• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Saiyid Turki - 1871-1888

According to Article 5 of Oman's Basic Law, the successor must be a male descendant of Turki bin Said, Sultan from 1871-88. HH Sayyid Turki bin Said. He successfully deposed the pretender Immam Al Qais in 1870 to establish the Al Said line of rulers of Oman.

Saiyid Turki was recognised by the British Government as Ruler of Maskat in June 1871, but during that and the succeeding year his power was endangered by the intrigues of his brother, Saiyid Abdul Aziz, and his nephew, Saiyid Salim, iu addition to the persistent hostility of Ibrahim bin Kais. A coalition was proposed in April 1872 between Ibrahim bin Kais and Saiyid Salim, but failed owing to the defeat of the former near Lawa and the desertion of the latter by his followers. Finding themselves unable to subvert Saiyid Turki's authority, his brother and nephew quitted Maskat territory towards the close of 1872 and proceeded to Bombay. In the spring of 1873 they left Bombay and began to intrigue against Saiyid Turki's authority in Makran. Offers had been made to them by Saiyid Turki of an allowance of 300 dollars per mensem on condition of their residing in India and abstaining from interference in Maskat affairs.

These offers they declined, and in July of that year Saiyid Abdul Aziz moved on Gwadar. The attack failed, owing to the fidelity of Saiyid Turki's Governor, but a considerable amount of property belonging to British subjects was plundered. Saiyid Abdul Aziz was afterwards captured in an attempt to cross over to Oman, and detained in surveillance at Karachi. On his undertaking not to interfere in Maskat affairs or leave Karachi without permission he was set at liberty, and the allowance of 300 dollars per mensem was paid to him through the British Government. Gwadar was again attacked in December 1873, on this occasion by Saiyid Salim; the attempt however failed, and Saiyid Salim escaped into Persian territory. He was theu informed that if he surrendered unconditionally, he would be granted the same allowances as Saiyid Abdul Aziz, otherwise the offer would not be renewed, and he would be arrested wherever he might be found. He subsequently made another attempt on Oman, was arrested by HMS Daphne, and sent as a State prisoner to the fort of Hyderabad in Sind, where he died in December 1876.

In June 1873 Saiyid Turki undertook active operations against Ibrahim bin Kais and invested Sohar. Negotiations were entered into which resulted in the surrender of Sohar and other places on the coast to Saiyid Turki; Ibrahim bin Kais receiving a sum of 5,000 dollars and a monthly allowance of 100 dollars on condition of not moving eastward of the fort of Hibi. In spite of this reverse, Ibrahim bin Kais continued to intrigue against Saiyid Turki, and in March 1874 collected a force composed principally of the Yal Saad section of the Hinawis, with which he attacked Masnaah and took possession of the fort after having plundered a considerable amount of property belonging to British subjects. As Ibrahim bin Kais refused to evacuate the fort at the demand of the Political Agent, it was bombarded, and an indemnity of 10,000 dollars as compensation to British subjects was exacted from the Yal Saad. In the meantime Saiyid Turki had hardly returned from his successful expedition against Sohar when he was compelled to make terms with Salih bin Ali El-Harithi, Azau bin Kais's former minister, who made a successful attack on Matrah, and was only induced to withdraw by the payment of a large sum of money.

The annual subsidy which, under the terms of Lord Canning's arbitration, the Ruler of Zanzibar was bound to pay to the Ruler of Maskat, was duly paid up to the date of Saiyid Thawaini's death in 1866, but Saiyid Majid, who was then Sultan of Zanzibar, objected to continue the subsidy to Saiyid Thawaini's successor, Saiyid Salim, partly on the pretext that the engagement was personal to Saiyid Thawaini, and partly on the ground of Saiyid Salim's alleged parricide. These arguments were not admitted by the British Government, which had recognised Saiyid Salim as Ruler of Maskat, but an arrangement was effected by which the subsidy was to be paid through the medium of the Political Agent in Oman.

