Omani Empire

Oman, 1696–1862. Draft, not yet reviewed

The Omani Empire ... was a maritime empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for trade and influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. In 1696, under the reign of Saif bin Sultan, an Omani fleet attacked Mombasa, besieging the Portuguese Fort Jesus, in which 2,500 civilians had taken refuge. After rising as a regional power in the 18th century, the empire at its peak in the 19th century saw its influence or control extend across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Cape Delgado in what is now Mozambique. After the death of Said bin Sultan in 1856 the empire was divided between his sons into two sultanates, an African section (Sultanate of Zanzibar) ruled by Majid bin Said and an Asian section (Sultanate of Muscat and Oman) ruled by Thuwaini bin Said.

Seat of power: Rustaq

No rulers documented for this era yet.

Culture

• Saif bin Sultan built new schools and made the castle of Rustaq his residence.
• In 1798, Britain and Oman agreed on a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation.
• On 21 September 1833, a historic treaty of friendship and trade was signed with the United States.

Picture

Nizwa Fort, a 17th-century fortification built in the 1650s under Imam Sultan bin Saif, is known for its large circular tower.

Image: Andries Oudshoorn, CC BY-SA 2.0, file

Sources

• Omani Empire (Wikipedia)
• Omani Empire (Wikidata)
• About the picture (Wikipedia)

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.