Al-Mutawakkil Ahmad
Encyclopedia
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.
. In the early 19th century, dramatic political events rocked the Zaidi state. The intervention of Wahhabi forces from the north in 1803 deprived the imam of most of the lowlands, the Tihamah
. That meant the loss of vital revenues. Aggression from tribal groups outside the capital San'a further eroded the imam's power. As al-Mansur Ali I grew old and weak, intrigues arose around his person. Finally, in 1808, Prince Ahmad took power at court. This was a rather atypical event in Yemeni history, since sons usually did not rose against their fathers in power. Ahmad managed to abate the worst violence from the highland tribesmen. However, the governor of the important trading port Mocha
refused to acknowledge the usurpation of power, and received assistance from the Sultan of Lahej and Aden
.
The chief of Abu Arish in the Tihamah, Sharif Hamud (d. 1818), originally a vassal under the imam, had been forced to submit to the Wahhabi movement in 1803. In 1809, however, he fell out with the pro-Wahhabi chief of Upper Asir, Abu Nuqta. Sharif Hamud again proclaimed his allegiance to the Zaidi imam and restored to him the cities Luhayya, Hudaydah and Bayt al-Faqih
. Abu Nuqta marched into the territory of Sharif Hamud in July 1809 and defeated him, but shortly afterwards he was himself killed in an assault by the Abu Arish warriors on his camp. This event gave Sharif Hamud a powerful position as autonomous chief in the Tihamah. In October 1809 the old imam died. Ahmad was formally elevated to the position under the name al-Mutawakkil Ahmad.
ian viceroy
Muhammad Ali Pasha, a formal subject of the Ottoman
sultan. Muhammad Ali was intent on gaining power over the potentially rich lands of Yemen. He sent envoys to Sharif Hamud and to al-Mutawakkil Ahmad suggesting mutual assistance against the Wahhabi forces. The sharif gave an evasive reply. The imam was positive to the proposal but had little means to assist Muhammad Ali. The Ottoman forces were temporarily defeated by Shaykh Tami of Asir in 1814. In the next year, however, Sharif Hamud took Shaykh Tami prisoner and delivered him to the Ottomans. While the Ottoman war against the Wahhabites was in full progress in 1816, al-Mutawakkil Ahmad died and was succeeded by his son al-Mahdi Abdallah
. The latter would, within a few years, win back the Tihamah with Turkish help, at the same time putting himself in dependence of the Ottoman state.
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 1809-1816. 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.
Taking power
Ahmad bin Ali was a son of Imam al-Mansur Ali IAl-Mansur Ali I
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.-Early reign:...
. In the early 19th century, dramatic political events rocked the Zaidi state. The intervention of Wahhabi forces from the north in 1803 deprived the imam of most of the lowlands, the 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...
. That meant the loss of vital revenues. Aggression from tribal groups outside the capital San'a further eroded the imam's power. As al-Mansur Ali I grew old and weak, intrigues arose around his person. Finally, in 1808, Prince Ahmad took power at court. This was a rather atypical event in Yemeni history, since sons usually did not rose against their fathers in power. Ahmad managed to abate the worst violence from the highland tribesmen. However, the governor of the important trading port Mocha
Mocha, 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:...
refused to acknowledge the usurpation of power, and received assistance from the Sultan of Lahej and 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...
.
The chief of Abu Arish in the Tihamah, Sharif Hamud (d. 1818), originally a vassal under the imam, had been forced to submit to the Wahhabi movement in 1803. In 1809, however, he fell out with the pro-Wahhabi chief of Upper Asir, Abu Nuqta. Sharif Hamud again proclaimed his allegiance to the Zaidi imam and restored to him the cities Luhayya, Hudaydah and Bayt al-Faqih
Bayt al-Faqih
Bayt al-Faqīh or Beit al-Faqih ; ) is a city in Al Hudaydah Governorate in Yemen. It is located on the pilgrimage and trade route across the Tihamah plain between Al Hudaydah and Ta'izz. It is 50km south of Al Hudaydah and 150km southwest of the Yemeni capital of San‘a’ and lies at an altitude of...
. Abu Nuqta marched into the territory of Sharif Hamud in July 1809 and defeated him, but shortly afterwards he was himself killed in an assault by the Abu Arish warriors on his camp. This event gave Sharif Hamud a powerful position as autonomous chief in the Tihamah. In October 1809 the old imam died. Ahmad was formally elevated to the position under the name al-Mutawakkil Ahmad.
Ottoman impact
The new imam took a conciliatory stance to gain support. He remitted taxes, forgave some previous offences, and spent generously on the poor. The governor of Mocha laid down his arms, and died in the following year. At this time the Wahhabi movement of Arabia was vigorously attacked by the EgyptEgypt
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...
ian viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
Muhammad Ali Pasha, a formal subject of 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...
sultan. Muhammad Ali was intent on gaining power over the potentially rich lands of Yemen. He sent envoys to Sharif Hamud and to al-Mutawakkil Ahmad suggesting mutual assistance against the Wahhabi forces. The sharif gave an evasive reply. The imam was positive to the proposal but had little means to assist Muhammad Ali. The Ottoman forces were temporarily defeated by Shaykh Tami of Asir in 1814. In the next year, however, Sharif Hamud took Shaykh Tami prisoner and delivered him to the Ottomans. While the Ottoman war against the Wahhabites was in full progress in 1816, al-Mutawakkil Ahmad died and was succeeded by his son al-Mahdi Abdallah
Al-Mahdi Abdallah
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.-Return of the Tihamah:...
. The latter would, within a few years, win back the Tihamah with Turkish help, at the same time putting himself in dependence of the Ottoman state.
Further reading
- R.B. Serjeant & R. Lewcock, San'a'; An Arabian Islamic City. London 1983.
- Robert W. Stookey, Yemen; The Politics of the Yemen Arab Republic. Boulder 1978.