
Clash with the British
 British Interests:
BRITISH INTERESTS
 make the Gulf into a “British lake” and maritime path to India.
 Preserve Ottoman Empire to maintain balance of power in
Europe
 Ottoman interests:
 Establish control of Gulf, from Basra to Oman.
 Counterbalance British power in Gulf
 Gain control over Arabia from Saudis, they don’t want new Saudi
state.
 Ottomans overestimated British ambitions. Thought they want to
take over Arabia. So they rush to take over Gulf coast.
 Ottoman arrival creates a “cold war” scenario. No shooting, etc.
 Neither side wants to directly confront the other.
 Qatar becomes the major contested territory of the Otto Brit rivalry.
 Its first moment in the larger international arena.
 Geopolitical
Brits allow ottomans importance.
to do what they want because they don’t want war and instability in Europe.
Brit embassy in ottoman empire and vice versa.
Brits scared about ottoman naval force in sea.
Brits make sure other (Kuwait did) trucial states don’t go with ottomans. Brits take greater control of gulf coasts.
Want to give Qataris what brits didn’t. Be a shield. To be shield from British expansion.
QATAR’S PROBLEMS AFTER
1868 before ottos come
Saudi civil war spills over to Qatar due to close proximity. Armies
come to replenish their supply.
 Plunder, steal, take supplies of Qatari coasts and cutting off of the water supply.
Prevent people there from having water
Internal security problem
 Attacks on Doha and other settlements such as in North as become wealthier and
more vibrant regional pearling industry. More of target by marauders.
The Al-Khalifa rulers of Bahrain
 Tax payment to Isa bin Ali AL K, ruling northern parts.
 Northern parts of Qatar
 Mutually-claimed tribes such as al naim or other bedu tribes that send as
representatives or intervene to maintain control and intervene in internal affairs
of al thani sheikhdom
Sheikh of Abu-Dhabi and the southeast and even to doha
 Khor al-Udayd as refuge for tribes that are against him, might even go to doha
 Economic competition against the British, actually the merchants.
 The Banyans (British-protected merchants)
 Jassim bin Mohammed builds a huge fleet (3,000 ships) to compete with them. For
pearling, uniting tribes by supplying means to compete with banyans.
 THE
OTTOMANS IN
 July 1871, Abdullah bin Sabah comes to Doha by sea as an Ottoman representative, bringing
ottoman flags, to persuade Qatar to join ottomans and fly flag.
 Mohammed bin Thani refuses, but Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani accepts
 Ottoman flags flown in Doha, Wakra, Al-Khor. Meaning Qatar joining ottomans, shocking
Brits.
QATAR
 The crisis in relations with the British
 Major Grant (brit political residency) lands in Doha on 19 July 1871 to meet with Mohammed
bin Thani
 Mohammed bin Thani: conquered by Ottomans
 Jassim bin Mohammed, the Heir and de-facto ruler:
 Showed problems with the Treaty of 1868
 No protection over land
 Jassim did not sign Treaty of 1868, Jassims name not on the treaty
 1868 limited to maritime peace and did not forbid Qatar from having own foreign policy

 British turn away from the Al-Thani

 Effective lapse of Treaty of 1868, Jassim rebelled against Brits and scraped the treaty.
 British pro-Al-Khalifa and Al-Zayed stance to put pressure on Jassim to alienate Ottos.
 Qatar in the Ottoman-British cold war
THE OTTOMANS IN
QATAR
REPORT BY NAFIZ PASHA, DEC. 1871
(KURSUN 2002, P. 54.)
 THE
troops and a field gunOTTOMANS IN
Dec./Jan. 1871, Ottoman authorities at al-Hasa sent a military detachment of 100
to Doha.
 Commander Omar Bey
QATAR
 Pulled up bay in Bida’ by Naval vessel, Ashur

Conditions of Ottoman rule

 1) Qatar an Ottoman district (Kaza Qatar) subordinate to Najd;
 2) Jassim, the governor of Qatar, Qaimmaqam. Ottos don’t come as conquerors.
 No salary
 3) Qatar exempt from tax payments
 4) Ott military force in Bidda’, a symbol of protectorship, sign of ottoman turf
 Midhat Pasha decided that “as Qatar … has no revenue of its own , Jasim b.
Thani, the ruling sheikh of Q. was appointed qaim-maqam without salary and
the relevant order of appointment was duly sent.” (Kursun 2002, p. 60)
 THE
OTTOMANS IN
Report by Omer Bay to Midhat Pasha from Dec. 1871 (from Rahman, p.
95)

