Page 74 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

accompanied Sultan b. $aqr on an expedition against Ra’s al-Khaymah, aimed
at ousting the vice-regent and reinstating Sultan in his former position by force
of arms. These actions naturally angered the amir Su‘ud, who eventually
ordered Mutlaq to march against Masqat. His troops, which are said to have
included large contingents of the Nu‘aym, al-Zawahir, Banu Qitab, Banu Ka‘b
and Band Yas, descended on the Batinah region, forced the capitulation of
Suhar, and then turned southwards toward Masqat.519 Unable to offer
resistance, Sa‘id b. Sultan acknowledged the Su‘udi supremacy and delivered
$MT 40,000 to Mujlaq.520 Subsequently, the invading forces returned to the
province of al-Zahirah, where some of the contingents dispersed and rejoined
their tribal units.
It is not certain whether Mutlaq left for al-Dir‘Iyah to appraise Amir Su‘ud
of his latest arrangement with Masqat or whether he remained at al-Burayml.
In any event, he soon became engaged in skirmishes against the people of
al-Sharqlyah which were to cost him his life. In 1813 he proceeded from
al-Burayml to the district of al-Sharqlyah in an attempt to enforce the
obedience of the Hajariyin tribe. A portion of the tribe, however, managed to
isolate Mutlaq and a few of his followers from the rest of his troops, who had
been sent out in different directions for strategic reasons. Mutlaq and his
followers were overpowered, and Mutlaq himself was killed.521 His head,
together with his weapons and coat of mail, were carried back to Masqat.522
The Su‘udi forces eventually fell into disorder and retreated hastily to al-
Buraymi.
News of Mutlaq’s death was soon communicated to Su‘ud at al-Dir‘iyah,
and ‘Abd Allah Mazru‘ was appointed to succeed him. Shortly after arriving
in ‘Uman, Ibn Mazru* set out for al-Sharqlyah with the intention of attacking
al-Badlyah and avenging Mutlaq’s death. On hearing of this move, Sa‘id b.
Sultan raised the tribes of this area and prepared to oppose the Su‘udi
troops.523 Ibn Mazru ‘ went no further than Bahia, half as far as intended; while
encamped there, an unexpected incident led Sa‘id to change his mind and
abandon the idea of fighting. He learned that his cousin ‘Azzan b. Qays, the
governor of Suhar, had died on his way back from pilgrimage to Makkah.
Having always wanted to incorporate Suhar into Masqat, Sa‘Id seized this
chance to realize his hope.524 He therefore hurried towards Suhar, determined
to arrive there before any of the other facuons of the A1 Bu Sa‘Id. Eventually,
Sa'id deprived ‘Azzan’s descendants of their right over the place, and he
integral part of his dominion.525 Ibn Mazru°s plan was not realized, and he
decided to reure to al-Zahirah. He may have evaluated the resistance of the
tribes to be attacked and concluded that no major advantage would be gained
from such a clash at the present time.
Meanwhile, Amir Su‘ud, who had no time now to prepare for matters in
‘Uman on account of the intensifying warfare against the Ottoman-Egyptian
troops, turned to diplomauc channels to deter further conflict in ‘Uman.526 He
instructed his wakil at Masqat to reach an accommodauon with Sa‘Id b. Sultan.
No sooner had negouauons begun, however, than they came to a deadlock.
Sa‘Id rejected the wakil1 s suggestion of the necessity of cooperation with the
Qawasim of Ra’s al-Khaymah for the common interest.527
Su‘ud’s son and successor, Amir ‘Abd Allah, appointed another wakil at
Masqat and the talks were resumed. However, no formal settlement was
reached, and the affairs of Ra’s al-Khaymah remained the major obstacle.528

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