Page 107 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

superiors, later wrote to Faysal demanding that he persuade his protege to
leave al-Dammam and settle far from the neighbourhood of al-Bahrayn, on the
ground that his presence at al-Dammam posed a danger to the safety of the
government of al-Bahrayn.862 Unable to defend his protege at al-Dammam but
unwilling to revoke his hospitality by forcing Muhammad to evacuate his
abode, Faysal disregarded the request, and so provoked the British into taking
the matter into their own hands.863
A few months later, the British Resident ordered the bombardment of
al-Dammam, forcing Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah and his followers to flee from
their fort.864 FaysaPs lack of response to the action at al-Dammam was
interpreted by the British authorities as a sign of growing indifference to the
cause of the rival branch of the Al Khalifah.865 However, Fay§al finally
managed to effect a reconciliation between the rival relatives, and Muhammad
b. ‘Abd Allah was permitted to return to al-Bahrayn. This event seems to have
contributed to the peaceful state of Su‘udl-Bahraynl relations that marked the
last few years of FaysaPs reign.

Faysal and the Coast of ‘Uman

During the first period of his reign, Faysal had contemplated extending his
influence into southeastern Arabia as early as 1836. Such an intent was alluded
to in the Su‘udl-Bahrayni agreement of that year, under which the shaykh of
al-Bahrayn was exempted from having to provide ships in the event that the
Su‘udls should proceed to invade ‘Uman.866 However, because of the Su‘udl
confrontation with the Egyptian troops in central Arabia and the subsequent
surrender and deportation of Faysal, the anticipated invasion did not take
place.
It was not until the second period of his rule that Faysal actually made efforts
to establish relations with the chiefs of ‘Uman and restore the Su‘udi presence
in that part of the peninsula. Not more than a month after he had taken power
in Najd, Faysal began to make contact with various parts of the region. Using
messengers, he sent letters to the principal chiefs of al-Burayml and the coast of
‘Uman, informing them of his intention to revive Su‘udi influence in the area
by despatching a force under the supervision of his deputy, Sa’d b. Mutlaq, to
assure such a restoration.867
It was almost five years now since the Su‘udl deputy in the area had been
forced to leave his post in al-Burayml, thus marking the end of Su‘udi contact
with both al-Burayml and the coast of ‘Uman.868 During the interim, al-
Burayml had been under the control of local chiefs, while the shaykhs of the
principalities on the coast directed their own affairs single-handedly as well.
Khalid b. Su‘ud and his successor, ‘Abd Allah b. Thunayyan, who ruled Najd
for a short time during that intervening period, attempted to establish relations
with ‘Uman, but did not make significant progress. 869
The response of the local chiefs to FaysaPs letters was varied. The shaykhs of
the maritime principalities did not voice much opposition, probably because
they felt that the Su‘udl presence in the area would not change the political
structure of the principalities nor do any harm to the existing regimes. The
chiefs of al-Burayml, on the other hand, were apprehensive and anxious. To
them, the presence of the Su‘udls in the area meant the curtailment, or even the

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