Page 67 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

to his treacherous assassination by his cousin Sa‘id b. Sultan. Badr’s
predecessor, Sultan b. Ahmad, had gradually alienated himself from the
‘Umani tribes, and thus relied heavily on a body of foreign troops for his
protection. The main bulk of these troops were mercenaries from Baluchistan
and Sind.463 Because they were closely attached to their late master and his
direct descendants and had, at one time, foiled Badr’s attempt to seize power at
Masqat during the absence of Sultan, these contingents were suspected by
Badr, who resolved to disband them and to base his strength on tribal force as
well as on the Su‘udl garrisons in ‘Uman.464 In the drive to secure his own
position, Badr had deprived his cousins Salim and Sa‘id of any significant
posts. As soon as he seized power, Badr appointed them to official positions in
the countryside, far from the centre of government.465 Animosity among the
contending factions in the family was still alive, as was palace intrigue. One
such intrigue against Badr was hatched not by Qays, the traditional foe, who
seems to have given up his attempts to gain power, but by another aspirant,
Sa‘Id, the younger son of the previous ruler.
Observing the increasing popularity and influence Badr achieved through
his connections with the tribes of Jaflan and al-Sharqlyah as well as the Su‘udl
garrisons,466 and realizing that he would never enjoy personal ascendancy as
long as these circumstances prevailed, Sa‘id prepared to put an end to Badr and
take over the Sultanate.467 First, Sa‘id suggested that his maternal relative and
former custodian, Muhammad b. Nasir al-Jabrl, should proceed to Masqat
and find a way to eliminate Badr.468 Muhammad declined the suggestion and
was eventually to suffer at the hands of Sa‘id for doing so.
Sa‘id therefore decided to assassinate Badr himself. He enticed him to come
for an interview in 1806 at Barka, where Sa‘Id resided. While Badr was staying
there as a guest, he was stabbed by Sa‘Id and his guard. Although mortally
wounded, Badr managed to throw himself from the nearest window of the
house, jump on a swift horse, and flee to seek help from whomever he met.
Impatient with the seemingly aborted plot, Sa‘Id mounted his own horse and,
coming upon Badr lying in the middle of the road due to loss of blood,
beheaded him on the spot.469 The news of Badr’s fate spread quickly across
‘Uman, and rumours blaming either Muhammad b. Nasir or the Su‘udls for
the action began to circulate.
The commander of the Su‘udi garrison at Barka reacted swiftly. He ordered
his contingent to surround Sa‘Id’s fort and demanded that the murderer be
delivered up to him. However, following Sard’s protests of innocence and his
pledge to carry out a diligent search for the assassin, the contingent retired to
their encampment.470 Sa‘id, on the other hand, made his way to Masqat,
where he proclaimed himself ruler in Badr’s stead. From there Sa‘id sent his
envoy with a letter to Amir Su‘ud in al-Dir‘iyah in which he expressed his grief
at the death of Badr. Disavowing any part in the plot, he accused Muhammad
b. Nasir of authoring the crime, declared him a rebel, and requested Su‘udi aid
in attacking him.471 At the same time, Sa‘id declared his readiness to follow in
Badr’s steps and fulfill all the stipulations and arrangements made by Badr
relating to political, military and religious matters.472 Amir Su‘ud, who seems
to have been informed by his agent at Masqat of the role Sa‘id played in the
incident, was not deceived by the contents of Sard’s letter. Nevertheless,
Su‘ud concealed his reaction and, employing a wait-and-see policy, wrote a
conciliatory reply, apparently accepting Sard’s excuses and expressing a wish

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