Al-Mahdi Abdallah
Encyclopedia
Al-Mahdi Abdallah was an Imam
of Yemen
who ruled in 1816-1835. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi
imamate
of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
. After the death of his father in 1816, he successfully claimed the imamate, under the name al-Mahdi Abdallah. A British surgeon visited him in 1823 and described him as a tall, slender man of dark complexion, almost resembling an African. He appeared very passionate and changed his ministers with great frequency. His government was portrayed as very weak. The imam had to pay large stipends to various tribes in order to prevent them from plundering the land. However, the local shaykhs grew more assertive over time, and demanded higher subsidies. This had become apparent when a crisis broke out in 1818, after al-Mahdi had mistreated errands from the Bakil
tribe. As a consequence, the northern tribes entered San'a and plundered for 22 days. Only when al-Mahdi promised to pay 120,000 Riyals did they withdraw.
The time when al-Mahdi Abdallah took over power was a turbulent one. The politico-religious Wahhabi movement had intervened in Yemen since 1803, and the area controlled by the imam had shrunk critically. Parts of the lowlands, Tihamah
, stood under the chief of Abu Arish, Sharif Hamud, who took an independent position and sometimes supported the Wahhabi ruler. When Hamud died in 1818, he was succeeded by his son Ahmad. Ahmad allied with the Saudi family, leaders of the Wahhabi movement, in order to fight the Ottoman
troops in Najd
. However, the Ottoman troops were victorious and proceeded to invade Abu Arish. Ahmad was captured, and all his possessions in Yemen were handed back to al-Mahdi Abdallah. In spite of mutual distrust, an agreement between the imam and the Ottomans was effectuated, whereby the imam undertook to send coffee
deliveries to the sultan's court. After 15 years, Tihamah was therefore once again in the hands of the Zaidi state.
. In 1817 a British lieutenant was mistreated by the local population, and the British Indian authorities demanded satisfaction. The imam's governor in Mocha declined the demand, and a military action followed in 1820. After an initial reverse, the British troops managed to breach the walls of Mocha and force an agreement. In the following year al-Mahdi Abdallah sent a firman
to the British trading office in Mocha where he agreed to lower the duties of the port. During the 1820s, however, the British grew increasingly sceptical about their prospects in Mocha. They started to look for an alternative port, and found Aden
to be an attractive alternative. Aden at this time was under the Sultanate of Lahej, thus outside of al-Mahdi Abdallah's territory. This eventually led to the British capture of Aden in 1839.
viceroy Muhammad Ali Pasha in Hijaz, he mutinied and gathered discontented Ottoman militaries. The mutineers marched into the Tihamah in 1832 and captured Mocha and Hudaydah, and the land in between. He concluded an alliance with a chief of Asir, Ali bin Mukhtar, whereby they were to support each other and share the revenues of the occupied territory. Al-Mahdi Abdallah had little resources to counter the intruders. With British endorsement, Muhammad Ali sent an Egyptian force to Yemen in 1833 to deal with the chaotic situation, which was highly detrimental to trade in the region. The Asiris fell out with Türkce Bilmez and besieged his forces in Mocha, which was blocked from the sea by the Egyptian fleet. Finally the city fell and was plundered by the Asiri tribesmen, while Türkce Bilmez was saved on a British ship.
After these events, fighting broke out between the Egyptians and Asiris on Yemeni soil. The conflict continued for the next few years, until in 1837 Egyptian reinforcements secured the coastal cities and some of the interior. Al-Mahdi Abdallah, unable to contain the turmoil, considered giving up his country, or what remained of it, to Muhammad Ali, but this was plainly refused by his subjects. When he died in 1835, the Zaidi state was only a shadow of its former condition. Al-Mahdi Abdallah was succeeded by his son al-Mansur Ali II
.
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
who ruled in 1816-1835. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi
Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyya, or Zaidism is a Shi'a Muslim school of thought named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī. Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a...
imamate
Imamate
The word Imamate is an Arabic word with an English language suffix meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to Islam.-Theological usage:...
of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
Return of the Tihamah
Abdallah bin Ahmad was one of about twenty sons of Imam al-Mutawakkil AhmadAl-Mutawakkil Ahmad
Al-Mutawakkil Ahmad was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1809-1816. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.-Taking power:...
. After the death of his father in 1816, he successfully claimed the imamate, under the name al-Mahdi Abdallah. A British surgeon visited him in 1823 and described him as a tall, slender man of dark complexion, almost resembling an African. He appeared very passionate and changed his ministers with great frequency. His government was portrayed as very weak. The imam had to pay large stipends to various tribes in order to prevent them from plundering the land. However, the local shaykhs grew more assertive over time, and demanded higher subsidies. This had become apparent when a crisis broke out in 1818, after al-Mahdi had mistreated errands from the Bakil
Bakil
The Bakil federation is the largest tribal federation in Yemen. Imam Yahya's campaign to subject the country, and more specifically the tribes, to his control, led him to undertake massive campaigns against their influence and power; in fact, his efforts succeeded in permanently eliminating all but...
tribe. As a consequence, the northern tribes entered San'a and plundered for 22 days. Only when al-Mahdi promised to pay 120,000 Riyals did they withdraw.