On the expulsion of Saiyid Salim by Azan bin Kais, Saiyid Majid again declined to pay the subsidy, on the ground that a member of another branch of the family had eucceeded to power. This plea ceased to have force when Saiyid Turki had succeeded in establishing his authority, and he appealed to the British Government to procure the due observance of the terms of the arbitration. As the great obstacle to the consolidation of Saiyid Turki's power and the establishment of a peaceful administration in Oman was his want of funds, it was determined to guarantee to him the payment of the subsidy, with arrears from the date of his succession to power; and an assurance was conveyed in 1873 to him that, so long as he continued faithfully to observe his treaty engagements and manifest his friendship towards the British Government, the subsidy of 40,000 crowns would be paid to him annually during his rule. In accordance with this guarantee, the payment was regularly made, and since the death of Saiyid Turki in 1888, the subsidy has been continued to his son Saiyid Faisal who is the present Ruler of Oman. The precise arrangements in connection with the payment of the subsidy formed the subject of correspondence between the Government of India and Her Majesty's Government.

The greater portion of the money thus received by Saiyid Turki was spent in subsidising the various tribes in the interior, but the successful raid of Salih bin Ali showed how little reliance could be placed on their allegiance, and illustrated the real weakness of Saiyid Turki's authority in Oman. As a means of maintaining his position Saiyid Turki sought a reconciliation with his brother, Saiyid Abdul Aziz. Finally, terms were arrauged between the brothers; Saiyid Abdul Aziz was permitted to proceed to Maskat and was associated with Saiyid Turki in the government of the country. The difficulties however with which Saiyid Turki had to contend did not disappear with the arrival of his brother: dissensions were rife between the Ghafiris and the Hinawis; the Metawwah or fanatical party in the south-east of Oman was hostile to him; and finally quarrels took place between the brothers, of which advantage was taken by the Bedouins who garrisoned Maskat to impose terms upon Saiyid Turki with which he was forced to comply. Finding himself thus powerless to control events, Saiyid Turki, after an ineffectual attempt to conduct affairs unaided, entrusted the government to Saiyid Abdul-Aziz and retired temporarily to Gwadar.

Signs of opposition to the administration of Saiyid Abdul Aziz soon became apparent; he failed to conciliate the Bedouins, and his difficulties were increased by want of funds. Within a few months of his retirement, Saiyid Turki found himself in a position to return to Maskat; accordingly in December 1875, in the absence of Saiyid Abdul Aziz, he once more took possession of the town and forts. His brother was at this time absent at Semail from which however, soon after Saiyid Turki's return, he removed to Samad. The former place was captured in February 1876 by the Sultan, who thus completed the re-establishment of his authority, Ibrahim bin Kais alone remaining independent at the stronghold of Rostak. In the following year he made an attack on Maskat in concert with Shaikh Salih bin Ali, but after a three days' siege was repulsed and compelled to retire with heavy loss.

In 1879 Saiyid Turki, at the invitation of the Shaikhs, sent an expedition to Dhofar from which the notorious Mopla usurper, Saiyid Fadthl, had lately been expelled by the inhabitants. The district was occupied by Saiyid Turki's troops and, although two unsuccessful attempts were made by the inhabitants in 1881 and 1888 to overthrow the Sultan's rule, it still forms part of his dominions. After 1879 the peace of Oman remained unbroken till 1883; in that year the disaffection which Saiyid Abdul Aziz, from his retreat at Samad, had been sedulously fomenting among the Sharkiyeh tribes, came to a head, and they marched upon Maskat with the Sultan's brother as leader. After some sharp fighting they were repulsed by the Sultan's troops with the assistance of the Ghafiris; and an expedition sent shortly afterwards under Saiyid Faisal bin Turki, the Sultan's second son, to puuish the rebels was completely successful. In 1886 Saiyid Turki was created an Honorary Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, and at the same time the British Government declared publicly their determination to afford him active support in case of attacks on Maskat, which had the salutary effect of maintaining peace during the remainder of his life.

Saiyid Turki died on the 4th of June 1888 after a lingering illness, leaving three sons, Muhammad, Faisal, and Fahad. The second, Saiyid Faisal, who had already taken a share in the administration of the State during his father's lifetime, and shown an aptitude to govern the country, assumed power and proclaimed himself the Ruler of Oman, immediately on his father's death.