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Sultan of Muscat and Oman (1791–1856) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sayyid Saïd bin Sultan al-Busaidi (Arabic: سعيد بن سلطان, Saʿīd bin Sulṭān, Swahili: Saïd bin Sultani) (5 June 1791 – 19 October 1856) was Sultan of Muscat and Oman, the fifth ruler of the Busaid dynasty from 1804 to 4 June 1856. His rule began after a period of conflict and internecine rivalry of succession that followed the death of his father, Sultan bin Ahmad, in November 1804. He is often referred to as the Lion of Oman (أسد عمان), as one of the greatest Omani sultans.[2]
| Said bin Sultan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Sultan of the Omani Empire | |||||
| Reign | 1804–1856 | ||||
| Predecessor | Sultan bin Ahmad | ||||
| Successor | Thuwaini bin Said (as Sultan of Muscat and Oman) Majid bin Said (as Sultan of Zanzibar) | ||||
| Born | 5 June 1791[1] Samail, Oman | ||||
| Died | 19 October 1856 (aged 65) Seychelles | ||||
| Burial | Makusurani Cemetery | ||||
| Issue Detail | |||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | House of Busaid | ||||
| Father | Sultan bin Ahmad | ||||
| Mother | Sayyida Ghanneyeh bint Saif Al-Busaidi | ||||
| Religion | Ibadi Islam | ||||
Said's uncle Qais bin Ahmad finally agreed to Said's primacy after Said had killed his cousin, Badr bin Saif, a pretender to the throne. Said is noted for moving his capital to Zanzibar, where it remained during the time when the Omani Empire reached the zenith of its power and wealth.[3][4]
Said bin Sultan was son of Sultan bin Ahmed, who ruled Oman from 1791 to 1804. Sultan bin Ahmed died in 1804 on an expedition to Basra. He appointed Mohammed bin Nasir bin Mohammed al-Jabry as the Regent and guardian of his two sons, Salim bin Sultan and Said bin Sultan.[5] Sultan's brother Qais bin Ahmad, the ruler of Sohar, decided to attempt to seize power. Early in 1805 Qais and his brother Mohammed marched south along the coast to Muttrah, which he easily captured. Qais then started to besiege Muscat. Mohammed bin Nasir tried to bribe Qais to leave, but did not succeed.[5]
Mohammed bin Nasir called on Badr bin Saif for help.[5] After a series of engagements, Qais was forced to retire to Sohar. Badr bin Saif became the effective ruler.[6] Allied with the Wahhabis, Badr bin Saif became increasingly unpopular.[7] To get his wards out of the way, Badr bin Saif made Salim bin Sultan governor of al Maṣna'ah on the Batinah coast and Said bin Sultan governor of Barka.[8]
In 1806, Said bin Sultan lured Badr bin Saif to Barka and murdered him nearby. There are different accounts of what happened, but it seems clear that Said struck the first blow and his supporters finished the job. Said was acclaimed by the people as a liberator from the Wahhabis, who left the country. Qais bin Ahmad at once gave his support to Said. Nervous of the Wahhabi reaction, Said blamed Mohammed bin Nasir for the murder.[1]
Said bin Sultan became the sole ruler of Oman, apparently with the consent of his brother. Their aunt, the daughter of the Imam Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi, seems to have influenced this decision.[9]
In 1820, he launched a punitive expedition against the Bani Bu Ali with the assistance of the East India Company. It was defeated, but the following year a larger Company force returned and defeated the tribe.[10]
In 1822, he signed the Moresby Treaty, restricting the Zanzibar slave trade.[11]
In 1835, he ratified a treaty with the United States on very favorable terms, that had been negotiated by Edmund Roberts at Muscat on 21 September 1833,[12] and returned by USS Peacock.[13]
In 1837, he conquered Mombasa (now in Kenya). In 1840, Said moved his capital from Muscat to Stone Town in Zanzibar, where Richard Waters was American Consul,[14] and sent a ship to the United States to try to further a trading relationship.[15]
In 1843 he nominated a nominal representative in Mogadishu and was forced to pay tribute to Sultan Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim of the Sultanate of the Geledi.[16]
In 1845, he signed the Hamerton Treaty, further restricting the Zanzibar slave trade.[17]
Upon Said's death in 1856, his realm was divided. His third son, Thuwaini bin Said, became the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, and his sixth son, Majid bin Said, became the Sultan of Zanzibar.
The National Museum in Muscat houses numerous items of silverware and other possessions that belonged to Said.
Said had 36 children:
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