QATAR
 JASSIM BIN MUHAMMAD AL-
THANI (1825-1913)
Eldest son of Muhammad bin Thani Served as father’s deputy
Experienced leader by the time Ottos came
Herioic fighting for Qatars freedom
Imprisoned by al-Khalifa of Bahrain, 1867
 Leading to “Qatari-Bahraini conflict” of 1860s.
 Released in return for Bahraini POWs
Wealthy pearl trader, owned more than 20 ships. Traded pearls with India, among other places. Cosmopolitan, skillful man of sea
 Devout Muslim
 Ottomans, British, Saudis praised his courage, intelligence, determination, resilience. United Qatari tribes, fought with them for Qatars
independence against British.
 Known for uniting the Qatari tribes and fighting for Qatari independence (against Ottomans and British)
 Al-Mu’asis‫ – س سؤمال‬The Founder – of the Qatari State
 18 December 1878 – succeeded his deceased father

 National Day in Qatar.

 SHEIKH JASSIM AS
• QAIMMAQAM
Reasons for accepting Ottoman rule OF KAZA
• Security problem against Saudis and against marauding tribes and pirates. Even from Abu Dhabi.

QATAR
• Al-Khalifa and Abu-Dhabi problem, sending middlemen to make problems for Jassim
• Problems with the 1868 Treaty
• Al-Khalifa, as official ruler based on paying taxes
• No official Security
• Challenges to power centralization
• Banyans competing with pearl trade and economic incentive from Brits and their protection.
• Ottomans versus British, Jassim could play one against the other.
• Muslim solidarity, maybe more trustworthy than Brits.
Connection with a modern European state, economic incentives, establish trade networks further north
into levant and Anatolia.

• Significance of Sheikh Jassim’s appointment as an Ottoman governor

• Sheikh Jassim, an Ottoman citizen. First Qatari leader that is citizen of a larger state
• Recognition of Qatar’s sovereignty as the peninsula, Brits said only ruler of Doha
• Recognition of Al-Thani as rulers of Qatar
• End of Qatari tax payments to Bahrain, allowed by Ottomans
 THE
British reaction to Qatar’sOTTOMANS
falling under the Ottomans: IN
• Fear of Ottoman expansionQATAR into the Gulf
• Ottoman navy in Gulf threatened British navy, Brits increased naval presence in
sea, particularly around Qatar.
• British dispatch their ships for regular inspections
• Sheikh Jassim’s argument:
-vagueness and one-sidedness of Treaty of 1868, whereby Britain
does not do enough for Qatar (esp. no Protection over land)
-Treaty of 1868 only pertains to affairs at sea, not land
-He never signed the Treaty of 1868

Al Khalifa said no to Ottomans due to the Brits.

 ZUBARA – THE OTTOMAN-
BRITISH BORDER
CONFLICT OVER ZUBARA starts in early 1870s. Ottos Wanted to build fort and put
pressure on al K to join them. Securing area from Brit influence.
-Ottoman presence drives Isa bin Ali Al-Khalifa, ruler of Bahrain, to claim the area on
historical grounds
 18th c. presence and Bedouin there his subjects (al K’s)
 Appeals to British for help. British tell him to stay out of Zubara, with a firm warning in 1875.

Zubara continues to
Significance: serve as a piedmont for
-Big powers Isa’s enemies, e.g.
start the Nasir bin Mubarak,
bordering of but now the stakes are
Qatar. higher!
-modernization
From
(borders are a
Rahman
sign of this)
KHOR AL-UDAYD AND THE
CONFLICT WITH ABU- DHABI
Abu-Dhabi’s close geographical proximity Qatar, and history of tribal interference in
Southeast and east coast, all the way to Doha
 1867 attack included Abu-Dhabi sheikh.
 Circa 1888, 250 Bedu attacked Bidda
 24 people killed, including one of Sheikh Jassim’s sons, Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani
 Sheikh Jassim leads a campaign against Abu-Dhabi in 1888
 Ottomans do not support him
 Jan. 1889 invades Liwa Oasis and Dhafir, destroys date plantations
 War against Abu-Dhabi vs. Bani Yas.
 Jassim invades Sila via sea, and the British interfere to
protect Sheikh of Abu-Dhabi.
 Jassim claimed it for Qatar
 Again, moment of border-drawing by bigger powers.
 Problem: Jassim growing alienated from Ottomans
 BRITISH-OTTOMAN CONFLICT
OVER QATAR’S BORDERS
Ottomans seek to rebuild Zubara and establish administrative posts
there and in Khor Al-Udayd
 Seek to profit from the pearl trade
 1891, British object to this and a diplomatic crisis begins

