阿布达利苏丹国

Lahej (Arabic: لحج Laḥij), the Sultanate of Lahej (Arabic: سلطنة لحج Salṭanat Laḥij), or, sometimes, the Abdali Sultanate (Arabic: سلطنة العبدلي Salṭanat al-'Abdalī), was a Sheikdom based in Lahij in Southern Arabia. The Sultanate became self-ruling in 1728 and gained independence in 1740. In 1839, the Sultanate became part of the Aden Protectorate of the British Empire, though nominally the 'Abdali Sultan retained his status. The Aden Protectorate was briefly ruled again by the Ottomans during World War I, but regained by the British after the Ottoman defeat in World War I and absorbed into Federation of South Arabia in 1963. The 'Abdali dynasty was officially abolished in 1967, with the proclamation of South Yemen.

History

Establishment

Lahej was a sultanate of the 'Abdali dynasty. In 1740 the 'Abdali sultan became independent. It became independent thanks to the fracturing of the Zaidi State in north Yemen. The Sultanate of Lahej became an independent entity, from 1728 to 1839.

The arrival of the British

The first political intercourse between Lahej and the British took place in 1799, when a naval force was sent from Great Britain, with a detachment of troops from India, to occupy the island of Perim and prevent all communication of the French in Egypt with the Indian Ocean, by way of the Red Sea. The island of Perim was found unsuitable for troops, and the Sultan of Lahej, Ahmed bin Abdul Karim, received the detachment for some time at Aden. He proposed to enter into an alliance and to grant Aden as a permanent station, but the offer was declined. A Treaty was, however, concluded with the Sultan in 1802 by Admiral Sir Home Popham, who was instructed to enter into political and commercial alliances with the Chiefs of the Arabian coast of the Red Sea.

The loss of Aden

From that time there was little or no intercourse with Aden until 1837, when attention was drawn to the plunder and maltreatment of the crews of British vessels wrecked on the Aden coast.……

Rulers

Abdali Sultans

• 1728–1742: al-Fadl I ibn 'Ali al-Sallami al-'Abdali
• 1742–1753: 'Abd al-Karim I ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali
• 1753–1775: 'Abd al-Hadi ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali
• 1775–1791: al-Fadl II ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali
• 1791–1827: Ahmad I ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali

1827 – November 1839: Muhsin ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (1st time)

November 1839 – December 1839: Ahmad II ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali (1st time)

December 1839 – August 1846: Muhsin ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (2nd time)

11 August 1846 – September 1846: Sayyid Isma'il ibn al-Hasan al-Husayni (usurper)

September 1846 – 30 November 1847: Muhsin ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (3rd time)

December 1847 – 20 January 1849: Ahmad II ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali (2nd time)

March 1849 – 7 April 1863: 'Ali I ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali

April 1863 – 1863: al-Fadl III ibn 'Ali al-'Abdali (1st time)

1863 – 5 July 1874: al-Fadl IV ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali

5 July 1874 – 27 April 1898: al-Fadl III ibn 'Ali al-'Abdali (2nd time)

29 April 1898 – March 1914: Ahmad III ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (from 9 Nov 1901, Sir Ahmad III ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali)

March 1914 – 4 July 1915: 'Ali II ibn Ahmad al-'Abdali (from 8 Oct 1914, Sir 'Ali II ibn Ahmad al-'Abdali)

Economy

British Empire

The Sultanate of Lahej and others surrounding the Port of Aden had economic influence by supporting the important trade economy of the British Empire from South Asia. Early 19th century industrial Britain, with its rapidly expanding economy, needed improved and reliable communication with British India and the East India Company operations.

The 1863 opening of the Suez Canal initiated further British trade protection strategies, securing the port of Aden and surroundings to serve the Red Sea shipping routes using its new canal. The Sultanate was part of an effort of the British Empire to protect the East India Route, the sea route between the Mediterranean and India, in and through the southern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Resources

As of 1920, the Lahej region was producing salt, from salt mines owned by the Ottoman government, that passed through the Sultanate for shipping.