The time when al-Mahdi Abdallah took over power was a turbulent one. The politico-religious Wahhabi movement had intervened in Yemen since 1803, and the area controlled by the imam had shrunk critically. Parts of the lowlands, Tihamah
Tihamah
Tihamah or Tihama is a narrow coastal region of Arabia on the Red Sea. It is currently divided between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In a broad sense, Tihamah refers to the entire coastline from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Bab el Mandeb Strait but it more often refers only to its southern half, starting...
, stood under the chief of Abu Arish, Sharif Hamud, who took an independent position and sometimes supported the Wahhabi ruler. When Hamud died in 1818, he was succeeded by his son Ahmad. Ahmad allied with the Saudi family, leaders of the Wahhabi movement, in order to fight the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
troops in Najd
Najd
Najd or Nejd , literally Highland, is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.-Boundaries :The Arabic word nejd literally means "upland" and was once applied to a variety of regions within the Arabian Peninsula...
. However, the Ottoman troops were victorious and proceeded to invade Abu Arish. Ahmad was captured, and all his possessions in Yemen were handed back to al-Mahdi Abdallah. In spite of mutual distrust, an agreement between the imam and the Ottomans was effectuated, whereby the imam undertook to send coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
deliveries to the sultan's court. After 15 years, Tihamah was therefore once again in the hands of the Zaidi state.
British attack
The British of Bombay traded on the important seaport MochaMocha, Yemen
Mocha or Mokha is a port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Until it was eclipsed in the 19th century by Aden and Hodeida, Mocha was the principal port for Yemen's capital Sana'a.-Overview:...
. In 1817 a British lieutenant was mistreated by the local population, and the British Indian authorities demanded satisfaction. The imam's governor in Mocha declined the demand, and a military action followed in 1820. After an initial reverse, the British troops managed to breach the walls of Mocha and force an agreement. In the following year al-Mahdi Abdallah sent a firman
Firman
A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, State of Hyderabad, and Iran under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The word firman comes from the meaning "decree" or "order"...
to the British trading office in Mocha where he agreed to lower the duties of the port. During the 1820s, however, the British grew increasingly sceptical about their prospects in Mocha. They started to look for an alternative port, and found Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
to be an attractive alternative. Aden at this time was under the Sultanate of Lahej, thus outside of al-Mahdi Abdallah's territory. This eventually led to the British capture of Aden in 1839.
Türkce Bilmez and Egyptian intervention
The authority of al-Mahdi Abdallah in parts of Yemen was eroded by the appearance of a Circassian adventurer, Türkce Bilmez. Being a soldier serving under the EgyptianEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
viceroy Muhammad Ali Pasha in Hijaz, he mutinied and gathered discontented Ottoman militaries. The mutineers marched into the Tihamah in 1832 and captured Mocha and Hudaydah, and the land in between. He concluded an alliance with a chief of Asir, Ali bin Mukhtar, whereby they were to support each other and share the revenues of the occupied territory. Al-Mahdi Abdallah had little resources to counter the intruders. With British endorsement, Muhammad Ali sent an Egyptian force to Yemen in 1833 to deal with the chaotic situation, which was highly detrimental to trade in the region. The Asiris fell out with Türkce Bilmez and besieged his forces in Mocha, which was blocked from the sea by the Egyptian fleet. Finally the city fell and was plundered by the Asiri tribesmen, while Türkce Bilmez was saved on a British ship.
After these events, fighting broke out between the Egyptians and Asiris on Yemeni soil. The conflict continued for the next few years, until in 1837 Egyptian reinforcements secured the coastal cities and some of the interior. Al-Mahdi Abdallah, unable to contain the turmoil, considered giving up his country, or what remained of it, to Muhammad Ali, but this was plainly refused by his subjects. When he died in 1835, the Zaidi state was only a shadow of its former condition. Al-Mahdi Abdallah was succeeded by his son al-Mansur Ali II
Al-Mansur Ali II
Al-Mansur Ali II was an Imam of Yemen who reigned in the capital San'a during four brief terms . He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.-First reign:Ali bin Abdallah was the son of Imam al-Mahdi Abdallah...
.
Further reading
- R.B. Serjeant & R. Lewcock, San'a'; An Araban Islamic City. London 1983.
- Robert W. Stookey, Yemen; The Politics of the Yemen Arab Republic. Boulder 1978.