British stance
 Limit Qatar’s size, since it’s an Ottoman domain
 Fear that Zubara will be used to take over Bahrain

Ottoman stance
 Territorial basis for Qatari sovereignty, which includes Zubara and Khor Al-
Udayd
OTTOMANS DEFINE
QATAR’S BORDERS
 OTTOMANS AID QATAR’S SOVEREIGNTY
CONCL
 Kaza Qatar under Al-Thani rule
USION
 Security by ottomans. Stop Saudi and badu, atleast initially seen as doing so.
 Wedge against Britain intervention.
 Sheikh Jassim’s advantage. Play brits against ottos. Make each power behave.
 Ottomans conceptualize Qatar as a peninsula state. First vision of modern Qatar.
 In general, “Big Game” leads to border drawing and territorialization
 Cold war over the Gulf
 Increased foreign control over the Gulf areas. Ottomons will take greater control of Qatar to secure from Brits and vice
versa.
 Modernization: hand in hand with this greater control comes modernization.

 Jassim’s role
 Using diplomacy to protect Qatar’s sovereignty.
 Struggling for Qatar’s sovereignty
 Rebellion vs. the British
 End to tax payments to Bahrain, something his father didn’t do. Symbolically at least frees himself from AL
Khalifa rule. Expands, symbolically at least, to make domain the entire peninsula. Reason Founder of Qatar reason
 Willing to go to war for Qatar’s interests
 Invasion of the Emirates (Trucial states)
-Decline of Ottoman Rule in Qatar, 1880-
1890s
THE BATTLE OF WAJBA
AND ITS AFTERMATH
Ottoman Officials relevant to
Qatar

Midhad Pasha: Ruler of Baghdad who launched campaign in 1871 to conquer Nejd (asked to
aid), al-Hasa, and moved to negotiate with Al sabah and came to Qatar. Out of power by 1872.
 Mehmed Nafiz Pasha: Governor of Basra who interacts with Sheikh Jassim in Qatar.
 Akef Pasha: Governor of Al-Hasa who interacts with Sheikh Jassim in Qatar
Abduhamid II: Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani (born circa 1827!)
Two periods of the Ottoman Era in
Qatar

1871 – 1880 : good or stable relations between Sheikh Jassim and the Ottomans
 1884: Ottomans commend and reward Sheikh Jassim for his service

1880 – 1913: relations become increasingly tense, break down in open war, and remain cold
 Highlight, Battle of Wajba, 1893.

How did it get from Jassim’s welcoming of Ottomans to his fighting them in open war?
Two Sides of Sheikh Jassim’s Relations
with the Ottomans
Lack of trust due to intimidation- Ottoman military and
administrative presence. Others never came to Qatari land.
Realpolitik rather than ideological commitment to the Ottomans?
Expectations of Ottoman protection and backing
Resilience to Ottoman policies
 Taxation
 Centralization – not used to central government.
 Modernization – not used to modernization.
Bases of Al-Thani rule
 Economic – funds and protection and equipment. ottomans interfered
in bases of al thani authority
 Tribalism
British presence as a factor, shield and also even drove to go to
ottos
 Crisis 1: Attacks on Doha, early 1880s
 The Al-Khalifa work to tear apart the Al-Thani sheikhdom
 Tribal defections from Doha, e.g. Bu Kuwara
 Bedu raids on Doha
 Beni Hajer, Ajman, Al-Naim (Bahrain suspected)
 Jassim fights Sheikh of Abu-Dhabi’s tribes, e.g. Beni Yas, in Khor Al-Udayd
 Abu dhabi sheikh might be interfering in affairs of Jassim from south.
 Mohammed bin Abdulwahhab (from Al-Hasa) uprising against Sheikh Jassim in 1885 (Wakra)
 Had connections with ottomans and al Khalifa.
 Took maybe 100 people from wakra to north of bida and declared himself leader of Qatar.
 Abdulwahhab appealed to Ottomans to replace Jassim as Qaimmaqam.
 Local Ottomans were for it as Jassim was not really a yes man, but “Sublime Porte” (the Sultan’s office) was against due to
popularity and large following in Qatar
 In protest against Ottoman cooperation with Mohammed bin Abdulwahab, Sheikh Jassim resigned from Ottoman post in
Feb. 1886
 Major problem:
 The Ottomans in Doha were not cooperating with Jassim, and in fact were seeking to overthrow him. Did not help from
tribal defections, bedu raids and helped abulwahab.
 This situation eventually resolved and Sheikh Jassim reconciled with the Ottomans. Abdulwahab then had good relations
with J.
Crisis 2: Ottoman Tax Introduction
(Customs House Affair), 1887
•Ottomans start building a customs house and speaking of taxing pearl traders.
Before, only had to pay zakat. But now Ottomans want money
• Fear that pearl traders will abandon Sheikh Jassim as they wouldn’t have prosperity.
Might even leave Doha Wakra area.
• In protest, Sheikh Jassim resigns Ottoman post and leaves Doha for the desert
• “Leave Bidda to God and then the Turkish government”. So people might not obey ottomans anymore.

