Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Kuwait, 1752–1961. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Emirate of Kuwait ... was an Emirate under the protection of the British in the Middle East between 1899 and 1961 following the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement of 1899. The head of each family in the village of Kuwait gathered and chose Sabah I bin Jaber as the Sheikh of Kuwait, a governor of sorts under the Emir of Al Hasa. In 1752, Kuwait became independent after an agreement between the Sheikh of Kuwait and the Emir of Al Hasa in which Al Hasa recognised Sabah I bin Jaber's independent rule over Kuwait. In January 1899, Mubarak signed an agreement with the British which pledged that Kuwait would never cede any territory nor receive agents or representatives of any foreign power without the British Government's consent.
Seat of power: Kuwait City
Rulers
Sabah I bin Jaber
emir of Kuwait, 1752–1762
In 1718, the head of each family in the town of Kuwait gathered and chose Sabah I bin Jaber as the Sheikh of Kuwait, becoming a governor of sorts underneath the Emir of Al Hasa. In 1752, Kuwait became independent after an agreement between the Sheikh of Kuwait and the Emir of Al Hasa in which Al Hasa recognised Sabah I bin Jaber's independent rule over Kuwait.
Abdullah I Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1762–1814
Abdullah I bin Sabah Al-Sabah was the second ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, ruling from 1762 to 1814.
Jaber I Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1814–1859
Jaber's foreign policy was more closely aligned with the Ottoman Empire and opposed to the British. In 1841, he signed a treaty with the British, on freedom of navigation and opposition to the slave trade. He sheltered political refugees during his reign, most notably Khalid bin Saud Al Saud from Najd, who fled from his cousin Abdullah bin Thunayan Al Saud.
Sabah II Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1859–1866
Sabah II bin Jaber Al-Sabah was the fourth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, ruling from 1859 to November 1866.
Abdullah II Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1866–1892
As ruler, he shifted alliances towards the Ottoman Empire, distancing from British influence while negotiating with the Al Saud family for power retention. In 1868 a great famine struck and he worked to bring an end to the rampant starvation. Notably, the first coins were minted in Kuwait during his tenure.
Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1892–1896
Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabah was the sixth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait between May 1892 and May 1896 and held the title of Pasha from the Ottoman Sultan. In May 1896, Sheikh Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabah was assassinated by his half-brother, Mubarak, who, in early 1897, was recognized, by the Ottoman sultan, as the qaimmaqam (provincial sub-governor) of Kuwait.
Mubarak Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1896–1915
Mubarak ascended the throne after assassinating his predecessor and half-brother, Muhammad Al-Sabah. In January 1899, Mubarak signed an agreement with the British which pledged that Kuwait would never cede any territory nor receive agents or representatives of any foreign power without the British Government's consent.
Portrait of Mubarak Al-Sabah: Hermann Burchardt (d. 1909), Public domain, file
Jaber II Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1915–1917
Although his reign was very short, Jaber is known for economic reforms he initiated. Jaber II Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah ruled the country from 28 November 1915 to his death on 5 February 1917 and was succeeded by his brother, Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.
Portrait of Jaber II Al-Sabah: Hermann Burchardt, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Salim I of Kuwait
emir of Kuwait, 1917–1921
During World War I, the British Empire imposed a trade blockade against Kuwait because Kuwait's ruler (Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah) supported the Ottoman Empire, who was in the Central Powers. The British economic blockade heavily damaged Kuwait's economy.
Portrait of Salim I of Kuwait: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
emir of Kuwait, 1921–1950
Ahmad was the lead cavalry commander, founder of the military of Kuwait and the Directorate of Public Security Force. During his last period of his reign he was the minister of finance from 1940 to 1950.
Portrait of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: The original uploader was Σύμμαχος at Arabic Wikipedia., Public domain, file
Culture
- Kuwait gradually became a port for the transit of goods between India, Muscat, Baghdad, Persia, and Arabia.
- Kuwait was the center of boat building in the Persian Gulf region in the nineteenth century until the early twentieth century.
- Under the rule of Mubarak, Kuwait was dubbed the "Marseille of the Gulf" because its economic vitality attracted a large variety of people.
Picture
Seif Palace in Kuwait City is known for its watch tower, covered in blue tiles and with a roof plated in pure gold.
Image: xiquinhosilva, CC BY-SA 2.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.