Page 101 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

to direct, with the guidance and assistance of the qadis, the religious affairs in
towns and tribal centres.000 Faysal also promptly replaced some of the former
governors and appointed qadis to various localities.801 However, the new
Su'udI ruler did not expect a country torn by factionalism and regionalism to
respect a single ruler, nor did he expect unruly tribesmen to pledge their
loyalty and refrain from trying to^assert their independence from al-Riyad
authority. Faysal therefore applied coercive measures and adopted a harsh
policy toward dissident tribes and the districts inclined to secession. This
caused him to be respected and feared within his realm, and kept him relatively
busy in subduing occasional disturbances.802
Soon after his accession and the consolidation of his position in Najd, Faysal
led his forces toward the eastern frontiers, where he subjugated some fractious
elements of the Manaslr, Al Murrah, and Banu Hajir tribes in the vicinity of
al-Qatlf.803 He also spent about forty days in al-Hasa strengthening his grip
over that region.804 This move led to even further advances into eastern
Arabia, either to restore former dependencies or to promote Su'udI influence
in certain parts of eastern and southeastern Arabia. Since 1838, the year in
which Faysal capitulated to Khurshld Pasha, the district of al-Hasa (as a
dependency of al-Riyad) had passed without difficulty into the hands of the
Egyptians, then later to Ibn Thunayyan, and finally back to Faysal again. Each
of these rulers appointed favourite and trusted associates to the governments of
al-Qatlf; each also made the district a key position from which to increase
popularity and spread influence.005
The locality most immediately affected by political developments in the
mainland of eastern Arabia was usually al-Bahrayn. Its strategic location and
its wealth from pearl diving had induced successive rulers of central Arabia
either to conclude alliances with the island or else attempt to annex it to the
mainland. Khurshld, who conducted the political affairs of Najd and al-Hasa
from 1838 and 1840, made an effort to incorporate al-Bahrayn within his
administrative region.806 The geographical and economic importance of al-
Bahrayn was sufficient reason for Khurshld’s interest. There were, however,
additional factors that incited him to extend his influence over the island. As
Khurshld’s correspondence shows, the island had been a dependency of the
emirate of Najd.807 It was serving as a haven for Su'udI loyalists, who made it a
locus for subversive activities aimed against the Egyptian administration on
the mainland.808 Khurshld, however, did not carry out any military action
against al-Bahrayn—partly because he did not have sufficient authority to do
so from Egypt and partly because of the British presence in the Gulf. Instead,
Khurshld adopted diplomatic means and dispatched a representative to
conduct negotiations with ‘Abd Allah b. Ahmad, the ruler of al-Bahrayn.
Eventually a settlement was brought about binding ‘Abd Allah to pay zakah to
the Egyptian administration in Najd and, if necessary, to provide men and
ships for campaigns in eastern and southeastern Arabia.809 However, this
agreement soon became a dead letter, since the Egyptians evacuated Najd and
al-Hasa a few months after its conclusion.
Neither Khalid b. Su'ud, who became amir of Najd following the Egyptians’
withdrawal, nor his successor, Ibn Thunayyan, had the time or power to
interefere in al-Bahrayn.810 Nonetheless, the island during this period was not
without difficulties, since domestic problems led to factionalism and division
within the ruling house itself. ‘Abd Allah b. Ahmad, who had been in power

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