The Crescent of the Sultan

Special session in Oman (can be skipped)

Sitting in the big tent, thinking about the history of Oman, Emperor Sai could not help but sigh. Does the hero create the situation, or does the situation create the hero?

In 1743, Saif bin Sultan II, the last sultan of the Ariba dynasty of Oman, died.

With the exception of Sohar, the rest of Oman was under Persian control.

Ahmed bin Said of the Said family serves as governor of Sohar state and controls Oman's coastal areas.

When the Persians besieged the city of Sohar and faced a severe shortage of material supplies, he held on to the city and eventually forced the Persian army to withdraw from the Sohar area and retreat to Muscat.

Ahmed first established a trade market in Barqa to attract goods shipped from the mainland to Muscat for export, in order to cut off the financial resources of the Persian army retreating in Muscat. Then he held the Hongmen Banquet in Barqa, which made everything in one fell swoop Destroy the Persian army.

In September 1749, he was promoted as the Imam of Oman in Nizwa. Incidentally, the monarch of Persia, which he defeated, was Nader Shah at this time.

Despite repelling Persia, Imam Ahmad at that time still faced many difficulties: the country was suffering from civil war; Persia was always threatened with another invasion; some tribes did not submit to his rule and were always ready to revolt; The trade industry was in crisis, and the overseas empire's sphere of influence was lost.

In response, Ahmed recruited Baloch and African slaves to suppress tribes that opposed him.

He sent a governor to Zanzibar to establish Omani power in East Africa, and Muscat's commercial trade was revived.

Ahmed bin Said's sons bin Ahmed and Saif rebelled in 1781 and took control of the Mirani and Jalali forts guarding the port of Muscat. They kidnapped brother Said bin Ahmed and imprisoned him in Jalali.

Said fought back but failed to recapture the towns. However, the brothers felt it was safer to leave the country, so they ran away. It can only be said that Said was indeed a child of luck.

Ahmed bin Said had several sons and daughters, and his eldest son Hilal was disqualified from inheritance because he was blind.

After the death of Imam and Sultan Ahmed bin Said al-Busaidi, the founder of the Said dynasty, in 1783, a war for supremacy began.

And Oman happened to have this thing. By 1775, Oman already had thirty-four battleships, each equipped with dozens of cannons. In addition, there were five cruisers, each with eighteen to twenty soldiers. four artillery pieces; and more than 100 cargo ships.

So, Emperor Sai's decision was to support an Omani Sultan to be the ruler and exercise indirect control over Oman. Just like the influence of the High Gate on the Crimean Khanate centuries ago, the Ottoman Empire's Sultan could decide who would be in charge. Great Khan, but the only difference is that Oman is included in the territory of the Ottoman Empire this time.

The thing that most tempted Emperor Sai was Oman's navy. It is well known that if you want to build a powerful navy, it is useless to have ships alone. You must have people - qualified crew members are also the guarantee of the navy's combat effectiveness.

It can be seen from here that Hamed's rule is not stable. It is enough that his father is alive, and the chicken eating competition can continue.

The other fortresses of Oman surrendered to Hamad one by one. Said no longer held any worldly power. Hamad assumed the title of Sultan and established his court in Muscat.

However, the father's deterrence was limited, and Ahmed bin Said died on December 15, 1783 in the Batinai Fort of Rustak.

During this time, Sayyid bin Ahmed bribed the jailer and escaped. Isolated and without hostages, the two brothers agreed to surrender.

In 1786, Said's son Hamad bin Said succeeded in taking control of Muscat and its fortress.

It can be seen from this that Oman was easily subverted between the first and second generation power transfers of the Said dynasty.

Adhering to the spirit of coming and going, Emperor Seri has no intention of returning without success. He must incorporate Oman into the Ottoman Empire. As for how to rule specifically, these are all debatable.

The brothers gained the support of the powerful Sheikh Sarkar, who marched on the capital in April 1781 and forced their father to grant an amnesty, allowing his rebellious sons to occupy the two forts.

The operation of the Sultan of Oman made Muscat a trade center from Basra in Iraq to the north, India to the east, and the West African coast to the west. European and Arab merchant ships often traveled here, and the economic benefits were huge.

His third son Qais bin Ahmed later became a senior official in Sohar. His fourth and fifth sons were Saif and bin Ahmed.

In 1775, Ahmed handed over day-to-day administrative responsibilities to his son Sayyid bin Ahmed, while retaining the title of Imam.

What tempted Emperor Cypriot even more was Oman's maritime trade network.

Around the end of 1785, a group of notables elected his brother Qais bin Ahmed as imam, and the rebellion soon collapsed.

Sayyid bin Ahmed remained in Rustak and retained the title of Imam, but this was a purely symbolic religious title that carried no authority.

As the Governor of Muscat attempted to recapture the fort, bin Ahmed and Saif began a destructive bombardment of the town.

Judging from the current situation, direct rule is unrealistic. The British may directly destroy Oman's navy, and the battle of Nasser the Great will be in vain.

His second son Sayyid bin Ahmed was his heir.

In response to this situation, Ahmed, as Taizu, first pretended to agree, and then returned to Muscat early the next year, captured Mirani, and bombarded Jalali from Mirani and the ships on the other side. , managed to regain control of the situation.

The chicken-eating contest has reached this point, and everyone wants to take part in it.

Because the current Oman can be decided in one battle.

As for whether it is difficult to defeat Oman, the emperor can only say that it is much easier than defeating the Emirate of Dirayei.

But Said bin Ahmed became increasingly unpopular.

The sheikh then captured a large number of towns (all located in today's United Arab Emirates).

In 1783, Sayyid bin Ahmed's two brothers were not polite to him either. They appealed to Sheikh Sarkar of the Shemar tribe to help them gain the throne.

Ahmed expanded maritime trade, established a powerful maritime fleet, and restored the maritime power of the Ariba dynasty to dominate the Indian Ocean.

Emperor Sai liked people like Hamed's father, a pure waste. After leaving his great ancestor, he couldn't do anything.

By the time Emperor Said captured Muscat in the first battle, it would be almost difficult for Oman to organize any resistance. Then Said would be installed, and the job would be done.

As for the other party's heir, of course he should take it home and raise it as a dog. After all, the future Emperor Said has already been born, so why give up a good card.