Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi (1694 – 15 December 1783) was the first ruler of

Oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...

of the Al Said dynasty. He came to power during a period when Oman was divided by civil war, and the Persians had occupied large parts of the country. During his long rule as Imam the country prospered and regained its leading position in the

Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...

Early years

Ahmad bin Sa’id bin Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abdelmajid Al-Busaidi Al-Azdi Al-Ammani Al-Ibadhi was born in the city of

Adam, Oman Adam ( ar, أدم, not the same as Adam - the prophet آدم) is a town in the region Ad Dakhiliyah, in northeastern Oman. History The history of the Wilayat of Adam dates back to pre-Islamic times. Adam has several meanings in Arabic but most ...

in 1694, the son of Sa’id bin Ahmad Al-Busaidi. Ahmad bin Sa’id came from the Al Bu Sa’id, a small

Hinawi The Hināwī are one of two major tribal groupings of Oman and the Trucial Coast, the other being the Ghāfirī. Characterized as two significant factions having distinct interests and organizations, their rivalry began approximately 2000 years ago ...

tribe from the interior of Oman. He was great great grandson of Mubarak al-Saidi al-Azdy of the Banu Hiba, a clan belonging to the Hiwani tribe of

Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, north and ...

. It was said that he began as a wood vendor and worked his way up. He became a leading merchant of the port city of

Sohar Sohar ( ar, صُحَار, also Romanized as Suḥār) is the capital and largest city of the Al Batinah North Governorate in Oman. An ancient capital of the country that once served as an important Islamic port town, Suhar has also been credited ...

. In 1737 he was appointed governor of this city.{{{CN, date=March 2022 The sixth Imam of Oman of the

Yaruba dynasty The Yarubid dynasty () (also the Yaruba or Ya'arubi) were rulers of Oman between 1624 and 1742, holding the title of Imam. They expelled the Portuguese from coastal strongholds in Muscat and united the country. They improved agriculture, expanded ...

was

Saif bin Sultan II Saif bin Sultan II () (c. 1706 – 1743) was the sixth of the Yaruba dynasty of Imams of Oman, a member of the Ibadi sect. He held the position of Imam four times during a chaotic period of civil war and invasion by Persian forces. Saif bin Sultan ...

, who came to power during a period of civil war and lost popularity due to his indulgent lifestyle. Saif called for military help from Persia, and in 1737 Persian troops arrived led by

Nader Shah Nader Shah Afshar ( fa, نادر شاه افشار; also known as ''Nader Qoli Beyg'' or ''Tahmāsp Qoli Khan'' ) (August 1688 – 19 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian h ...

. They began to conquer the country.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=223 The Persians left in 1738 but returned from 1742 to 1744.{{sfn, Davies, 1997, p=52 By 1742 the Persians were in control of much of the country. Saif was tricked into letting them take the key forts of al Jalali and al Mirani in

Muscat Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is s ...

while drunk at a banquet. He died soon after, the last of his dynasty. The Persians took Muscat and then attacked

to the north.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=223 After enduring nine months of siege, Ahmad bin Sa’id negotiated an honorable surrender. The Persian commander Taqi Khan confirmed him as governor of Sohar and Barka in return for payment of tribute.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=223

Assumption of power

By late 1744, Ahmad had control over large parts of Oman.{{CN, date=March 2022

Bal'arab bin Himyar Bal'arab bin Himyar () (died 1749) was an Omani Imam, a member of Yaruba dynasty. He was elected Imam in 1728, holding power in the interior of Oman while his cousin, Saif bin Sultan II, held power on the coast. In 1737, he renounced his claim afte ...

of the Yaruba had been elected Imam in 1743, and retained the support of some of the

Ghafiri The Ghāfirī (also ''Ghafiri'' or ''al-Ghafiriyah'') are one of two major tribal confederations of Oman and the Trucial Coast, the other being the Hināwī. Both confederations claim their origin to the Bedouin tribe and the Ghafiri also trace the ...

of Dhahireh and the Semail. Bal'arab bin Himyar raised a strong force and advanced on Muscat, but was unable to take that town. He then attempted to take Sohar. Ahmad went to town's aid but was deserted by his troops at the Battle of Bitnah around the start of 1745 and forced to flee.{{sfn, Miles, 1919, p=263 Ahmad used excuses to delay paying tribute, and as a result the Persians could not pay their troops in Muscat and many deserted. In 1747 Ahmad invited the remaining Persian troops to a banquet at his fort in Barka. There he massacred them.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=223 For several years Bal'arab bin Himyar was recognized as the true Imam, fully controlling the interior, while Ahmed remained on the coast.{{sfn, Miles, 1919, p=264 On the coast of East Africa, Ahmad bin Sa'id was recognized as Imam only by the governor of

Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands ...