•Doha uprising against Banyan pearl traders

• Some assaulted, others flee the area
• (Sheikh Jassim accredited with getting rid of this element of competition for Qataris)
• British Political Resident Charles Ross blames Jassim for attack on his people
• Confiscates Jassim’s pearl merchandise in Bahrain and assets in Bombay where he sold pearls.
• Jassim reconciles with the Ottomans and appeals for assistance against British (letter)
• Not satisfied with Ottoman response, in other words did nothing to get property restored.
• Came back to doha as realized only ottos could protect him against brits.
Aftermath of Banyan
Affair
 Crisis 3: Sheikh Jassim’s war with Abu-
Dhabi
Abu-Dhabi’s close geographical proximity Qatar, and history of tribal interference in Southeast and
east coast, all the way to Doha
 1867 attack included Abu-Dhabi sheikh.
 Early 1880 , Jassim fought tribal intrusion in Khor Udayd without Ottoman support
Circa 1888, 250 Bedu attacked Bidda
 24 people killed, including one of Sheikh Jassim’s sons, Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani
 Sheikh Jassim leads a campaign against Abu-Dhabi in 1888
 Ottomans do not support him as abu dhabi trucial state and Jassim resigned few times, relations breaking down.
 Jan. 1889 invades Liwa Oasis and Dhafir, destroys date plantations as retaliation for attack on Doha
 War against Abu-Dhabi vs. Bani Yas.
 Jassim invades Sila via sea, and the British interfere to protect
Sheikh of Abu-Dhabi as Jassim was qaimmaqam and broke
treaty in eyes of Brits.
 Jassim claimed it for Qatar. Brits said no.
 Again, moment of border-drawing by bigger powers Ottos and Brits. Eventually khor udaid in Qatar and
othe part not.
 Problem: Jassim growing alienated from Ottomans as no vengeance for murder for his son.
 Crisis 4: Ottoman Militarization and
Centralization from 1888
This starts since 1875
Ottoman reaction to British intervention in Customs House Affair (attack on
Banyans)
Mehmed Hafiz Pasha sends Ottoman 300 soldiers and war ship to Doha in Bida harbor in March 1888.
Akif Pasha lands in Doha in 1889 to introduce new plans:
 Appoint Ottoman deputy (due to Jassim’s frequent absence from Doha (to desert or attack abu dhabi.)
 Build Ottoman administration building and post office to facilitate quicker communication from ottoman
places like hasa and basra and Najd
 Rebuild Zubara for pearling and make money
 Set up Ottoman administration posts in doha for deputy in Zubara and
Khor Udaid. They would encourage pearl fishing and collect revenues and
taxes from pearl merchants
 This creates diplomatic crisis with British, in which Ottomans stand up for Qatar’s borderlands.
 British afraid scared ottos want to invade Bahrain
Jassim refused and stopped paying taxes and urged people of Doha to not pay and not cooperate.
 Bitterness for lack of Ottoman military support in war against Abu-Dhabi and attack on Al-Khalifa loyalists
in Zubara (with
Nassir bin Mubarak, Isa bin Ali Al-Khalifa’s challenger) to prevent al Khalifa interfering in that area.
 Qataris turn away from Ottomans
Crisis 5: Mehmed Nafiz Pasha’s landing
in Doha
February 1893 the crisis reaches its critical point: Nafiz Pasha, governor of Basra, lands in Doha
with war ship and military
 Reinforcements Cavalry, infantry, and support from Kuwait’s Al-Sabah ruler who didn’t arrive yet.
 Wants to collect back taxes and talk to Sheikh Jassim
 Sheikh Jassim resigns Ottoman post and leaves Doha
for Wajba (some 12 miles desert)
 Appoints his brother, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Thani as his successor
 A month of negotiations follows: Jassim willing to do concede on major issues
like paying taxes, but not come to Doha as fear of arrest and also did not want
to show Qayaris he was gibing in to nafiz. .
 Finally, Nafiz Pasha arrests his brother and 13 other sheikhs
in Doha taken on a warship that nafiz came on.
 Culmination: The Battle of Wajba, 3
April 1893 (Islamic Month of
Ramadan)
 Hafiz Pasha sends militia force to find Jassim at the Fort of Wajba.
 Jassim has been preparing for war
 Cut off Nafiz Pasha from communication with Al-Hasa and Najid to doha with use of Bedu.
 Intercepted Al-Sabah support
 Prepared for attack by mobilizing bedu fighters
 Jassim attacks Nafiz Pasha’s military on its way to Wajba, some 150
soldiers of Otto
 Ottoman forces are caught by surprise and forced to retreat and pursued all the way
to Doha.
 Outnumbered and cut off from water
 Next to Jassim’s Bedouin fighters, women come to aid in the struggle. Brought food and water

