Ikhwan Revolt
Encyclopedia
The Ikhwan Revolt had begun in 1927, when elements of the Ikhwan, the radical irregular tribesmen of Arabia, undermined the authority of Ibn Saud and begun raiding neighbouring Iraq and Kuwait. The relations between the House of Saud and the Ikhwans deteriorated into an open bloody feud in December 1928. The main perpetrators of the rebellion were crushed in the Battle of Sabilla
, on 29 March 1929. Ikhwan tribesmen and Saudi government troops clashed
again in the Jabal Shammar region in August 1929, and Ikhwan tribesmen attacked the Awazim tribe on October 5, 1929. Faisal al-Dawish
, one of the main leaders of the rebellion and the leader of Mutair tribe, fled to Kuwait in October 1929. Government troops had finally suppressed the rebellion on January 10, 1930, when other Ikhwan rebel leaders surrendered to the British. In the aftermath, the Ikhwan leadership was slain, and the remains were eventually incorporated into regular Saudi units. Sultan bin Bajad, one of the three main Ikhwan
leaders, was killed in 1931, while al-Dawish
died in prison in Riyadh on October 3, 1931.
, the Wahhabist-Bedouin
tribal army led by Sultan bin Bajad al-Otaibi and Faisal al-Dawish
. From the Saudi core in Nejd, and aided by the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
after the First World War, the Ikhwan had completed the conquest of the territory that was to become Saudi Arabia by the end of 1925. On 10 January 1926 Abdul-Aziz
declared himself King of the Hejaz
and, then, on 27 January 1927 he took the title of King of Nejd (his previous title having been 'Sultan').
, Iraq
and Kuwait
. The tribesmen had already attempted external territorial gains in the Kuwait-Najd Border War and raided Transjordan
, but suffered heavy casualties. Defying Ibn Saud, elements of the Ikhwan, mainly constituing of the Mutair tribe under al-Dawish, raided on southern Iraq in November 5th 1927, clashing with Iraqi troops near Busayya, resulting in some 20 casualties on both sides. Ikhwan elements also raided Kuwait on January 1928. In both occasions they looted camels and sheep, and though they raided brutally, they suffered heavy retaliations from RAF and Kuwaitis.
In January 1929, an Ikhwan raid on into the Sheikhdom of Kuwait resulted in killing of an American missionary, Dr. Bilkert, who was traveling by car with another American, philanthropist Charles Crane. With no signs of Ibn Saud mobilizing his forces to stop the raids, the RAF resources were extended to Kuwait.
, however, refused to agree to the wild Ikhwani raids, recognizing the danger of a direct conflict with the British. The Ikhwan therefore openly revolted on December 1928. The largest confrontation of the parties occurred in March 30-31, 1929, in the Battle of Sabilla
, where the Ikhwan leadership were massacred. The Battle of Sabilla was the last major battle of camel raiders, thus having an historic importance. It had become a scene of carnage for the technologically mediocre Ikhwan against the cavalry and machine-guns of Ibn Saud's army. In the aftermath of the battle some 500 Ikhwan tribesmen died, whereas Ibn Saud's losses were about 200.
fled to Kuwait in October 1929, and government troops finally suppressed the rebellion on January 10, 1930, when Ikhwan rebel leaders surrendered to the British.
died in prison in Riyadh on October 3, 1931.
In September 1932, the two kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd were united as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Battle of Sabilla
The Battle of Sabilla was the main battle of the Ikhwan Revolt in northern Arabia between the rebellious Ikhwan forces and the army of Ibn Saud. It was the last major battle, where one side rode camels, as the Ikhwan emphasized radical conservatism, shunned technological modernization...
, on 29 March 1929. Ikhwan tribesmen and Saudi government troops clashed
Battle of Jabal Shammar (1929)
The Battle of Jabal Shammar, or Battle of Umm Radh'ma took place on August 1929, between a raiding rebellious Ikhwan party and the ally tribes of Ibn Saud. It was the second large scale engagement of the Ikhwan Revolt in Arabia...
again in the Jabal Shammar region in August 1929, and Ikhwan tribesmen attacked the Awazim tribe on October 5, 1929. Faisal al-Dawish
Faisal Al-Dawish
Faisal bin Sultan al-Dawish or commonly known as Faisal al-Dawish was a prince of Mutair tribe and one of the Ikhwan leaders, who assisted Ibn Saud in the unification of Saudi Arabia....
, one of the main leaders of the rebellion and the leader of Mutair tribe, fled to Kuwait in October 1929. Government troops had finally suppressed the rebellion on January 10, 1930, when other Ikhwan rebel leaders surrendered to the British. In the aftermath, the Ikhwan leadership was slain, and the remains were eventually incorporated into regular Saudi units. Sultan bin Bajad, one of the three main Ikhwan
Ikhwan
The Ikhwan was the Islamic religious militia which formed the main military force of the Arabian ruler Ibn Saud and played a key role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula, in his new state of Saudi Arabia. The Ikhwan were made up of Bedouin tribes...
leaders, was killed in 1931, while al-Dawish
Faisal Al-Dawish
Faisal bin Sultan al-Dawish or commonly known as Faisal al-Dawish was a prince of Mutair tribe and one of the Ikhwan leaders, who assisted Ibn Saud in the unification of Saudi Arabia....
died in prison in Riyadh on October 3, 1931.
Background
In the beginning of the 20th century Arabia was an arena of tribal wars, which had eventually led to unification under the leadership of Al Saud. The main tool for achieving these conquests was the IkhwanIkhwan
The Ikhwan was the Islamic religious militia which formed the main military force of the Arabian ruler Ibn Saud and played a key role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula, in his new state of Saudi Arabia. The Ikhwan were made up of Bedouin tribes...
