Page 72 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

Hostile towards the Su‘udis on account of religious differences and their
attacks on the Shi‘I shrines in ‘Iraq and hoping, perhaps, to re-establish some
influence in ‘Uman, the Persian government acceded to Salim’s request and
granted him considerable military assistance.499 Commanded by Sa‘dl Khan
and dispatched into the uplands of central ‘Uman, the Persian force consisted
of 1500 mounted Persians, four pieces of artillery mounted by Russian
deserters, and a considerable number of smaller armaments.500 The Persian-
‘Umanl force immediately opened the campaign against the Su‘udls and
Muhammad b. Nasir, obliging the latter to abandon Sama‘il and Nakhl and to
retire to IzkI on the innersidc of the Hajar mountains. Upon hearing the news
at al-Burayml, Mutlaq gathered a force of levies from the tribe of Nu’aym,
al-Zawahir and Banu Qitab, and advanced to IzkI, where he was joined by the
tribes of the Duru‘ and the Janabah. At IzkI, they routed the Persians and the
‘UmanI troops, and recovered their weapons and artillery as spoils.501
Muhammad b. Hilal of the A1 Bu Sa‘Id house and the Russian deserters were
slain, while Sa‘dl Khan fled to Barka with only a hundred horsemen.502 From
there, they were sent back to Fars and reproached for not having fought
seriously enough.503 Contented with his success, Mutlaq delivered Nakhl and
Sama’il to Muhammad b. Nasir and the Su‘udi garrison, and then returned to
his headquarters at al-Burayml.
Later in the year, the Su‘udl state was confronted with more serious trouble
in the western part of Arabia. The joint Ottoman-Egyptian expedition landed
its troops at the port of Yanbu‘ and began its long war against the Su'udls.504
The ruler of Masqat found some relief in these new developments and
entertained the hope that the Egyptians would soon bring about the
destruction of Su‘udl power and the end of their supremacy in ‘Uman:
The wretched army of the Wahabees, Sa’id reported joyfully to the
Government of Bombay, at every fortress it approached, experiencing
defeat and discomfiture, was compelled to retreat Through God’s
grace, the affairs of this detestable race are on the decline.505
Taking advantage of the Su‘udl concentration in the western part of their
dominion and the reduction of the garrisons in al-Bahrayn and Qatar, Sa‘Id b.
Sultan made a successful invasion of the island of al-Bahrayn in 1811, where he
overpowered the garrison and took the Su‘udl governor, ‘Abd Allah b.
‘Ufaysan, as prisoner. Preoccupied with affairs in the Hijaz, the amir Su‘ud
took no punitive action against Masqat. Nevertheless, indirect response to the
Bahrayn incident came at the hands of Turkl, Nasir and Sa‘d, the younger sons
of Su‘ud, who ravaged a wide area of‘Uman.
Prior to their departure from al-Dir‘Iyah, the three sons had asked
permission to join the army in ‘Uman, apparently for the sake of adventure or
to gain ampler means than those allowed them by their father.506 Su‘ud,
however, refused to grant their request and departed on a pilgrimage. The sons
kept to their decision nonetheless, and made their way to ‘Uman by way of
al-Hasa. Travelling from al-Hasa by sea, they and their followers landed at
‘Ajman on the coast of ‘Uman.507 There they were joined by the local shaykh
and proceeded through the Batinah district, where they were attacked by the
people of Khadra’ near Suhar.508 The attackers were repulsed, but both sides
suffered losses. After this incident, the princes sent a message to Mutlaq in
al-Burayml; the latter joined them, their forces were combined, and Turkl b.

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