.{{sfn, Limbert, 2010, p=153 In 1749 Ahmad gathered an army and moved against Bal'arab, who was encamped near Jebel Akhdar with inferior forces. In the final battle, in the second half of 1749, Bal'arab was defeated and killed. This was the end of Yaruba power.{{sfn, Miles, 1919, p=264 Ahmad was now the undisputed ruler of Oman.{{sfn, Rabi, 2011, p=25 In 1749 the

Ibadi The Ibadi movement or Ibadism ( ar, الإباضية, al-Ibāḍiyyah) is a school of Islam. The followers of Ibadism are known as the Ibadis. Ibadism emerged around 60 years after the Islamic prophet Muhammad's death in 632 AD as a moderate sc ...

tribes of Oman elected Ahmad bin Said as their Imam.{{sfn, Scudder, 1998, p=121 His election took place on 9 June 1749 at

Rustaq Rustaq ( ar, ٱلرُّسْتَاق, Ar-Rustāq) is a town and ''Wilayah'' (District) in Al Batinah Region of northern Oman. The wilayah is in the Western Hajar Mountains, in the south of the Batinah. Rustaq was once the capital of Oman, during ...

.{{CN, date=March 2022

Reign

Ahmad bin Said had widespread popular support as the person who had liberated the country from the Persian occupiers. He quickly consolidated his power through whatever techniques were expedient. A ship owner and trader in outlook, he saw the economic potential of Oman's position on the trade routes, and gained allegiance from the tribal leaders by engaging them in commercial ventures.{{sfn, Kechichian, 1995, p=29 Ahmad bin Said made his seat at

. From there he ruled for 39 generally peaceful years, although he had to deal with intrigues by members of the deposed Ya'Aruba family, by other tribes and by two of his sons.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=224 Ahmad bin Said encouraged the development of agriculture and maritime trading.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=224 For the first time in the history of Oman Ahmad bin Said maintained a permanent army and navy.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=224 In the late 1770s he attempted to gain control of the

Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz ( fa, تنگه هرمز ''Tangeh-ye Hormoz'' ar, مَضيق هُرمُز ''Maḍīq Hurmuz'') is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the ...

between the

Gulf of Oman The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman ( ar, خليج عمان ''khalīj ʿumān''; fa, دریای عمان ''daryâ-ye omân''), also known as Gulf of Makran or Sea of Makran ( ar, خلیج مکران ''khalīj makrān''; fa, دریای مکرا� ...

and the

, a key position.{{sfn, Kechichian, 1995, p=65 Ahmad bin Said reestablished the leading position of Oman among the Persian Gulf states.{{sfn, Scudder, 1998, p=122

Family

Ahmad bin Said had several sons and daughters. His eldest son Hilal was disqualified from the succession since he was blind. His second son

Said bin Ahmad Said bin Ahmad (died 1803) was briefly the Imam and Sultan of Oman, the second of the Al Said dynasty, ruling the country between 1783 and 1786. Rule Said bin Ahmad was the son of the Imam and Sultan Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi, and was elected Ima ...

was his heir. His third son

Qais bin Ahmad Qais bin Ahmad (died May 1808) was the third son of Ahmad bin Sa'id Al-Busaidi, the first Sultan of Oman of the Al Said dynasty. After his father's death he made more than one attempt to gain the throne. Youth and first revolt Qais bin Ahmad bi ...

later became governor of Sohar. His fourth and fifth sons were Saif and

Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan bin Ahmad al Busaidi (died 1804) was the Sultan of Oman, the fourth of the Busaid dynasty dynasty, ruling the country between 1792 and 1804. Early years Sultan bin Ahmad was the son of the Imam and Sultan Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi. Early ...

, both children of his fourth wife, a sister of Shaikh Muhammad bin Nasir al-Jabry al-Ghafiry, of Zhahirah. Shaikh Abdallah Rocky Amir Muhammad was a strong leader of the Nizariya faction, and under the Yarubi had once been governor of

Bahrain Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...

