Page 59 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

I

The Challenge lo Power: Brother, Nephew and Son 35

'Table 2
Rulers of Abu Dhabi

Ruler Dates of rule Length Relationship Termination
of rule lo of rule
(years) predecessor

Tahnun bin Shakhhut 1818-1833 >5 killed
Khalifah bin Shakhbut 1833-1845 12 brother killed*
Sa'id bin Talinun 1845 '855 10 nephew deposed
Zayid bin Khalifah «855-'909 46 cousin natural death
Talinun bin Zayid 19°9"1912 3 son natural death
Hamdan bin Zayid 1912-1922 10 brother killed
Sultan bin Zayid 1922-1926 4 brother killed
Saqr bin Zayid 1926-1928 2 brother killed
Shakhbut bin Sultan 1928-1966 3« nephew deposed
Zayid bin Sultan 1966- brother
* Not killed by his successor

of Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain is not entirely coincidental; and
in this explanations for the pattern can be sought.
In the course of their history Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have
had much in common. For a long time they were rivals for the
leading position on the Coast, and as such they needed forces
to control their extensive territories. During the nineteenth century
their rivalry often erupted into violence. Both shaykhdoms accepted
force as a way of life: as the only means for ensuring their survival,
in face of their enemies; and as the arbiter of the shaykhdom’s

Table 3
Rulers of Sharjah

Ruler Dates of rule Length Relationship Termination
of rule to of rule
(years) predecessor
Sultan bin Saqr 1803-1866 63 natural death
Khalid bin Sultan 1866-1868 2 son killed in
battle
Salim bin Sultan 1868-1883 15 brother deposed
Saqr bin Khalid 1883-1914 3i nephew natural death
Khalid bin Ahmad 1914-1924 10 cousin deposed
Sultan bin Saqr 1924-1951 27 nephew natural death
Saqr bin Sultan 195*“>985 14 son deposed
Khalid bin Muhammad i965-»97> 6 cousin killed
Sultan bin Muhammad 1971- brother