Al-Mansur Ali I
Encyclopedia
Al-Mansur Ali I was an Imam
of Yemen
who ruled in 1775–1809. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi
imamate
in 1597–1962.
(d. 1775). During the reign of his father he was governor of San'a. He led a number of successful military expeditions against warring tribes. After his father's death he successfully claimed the imamate, taking the name al-Mansur Ali. His first twenty years in power were marked by periodical petty wars with unruly tribesmen. In particular a Sayyid
called Ibn Ishaq (d. 1805) raised the standard of rebellion and claimed the imamate from 1781 to 1785, assisted by Arhab tribesmen. Al-Mansur Ali I managed to deal with these crises.
, Sharif Hamud (d. 1818), was attacked in 1803 by the pro-Wahhabi chief of Upper Asir, Abu Nuqta. Defeated in battle, Sharif Hamud submitted to the Wahhabis. As a vassall of the latter, he committed himself to break off relations with al-Mansur Ali I. During the next three years he conquered the Tihamah from the imam, while Abu Nuqta performed raids into the territory still loyal to the Zaidi state. Al-Mansur Ali I prepared an expedition to Tihamah in 1806, but it never got underway; the event indicates the weakness of the Zaidi imamate at this time. Sharif Hamud, however, fell out with the Wahhabi regime in 1808, and in the next year he killed Abu Nuqta in an assault.
, who was his grand qadi
, wrote favourably of him, while other texts assert that he left governance to his ministers and kept busy with building activities and womanizing. On the other hand, he was considered brave, generous and hospitable. By the early 19th century his faculties began to fail, and intrigues arose at court while chaos reigned in the land. The wazir
Hasan al-Ulufi who kept the real powers in San'a was arrested by the old imam's son Ahmad, who took over the administration in 1808. He managed to appease the dissatisfied tribesmen who had performed raids around San'a. When al-Mansur Ali I died in the next year, his son became ruler in name, as al-Mutawakkil Ahmad
.
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 1775–1809. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from 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:...
in 1597–1962.
Early reign
Ali bin Abbas was one of about 20 sons of Imam al-Mahdi AbbasAl-Mahdi Abbas
Al-Mahdi Abbas was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1748–1775. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen in 1597–1962.-Ascension and character:...
(d. 1775). During the reign of his father he was governor of San'a. He led a number of successful military expeditions against warring tribes. After his father's death he successfully claimed the imamate, taking the name al-Mansur Ali. His first twenty years in power were marked by periodical petty wars with unruly tribesmen. In particular a Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
called Ibn Ishaq (d. 1805) raised the standard of rebellion and claimed the imamate from 1781 to 1785, assisted by Arhab tribesmen. Al-Mansur Ali I managed to deal with these crises.
The Wahhabi movement
Events in other parts of Arabia led to severe losses for the Zaidi state after 1800. The religious Wahhabi movement expanded rapidly in the Hijaz. The semi-independent ruler of Abu Arish in the TihamahTihamah
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...
, Sharif Hamud (d. 1818), was attacked in 1803 by the pro-Wahhabi chief of Upper Asir, Abu Nuqta. Defeated in battle, Sharif Hamud submitted to the Wahhabis. As a vassall of the latter, he committed himself to break off relations with al-Mansur Ali I. During the next three years he conquered the Tihamah from the imam, while Abu Nuqta performed raids into the territory still loyal to the Zaidi state. Al-Mansur Ali I prepared an expedition to Tihamah in 1806, but it never got underway; the event indicates the weakness of the Zaidi imamate at this time. Sharif Hamud, however, fell out with the Wahhabi regime in 1808, and in the next year he killed Abu Nuqta in an assault.
The end of the reign
The character of al-Mansur Ali I is debated among the chroniclers. The well-known religious scholar Muhammad ash-ShawkaniMuhammad ash-Shawkani
Muhammad ash-Shawkani was a Yemeni scholar of Islam, jurisprudent, and reformer.-Name:His full name was Muhammad Ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Shawkani...
, who was his grand qadi
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
, wrote favourably of him, while other texts assert that he left governance to his ministers and kept busy with building activities and womanizing. On the other hand, he was considered brave, generous and hospitable. By the early 19th century his faculties began to fail, and intrigues arose at court while chaos reigned in the land. The wazir
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
Hasan al-Ulufi who kept the real powers in San'a was arrested by the old imam's son Ahmad, who took over the administration in 1808. He managed to appease the dissatisfied tribesmen who had performed raids around San'a. When al-Mansur Ali I died in the next year, his son became ruler in name, as al-Mutawakkil Ahmad
Al-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:...
.