Siege of Sohar (1633–1643)

Last updated
Siege of Sohar
Part of the Omani–Portuguese conflicts
SOAR Antonio Bocarro.png
Portuguese fortress of Sohar
Date8 August 1633 – 7 November 1643
Location
Result Omani victory
Belligerents
Flag Portugal (1667).svg Portuguese Empire Flag of Muscat.svg Omani Empire
Commanders and leaders
UnknownFlag of Muscat.svg Nasir bin Murshid
Flag of Muscat.svg Hafidh bin Saif
Flag of Muscat.svg Rashid bin 'Abad  
Casualties and losses
Unknown killed
37 captured
Heavy

In 1633, the Omanis attacked the fortress at Sohar. The Omanis besieged the fortress in 1633 and after a long siege the fort fell in 1643.

Contents

Capture

In 1633, after the capture of Julfar and Dibba, Imam Nasir bin Murshid was encouraged by these victories and decided to launch an attack on the fortress of Sohar, which was considered one of the strongest Portuguese fortresses. Imam Nasir's plan was the following: attack the Arabs loyal to the Portuguese; second, construct a fortress close to Sohar so that they can attack and skirmish with the Portuguese garrison. Nasir dispatched his governor of Liwa, Hafidh bin Saif; Haifdh called the Arab tribes of Banu Khlaid, Banu Lam, and 'Amour; they came in a large number of men, alongside support from the people of Sohar. The Omanis arrived in Sohar on August 8, 1633. The Portuguese were alarmed by this attack and began exchanging fire with the Omanis. The Omanis fiercely attacked the walls however they were met by heavy artillery fire which forced the Omanis to retreat little back one of the commanders, Rashid bin 'Abad was killed in the assault, nevertheless, the Omanis succeeded in building their fortress, Hafidh bin Said then ordered the Omanis to take their positions in the fort and the Omanis kept an eye on the Portuguese fort who was blockaded from land, however the Omanis didn't have enough force to besiege them from sea allowing supplies to flow in the fort, thus putting the siege into a stalemate, [1] [2] [3] [4] the situation changed on November 7, 1643, when Imam Nasir had arrived to Sohar after a failed siege of Muscat, the Omanis assaulted the fort and captured it, killing its guards and capturing 37 prisoners. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Jalali Fort</span> Fort in the harbor of Old Muscat, Oman

Al Jalali Fort, or Ash Sharqiya Fort, is a fort in the harbor of Old Muscat, Oman. The fort was built by the Portuguese under Philip I of Portugal in the 1580s on an earlier Omani fortress to protect the harbor after Muscat had twice been sacked by Ottoman forces. The fort fell to Omani forces in 1650. During the civil wars between 1718 and 1747, the fort was twice captured by Persians who had been invited to assist one of the rival Imams. The fort was extensively rebuilt later.

Badr or Badar bin Saif was a member of the Al Said dynasty of Oman. In 1804 he became regent while the heirs to the sultanate were minors. When he attempted to increase his power in 1806 he was killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omani Empire</span> Omani maritime empire (1696–1856)

The Omani Empire was a maritime empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for trade and influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. After rising as a regional player 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. After the death of Said bin Sultan in 1856 the empire was divided between his sons into two sultanates, an African section ruled by Majid bin Said and an Asian section ruled by Thuwaini bin Said.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Mombasa (1696–1698)</span>

The siege of Mombasa was an attack on the Portuguese city of Mombasa and Fort Jesus by the army of the Ya'rubid ruler of Oman, Saif I bin Sultan, from 13 March 1696 to 13 December 1698.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ya'rubids</span> Rulers of Oman between 1624 and 1742

The Yarubid dynasty were rulers of Oman between 1624 and 1742, holding the title of Imam. They expelled the Portuguese from coastal strongholds in Muscat and united the country. They improved agriculture, expanded trade and built up Oman into a major maritime power. Their forces expelled the Portuguese from East Africa and established long-lasting settlements on Zanzibar, Mombasa and other parts of the coast. The dynasty lost power during a succession struggle that started in 1712 and fell after a prolonged period of civil war.

Sultan bin Saif bin Malik was the second of the Yaruba dynasty of Imams of Oman, a member of the Ibadi sect. He ruled from 1649 to 1679. He completed the work of his predecessor, Nasir bin Murshid, in driving the Portuguese out of Oman. Their last base in Muscat fell to his forces in January 1650. He built up Omani sea power, taking the fight against the Portuguese to their bases in India and East Africa. During his reign the country was peaceful and increasingly prosperous.