 Hafiz Pasha fires on Doha from gun boat, causing major damage and death. Some
400 people lost. Ottos less dead
 Qataris able to surround Doha besiege Turkish soldiers at Doha and capture many
of them, others cut off from water.
 In addition to those captured during battle along with Turkish arms
 Exchange them for captured Qatari sheikhs held by Hafiz Pasha and grant Turks safe passage out of Qatar
 Hafiz Pasha and his soldiers flee Qatar by land and sea in defeat..
 Wajba’s
Aftermath
British intervention to extenuate importance and win over Arabs to their side
◦ British try to mediate the dispute but Ottomans refuse to deal with them
◦ They side with Sheikh Jassim and demand the renewal of the Treaty of 1868 and a quick resolution to the conflict so that it does not disrupt
the pearl trade. And so brits can defend qataris.
◦ Sheikh Jassim refuses to renew the treaty.
◦ British warn Ottomans not to attack Qataris. As brits were softening ground to restore relations with Qataris

Sheikh Jassim
◦ Appeals to Sultan Abdul al-Hamid II in Istanbul
◦ Complains against abuse of power on the part of Wali of Basra Nafiz Pasha
◦ The Sultan sides with Sheikh Jassim and dismisses Muhammad Hafiz Pasha from his post. As if attacked, Qataris would go to Brits for help. And that Brits maybe instigated
uprising against Ottosthat lead to battle of Wajba. And think that bought from British intermediaries from other parts of Gulf. Ottos knew futile to fight Qataris on tjheir own
turf in desert as difficult. Had probs elsewhere.

◦ Agreement is made between Sheikh Jassim and the Ottoman Empire

◦ Jassim received the Sultan’s pardon
◦ Hafiz Pasha disciplined by removal from post of governor of Basra by Sultan
◦ Sultan suspected British involvement causes of Wajba, feared another rebellion, and feared Qataris allying to British.
◦ Jassim resumed his function as Qa’im-maquam but with an Ottoman assistant as agreed to help in Doha.
◦ Resigned this in 1895 due to old age
◦ Ottoman reestablished relations wiht Qataris and military garrison remained until 1913
Conclusio
n
 Breakdown of relations between Sheikh Jassim and Ottomans
 Taxation on pearl trade and fiscal policy
 Ottoman military and administrative high-handedness created scenario of intimidation and use of power to conquer Qatar and prevent rights to
sovereignty.
Difficulty to centralize power in Arabia, Qatars terrain made it difficult to create central government. Economy fragile and resilient to taxation. People not
used to being ruled by someone from center let alone from outside.
 Qatar’s terrain, economy, and society
 Compares with Ottoman struggle against Saudis. Hard to centralize power in Arabia.
 British presence. Made Ottos cautious and Pardoned Jassim cause of this.

 Victory at the Battle of Wajba marked a major milestone in Qatar’s history.

 The making of Sheikh Jassim as a nation hero
 He won both the war and the peace. Got away with revolt against both.
 Heightened Qatar’s political importance as result of Rebellion. Qataris wont submit to anybody elses authority Brits made sure to be diplomatic and
was a great warning to Brits.
 Icon of Qatari armed struggle for sovereignty and independence
 A warning for the British

 Written into a history of Arab uprisings against the Ottoman empire, eventually Ottoman empire will fall in the Arab
domains.

 In the end, Sheikh Jassim chose Ottomans over British

 Ottoman interests matched those of Qatar. Qataris struggle for independence and sovereignty. Ottos first to cite peninsula was Qataris and was for Al
thanis rule. Ottos fought for their independence and Qatars borders,