Global InformationEmirate of Muhammara information
Emirate of Muhammara امارة المحمرة | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1812–1925 | |||||||||
 Map of Arabistan in 1924, showing major tribes and roads | |||||||||
| Status | Autonomous Emirate | ||||||||
| Capital | Al-Muhammarah | ||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1812 | ||||||||
• Discovery of Oil | 1908 | ||||||||
• Sheikh Khazal rebellion | 1925 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of |  Iran | ||||||||
The Emirate of Muhammara, also known as the Sheikhdom of Muhammara (sometimes also called the Emirate of Arabistan or Sheikhdom of Arabistan),[1] was an autonomous emirate in modern-day Khuzestan province in Iran. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lasting until the then ruler of Iran, Reza Shah, re-established full control over the region in 1925.[2] Officially it was part of Qajar Iran, but the broader Khuzestan region had already enjoyed a large degree of autonomy under the previous rule of the Banu Ka'b (1740–1840),[3] under whom it had become thoroughly Arabized (whence the name Arabistan).[4]
In the 1840s, the ruling sheikh of the Banu Ka'b became a vasal of Jabir al-Ka'bi (1780–1881), in his capacity as the sheikh of Muhammara (Khorramshahr),[5] a port city in southern Khuzestan which had risen to prominence in the previous decade.[6] After the Anglo-Persian War, Sheikh Jabir grew completely independent of the Ka'b,[7] though as a member of the Ka'b tribe himself, he did claim the title "Sheikh of the Ka'b".[8] Under Jabir's successors Miz'al ibn Jabir (r. 1881–1897) and Khaz'al ibn Jabir (r. 1897–1924),[9] the power of the Sheikhs of Muhammara grew to such an extent so as to become the most significant power in the southern Khuzestan, notably also receiving some British colonial support.[10]
Ruling from Muhammara as his capital,[11] Sheikh Khaz'al turned to Arab nationalism, and emboldened particularly by the British discovery of oil in the region in 1908, he sought to gain full independence from Iran.[12] He staged revolts in 1916 and 1924, the latter of which (called the Sheikh Khaz'al rebellion) led to the final subjugation of the emirate by Iran in November 1924 – January 1925,[13] which became a part of the modern Khuzestan province in 1936.[14] Following the downfall of Sheikh Khaz'al's rule in Arabistan, many Iranian Arabs fled to neighboring countries such as (southern) Iraq and Kuwait, as well as to Bahrain and to the al-Ahsa' Governorate in Saudi Arabia, thus also introducing a significant Shi'i population into these countries.[15]
The semi-autonomous rule of Arab sheikhs over Khuzestan during this period is regarded by Arab nationalists as an abortive attempt at Arab independence,[16] while Iranian historians tend to treat it as part of the long-standing British attempts to control the region.[17]
- ^ Using various spellings and transliterations, the following names are used. Emirate of Muhammara: Franzén 2021, p. 256. Sheikhdom of Muhammara: Ehlers & Nejatian 2022. Emirate of Arabistan: Altaie 1993, p. 541; Takriti 2018, p. 100; Ward 2014, p. 76 . Sheikhdom of Arabistan: Herb 2015, p. 75; Minahan 2016, p. 481. Principality of Arabistan: Strunk 1977.
- ^ Franzén 2021, p. 256
- ^ Floor 2006. The Ka'b ruled over most of Khuzestan (Floor 2006, p. 302).
- ^ Elling 2013, p. 37, referring to Soucek 1984.
- ^ Floor 2006, p. 278.
- ^ It was already treated as a direct trade partner by the Government of India: see Floor 2006, p. 300.
- ^ Floor 2006, p. 295.
- ^ Floor 2006, p. 296.
- ^ Soucek 1984, p. 206.
- ^ Floor 2006, p. 307; cf. Altaie 1993, p. 541; Elling 2013, pp. 37–38, 105.
- ^ Altaie 1993, p. 541; Herb 2015, p. 75, referring to Lorimer 1908, pp. 129, 356.
- ^ Soucek 1984, pp. 206–207; Elling 2013, p. 37.
- ^ Soucek 1984, p. 207; Elling 2013, pp. 37–38.
- ^ Takriti 2018, p. 100.
- ^ Al-Naqeeb 2012, p. 73.
- ^ Franzén 2021, p. 256; Elling 2013, p. 105.
- ^ Elling 2013, p. 105.