Nasir bin Murshid was the founder of the Yaruba dynasty of Imams of Oman, a member of the Ibadi sect. He ruled from 1624 to 1649. He took power during a chaotic period when the former dynasty had collapsed and the interior of the country was lawless, while the Portuguese held the main coastal ports. In a series of campaigns he established his authority over the Omani tribes.

Saif bin Sultan II was the sixth of the Yaruba dynasty of Imams of Oman, a member of the Ibadi sect. He held the position of Imam four times during a chaotic period of civil war and invasion by Persian forces.

Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi was the first ruler of Oman of the Al Said dynasty. He came to power during a period when Oman was divided by civil war, and the Persians had occupied large parts of the country. During his long rule as Imam the country prospered and regained its leading position in the Persian Gulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabhani dynasty</span>

The Nabhani dynasty, members of the Bani Nabhan family, also referred to as the Sultans of Sohar, were rulers of Oman from 1154 until 1624, when the Yaruba dynasty took power. One of their most visible legacies is the Bahla Fort, a large complex of mud brick buildings on stone foundations built from the 12th to the 15th century. It was registered in 1987 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bal'arab bin Himyar was an Omani Imam, a member of Yaruba dynasty. He was elected Imam in 1728, holding power in the interior of Oman while his cousin, Saif bin Sultan II, held power on the coast. In 1737, he renounced his claim after being defeated by Saif's Persian allies. He was again elected Imam in 1743 during another Persian invasion, and again held power in the interior while Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi was recognized as ruler by the coastal people. He died in battle against Ahmad bin Said in 1749, who shortly after became the undisputed ruler of the country.

Sultan bin Murshid was one of the rival Imams during the civil wars in Oman in the final years of the Yaruba dynasty. He was elected Imam in 1742 in place of Saif bin Sultan II. His predecessor called on the Persians for assistance. In mid-1743 Sultan bin Murshid died while defending the town of Sohar against the Persian force.

Sultan bin Ahmad al Busaidi was the Sultan of Oman, the fourth of the Busaid dynasty, ruling the country between 1792 and 1804.

Salim bin Sultan was joint Sultan of Oman with his brother Said bin Sultan, ruling between 1804 and 1806.

Qais bin Ahmad was the third son of Ahmad bin Sa'id Al-Busaidi, the first Sultan of Oman of the Al Said dynasty. After his father's death he made more than one attempt to gain the throne.

The Muscat rebellion was an uprising in 1913 led by Sālim bin Rāshid al-Kharūṣī against the authority of the Sultans of Muscat and Oman. The rebels established their own state, the Ibāḍī imamate. Its causes lay in a deep-rooted rivalry between northern and southern tribes of Muscat and Oman. It began in May 1913 in Tanuf. On 5 June, the rebels captured Nizwa, and on 20 June they captured Izki. By this time, the rebels had also surrounded Samail. On 24 June, the rebels captured al-`Awabi. By July, the situation had gotten so dire that the British government sent a small garrison to Natrah to aid the sultan of Muscat, to no avail. In August, the rebels captured Samail. Also in August, the rebels launched an offensive towards the coastal side of al-Jabal al-Akhda, and Nakhl was besieged on the 4th. Nakhl ultimately fell at the beginning of April 1914, after the desertion of several of the imam's reinforcement contingents. In April 1914 British cruisers bombarded Barkah and Qaryat to dislodge rebels from those settlements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portuguese Oman</span> Historical period

Portuguese Oman refers to the period during which the northern coastal cities of Oman were under Portuguese rule, between 1507 and 1656.

In 1633, the Omanis, led by Nasir bin Murshid attacked the two fortresses at Julfar one held by Persians and the other by Portuguese. The Omanis successfully captured the two forts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Muscat (1650)</span>

The siege of Muscat occurred in 1650, when an Omani army under Sultan bin Saif attacked the Portuguese fort of Muscat and captured the town from the Portuguese, ending the long Portuguese occupation of Muscat.

The siege of Bahrain in 1529 was a military engagement between the Portuguese and the Bahrainian rebels who revolted against the Kingdom of Hormuz. The siege ended in a fiasco for the Portuguese.

References

  1. Falih Handhal, Arab and Portuguese in History from 711 to 1720, p. 512-14
  2. Aysha Ali al-Sayyar, The Yarubid State of Oman and East Africa between 1624 and 1741, p. 56
  3. Falih Handhal, The detailed history of United Arab Emarites Volume I, p. 72
  4. E. C. Ross, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol 42, p. 161
  5. Frederick Charles Danvers, The Portuguese In India, Vol. 2, p. 273