Page 93 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

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domain and exercise full authority over both the settled and Bedouin tribes.
However, when the central Su‘udl government began to suffer serious
setbacks in the early 1810s, its position in southeastern Arabia declined
accordingly. During these years, the Turkish-Egyptian troops were achieving
considerable success in western Arabia. In 1814, while the war was in full
swing, the death of Amir Su‘ud b. ‘Abd aI-‘Az!z immediately affected the
warring parties. His son and successor, ‘Abd Allah, continued the losing battle
but ultimately depicted his resources, forfeited his kingdom, and lost his own
life.
Although the Su‘ud! garrison in the province of al-Buraymi held out until
the fall of al-Dir‘iyah, the Su‘udi influence in the Sultanate of Masqat and
‘Uman began to decline with the death of Mutlaq al-Mutayrl, the Su‘ud!
vice-regent and military commander there, in 1813. Mutlaq was killed while
waging a war against the Hajarivin tribe in ‘Uman.707 His brother Battal
succeeded him as governor of al-Buravml and commander of the Su‘udi forces
in the area. Battal, however, lacked his brother’s military prowess, as well as
his skill in negotiating with factious tribal elements in ‘Ufnan.708
Furthermore, BattaPs appointment came at a critical period. By the time he
assumed his position, the Su‘udi troops were being pulled out of the area;
consequently, the scope of his authority was confined to the Buravml oasis.709
After the fall of al-Dir‘!vah, a number of Su‘ud! supporters fled to the coast
of ‘Uman and to the Buravml region.710 BattaPs position became precarious.
To begin with, he was now cut off from his home base in central Arabia, which
had given way to Egyptian control. Furthermore, his coastal allies, the
Qawasim, were preoccupied by the possibility of an Egyptian advance as well
as by British preparations for war against the maritime Arab tribes and,
therefore, were in no position to provide Battal with the means necessary
defend his stronghold. Many tribal chiefs, at al-Zahirah and neighbouring
settlements, had already transferred their loyalties and joined the more
powerful side. Upon losing his allies at al-Dir‘iyah, Muhammad b. Nasir, a
strong supporter of the Su‘udis in ‘Uman, made reconciliations with Sa‘id b.
Sultan, the ruler of Masqat, and it is likely that other subordinate chiefs
followed suit.711 Under these circumstances, Battal al-Mutavri’s position
became precarious to the extent that, in order to ensure his own safety and that
of his followers, he conceived it prudent to communicate and come to terms
with Sa‘id b. Sultan, the final result being BattaPs submission to Sa‘id and
enlistment in his service.712
As the Egyptian objective in that period was simply to put an end to the
Su‘udl house, they neither attempted to incorporate the Su‘udl dependencies
nor showed interest in further expansion southwards. Thus, facing no
immediate opposition in al-Buravmi, the ruler of Masqat dispatched a garrison
to be stationed there. Shortly thereafter, however, the Masqat! garrison was
besieged by the Nu‘aym, the principal settled tribe in the region, and was
forced out of the province in 1820.713
The overthrow of the Su‘udl state in central Arabia by the Egyptians and the
destruction of Qasim! naval power by the British forces delivered Sa‘Id b.
Sultan from dangerous foes and contributed to the rise of his power and the
extension of his domain.714 Consolidating his power over the districts of
‘Uman, Sa‘Id turned his attention to the province of Ja‘alan, located to the
south of Masqat. This region was inhabited by the Banu Bu ‘All tribe, who

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