, the Wahhabist-Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
tribal army led by Sultan bin Bajad al-Otaibi and Faisal al-Dawish
Faisal Al-Dawish
Faisal bin Sultan al-Dawish or commonly known as Faisal al-Dawish was a prince of Mutair tribe and one of the Ikhwan leaders, who assisted Ibn Saud in the unification of Saudi Arabia....
. From the Saudi core in Nejd, and aided by the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire
The Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire was a political event that occurred after World War I. The huge conglomeration of territories and peoples formerly ruled by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire was divided into several new nations.The partitioning was planned from the early days of the war,...
after the First World War, the Ikhwan had completed the conquest of the territory that was to become Saudi Arabia by the end of 1925. On 10 January 1926 Abdul-Aziz
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
declared himself King of the Hejaz
Hejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
and, then, on 27 January 1927 he took the title of King of Nejd (his previous title having been 'Sultan').
The Ikhwan undermine the authority of Ibn Saud
After the conquest of the Hejaz, some Ikhwan leaders wanted to continue the expansion of the Wahhabist realm into the British protectorates of TransjordanTransjordan
The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. The tribesmen had already attempted external territorial gains in the Kuwait-Najd Border War and raided Transjordan
Ikhwan raids on Transjordan
Ikhwan raids on Transjordan were a series of plunders by the Ikhwan, irregular Arab tribesmen of Najd, on Transjordan between 1922 and 1924. The repeated Wahhabi incursions fron Najd into southern parts of his territory were the most serious threat to emir Abdullah's position in Transjordan...
, but suffered heavy casualties. Defying Ibn Saud, elements of the Ikhwan, mainly constituing of the Mutair tribe under al-Dawish, raided on southern Iraq in November 5th 1927, clashing with Iraqi troops near Busayya, resulting in some 20 casualties on both sides. Ikhwan elements also raided Kuwait on January 1928. In both occasions they looted camels and sheep, and though they raided brutally, they suffered heavy retaliations from RAF and Kuwaitis.
In January 1929, an Ikhwan raid on into the Sheikhdom of Kuwait resulted in killing of an American missionary, Dr. Bilkert, who was traveling by car with another American, philanthropist Charles Crane. With no signs of Ibn Saud mobilizing his forces to stop the raids, the RAF resources were extended to Kuwait.
Battle of Sabilla
Abdul-AzizIbn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
, however, refused to agree to the wild Ikhwani raids, recognizing the danger of a direct conflict with the British. The Ikhwan therefore openly revolted on December 1928. The largest confrontation of the parties occurred in March 30-31, 1929, in the Battle of Sabilla
Battle of Sabilla
The Battle of Sabilla was the main battle of the Ikhwan Revolt in northern Arabia between the rebellious Ikhwan forces and the army of Ibn Saud. It was the last major battle, where one side rode camels, as the Ikhwan emphasized radical conservatism, shunned technological modernization...
, where the Ikhwan leadership were massacred. The Battle of Sabilla was the last major battle of camel raiders, thus having an historic importance. It had become a scene of carnage for the technologically mediocre Ikhwan against the cavalry and machine-guns of Ibn Saud's army. In the aftermath of the battle some 500 Ikhwan tribesmen died, whereas Ibn Saud's losses were about 200.
Battle of Jabal Shammar
Ikhwan tribesmen and government troops clashed again in the Jabal Shammar region on August 1929, resulting in the deaths of some 1,000 men.Attack on Awazim tribe
Despite their losses, the Ikhwan tribesmen went on with their rebellion by attacking the Awazim tribe on October 5, 1929, resulting in the deaths of some 250 individuals.Final accords
Faisal al-DawishFaisal Al-Dawish
Faisal bin Sultan al-Dawish or commonly known as Faisal al-Dawish was a prince of Mutair tribe and one of the Ikhwan leaders, who assisted Ibn Saud in the unification of Saudi Arabia....
fled to Kuwait in October 1929, and government troops finally suppressed the rebellion on January 10, 1930, when Ikhwan rebel leaders surrendered to the British.
Aftermath
In the aftermath, the Ikhwan leadership was slain, and the remains were eventually incorporated into regular Saudi units. Sultan bin Bajad, one of the main Ikhwan leaders, was killed in 1931, whereas Faisal al-DawishFaisal Al-Dawish
Faisal bin Sultan al-Dawish or commonly known as Faisal al-Dawish was a prince of Mutair tribe and one of the Ikhwan leaders, who assisted Ibn Saud in the unification of Saudi Arabia....
died in prison in Riyadh on October 3, 1931.
In September 1932, the two kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd were united as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
See also
- Grand Mosque SeizureGrand Mosque SeizureThe Grand Mosque Seizure on November 20, 1979, was an armed attack and takeover by Islamist dissidents of the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam...
- Adwan RebellionAdwan RebellionAdwan Rebellion or the Balqa Revolt was the largest uprising against the newly installed Transjordanian government, headed by Mezhar Ruslan, during its first years. The rebellion was initiated in the early months of 1923, but was quickly crushed with the assistance of the British RAF...
- Kura RebellionKura RebellionKura Rebellion was among the first uprisings against the authority of emir Abdullah in Transjordan. The rebellion, begun in 1921, resulted in minor casualties and was at first pacified via negotiations and amnesty by the Hashemite ruler, but erupted again in 1923...
- Iraqi Shia revolts 1935–1936Iraqi Shia revolts 1935–1936Iraqi Shia revolts were a series of violent uprisings within Sunni governed Kingdom of Iraq in 1935–1936.-Background:During the 1930s there was almost perpetual unrest in the Shi'a south fueled by a veriety of motives, but underpinned throughout by their continued expulsion from the upper echelons...