Muscat and Oman
Oman, 1820–1970. Draft, not yet reviewed
Muscat and Oman was a state under de facto British protection that existed in the second half of the 19th century and the 20th century. In 1856, upon the death of the last ruler of the Omani Empire, Said bin Sultan, the empire split into two separate political entities: the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The Sultanate eventually became increasingly dependent on British loans and political advice.
Seat of power: Muscat
Rulers
Faisal bin Turki Al Busaidi
Sultan of Oman, 1888–1913
On assuming power in 1888, Faisal ibn Turki gradually found his authority over the interior weakened as tribal leaders increasingly perceived his dependence on British advisers as an inherent weakness. By 1913 control over the interior was completely lost, and a reconstituted imamate was again a threat to Muscat.
Portrait of Faisal bin Turki Al Busaidi: Unknown author, Public domain, file
Taimur bin Faisal Al Said
Sultan of Oman, 1913–1932
When he assumed suzerainty over the country, he inherited an external public debt and widespread rebellion among the tribes. The Treaty of As Sib was a de facto partition agreement between Muscat and Oman, serving Britain's interest in preserving its power through the office of the sultan without dispatching British troops to the region.
Portrait of Taimur bin Faisal Al Said: Unknown Author, Public domain, file
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Said bin Taimur Al Said
Sultan of Oman, 1932–1970
He consolidated power, with the help of the British, and regained control of the tribal interior, bringing together Muscat and Oman. Once the country was united, Said left the capital of Muscat and resided in a coastal town in Dhofar. He was deposed on 23 July 1970 by the British with the help of his son, Qaboos bin Said.
Portrait of Said bin Taimur Al Said: British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Public domain, file
Culture
- The Sultanate of Muscat possessed a powerful naval force, which enabled the creation of a maritime empire dating from the expulsion of the Portuguese in 1650 through the 19th century, at times encompassing modern Oman, the United Arab Emirates, southern Balochistan, and Zanzibar and the adjacent coasts of Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique.
- Historical differences always existed between the rich, seafaring coastal Sultanate of Muscat and the tribes of the interior.
- Though the inland territories were under nominal control of the Sultans of Muscat, they were in practice run by tribal leaders and the Imams of Oman, practitioners of the Ibadi sect of Islam.
Picture
Al Alam Palace ... is the ceremonial palace of the Sultan of Oman.
Image: Andrew Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.