. His two youngest sons were Talib, later governor of

Nakhal Nakhal ( ar, نَخَل) or Nakhl ( ar, نَخْل) is a wilayah in Al Batinah South Governorate in Oman. It is home to many old castles and forts, including the Nakhal Fort. Notable people * Abdullah Al Hilali Abdullah Al Hilali (born Janua ...

and then of Rustaq, and Muhammad, later Governor-General of

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

and Oman's

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

n possessions. The eldest of his three daughters, Moza, became a power in family affairs and acted as guardian and supporter of her nephews Salim and Sa'id.{{CN, date=March 2022 On 1 February 1775 Ahmad turned over responsibility for routine administration to his son,

, while retaining the title of Imam.{{CN, date=March 2022 Ahmad bin Said's sons Sultan and Saif rebelled in 1781, and took control of the forts of al-Mirani and al-Jalali that guarded the harbor of

. They kidnapped their brother Said bin Ahmad and imprisoned him in al Jalali. Ahmad returned to Muscat early the next year, captured al-Mirani, and after bombarding al-Jalali from al-Mirani and from ships on the other side managed to regain control.{{sfn, Peterson, 2007, p=72 Ahmad bin Said died on 15 December 1783 at Al-Batinah Fort, Rustaq. He is buried there at the Western Fort, near the Great Mosque.{{CN, date=March 2022 Said bin Ahmad was elected Imam as his successor.{{sfn, Thomas, 2011, p=224 His descendants continued to rule Oman, although they did not have the religious authority of the Imams of the Ibadi Muslim tradition.{{sfn, Scudder, 1998, p=122 Ahmad bin Said was the only ruler of his dynasty who was clearly an Imam, elected in the traditional way. His son was also elected, but abdicated soon after, although retaining the title of Imam. After that, members of the dynasty were sultans of Muscat, with until 1959 only limited authority over the interior of Oman.{{sfn, Ṣulḥ, 2000, p=50

References

Citations

{{Reflist, colwidth=30em

Sources

{{refbegin *{{cite book, last=Davies, first=Charles E., title=The Blood-red Arab Flag: An Investigation Into Qasimi Piracy, 1797–1820 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGboFK2QPUwC&pg=PA52, access-date=2013-11-11 , date=1997-01-01, publisher=University of Exeter Press, isbn=978-0-85989-509-5 *{{cite book, last=Kechichian, first=Joseph A., title=Oman and the World: The Emergence of an Independent Foreign Policy , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qBVP9IywwCcC&pg=PA29, access-date=2013-11-12 , date=1995-01-01, publisher=Rand Corporation, isbn=978-0-8330-2332-2 *{{cite book, last=Limbert, first=Mandana, title=In the Time of Oil: Piety, Memory, and Social Life in an Omani Town , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zs3FT5SZ_2cC&pg=PT153, access-date=2013-11-11 , date=2010-06-07, publisher=Stanford University Press, isbn=978-0-8047-7460-4 *{{cite book, last=Miles, first=Samuel Barrett, authorlink=Samuel Barrett Miles, title=The Countries and Tribes of the Persian Gulf , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbsOoPpZiSEC&pg=PA263, access-date=2013-11-14 , year=1919, publisher=Garnet Pub., isbn=978-1-873938-56-0 *{{cite book, last=Peterson, first=John, title=Historical Muscat: An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gNu4_uHo7CQC&pg=PA72, access-date=2013-11-19 , year=2007, publisher=BRILL, isbn=978-90-04-15266-3 *{{cite book, last=Rabi, first=Uzi, title=Emergence of States in a Tribal Society: Oman Under Sa'Id Bin Taymur, 1932–1970 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UtSAeuMq-VgC&pg=PA24, access-date=2013-11-11 , year=2011, publisher=Apollo Books, isbn=978-1-84519-473-4 *{{cite book, last=Scudder, first=Lewis R., title=The Arabian Mission's Story: In Search of Abraham's Other Son , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKBn1AOZUrwC&pg=PA121, access-date=2013-11-12 , year=1998, publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, isbn=978-0-8028-4616-7 *{{cite book, last=Ṣulḥ, first=Raghīd, title=The Sultanate of Oman, 1918–1939: Domestic affairs, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qiJI7gRZCaQC&pg=PA50, access-date=2013-11-12 , date=2000-01-01, publisher=Garnet & Ithaca Press, isbn=978-0-86372-262-2 *{{cite book, last=Thomas, first=Gavin, title=The Rough Guide to Oman, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qKAtjJoXXpwC&pg=PA222, access-date=2013-11-11 , date=2011-11-01, publisher=Penguin, isbn=978-1-4053-8935-8 {{refend {{Sultans of Oman {{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmad bin Said Al Bu Said Omani monarchy Omani imams 1783 deaths Al Said dynasty People from Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate People from Sohar 18th-century Arabs 18th-century Omani people