Mohammed bin Thani
Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani (Arabic: محمد بن ثاني; c. 1788 – 18 December 1878), also known as Mohammed bin Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir (Arabic: محمد بن ثاني بن محمد آل ثامر), was the first Hakim (ruler)[1] of the whole Qatari Peninsula, following his predecessor, his father, tribal leader Sheikh Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir. He is known for being the father of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of Qatar and who fended off the Ottoman army in the late 19th century.[2]
| Mohammed bin Thani محمد ثاني | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emir of Qatar | |||||
| Reign | 1847–18 December 1878 | ||||
| Predecessor | Thani bin Mohammed | ||||
| Successor | Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani | ||||
| Born | 1788 Fuwayrit, Qatar | ||||
| Died | 18 December 1878 (aged 90) Doha, Qatar | ||||
| Burial | Doha, Qatar | ||||
| Spouse | Noura Al Kuwari
[...] of Al-Mansouri Family | ||||
| Issue | Jassim Ahmed Fahad Eid Thamir Jabor Sheikha Rowda bint Mohammed Al Thani Sheikha ... bint Mohammed Al Thani | ||||
| |||||
| Arabic | محمد بن ثاني | ||||
| Dynasty | Al Thani | ||||
| Father | Thani bin Mohammed | ||||
| Styles of The Emir of Qatar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Highness |
| Alternative style | Sheikh |
Early life and governance
Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani was born in Fuwayrit, Qatar, by his father and predecessor to the throne, Sheikh Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir (born in Zubarah),[3] with Sheikh Mohammed being the second eldest son of his father, along with his four siblings:[2]
- Sheikh Thamir bin Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir
- Sheikh Eid bin Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir
- Sheikh Ali bin Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir
- Sheikh Ahmad bin Thani bin Mohammed Al-Thamir
After living a lengthy life in Fuwayrit, the Al Thani family finally moved in 1847 from Fuwayrit to Doha, the capital city and state of Qatar, under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed, who was 59 at the time.[2]
His father later died in 1860, when he succeeded to the throne. By the early 1860s, Sheikh Mohammed emerged as the most important figure in Qatar and an important government official in the Persian Gulf. He abdicated, due to old age, as emir of Qatar in 1876, turning the throne over to his eldest son Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.[2]
Events during his reign
- Sheikh Mohammed extended his influence throughout the whole Qatari Peninsula and strengthened his position externally by making an alliance with Faisal Bin Turki, the emir of the second Saudi state, who himself paid a visit to Qatar in early 1851.[2]
- On 12 September 1868, Sheikh Mohammed signed a treaty with Colonel Lewis Pelly, a British resident in the Persian Gulf, which recognized the independence of Qatar.[2]
- In 1871, Sheikh Mohammed made a plea for protection against any external attack to the Ottomans at Al Hasa. However, the Ottomans were the ones who displayed hostility to the Qataris in the same decade of his plea.[2]
Children
Sheikh Mohammed had 8 children: six sons (listed below) and two daughters, both with unknown names.
| No. | Name | Government Position | Year of birth | Year of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani | Ruler of Qatar (1876–1913) | c. 1825 | 1913 |
| 2 | Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Thani | Sheikh of Doha | 1853 | 1905 |
| 3 | Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammed Al Thani | None | Unknown | Died early |
| 4 | Sheikh Eid bin Mohammed Al Thani | None | Unknown | Died early |
| 5 | Sheikh Jabor bin Mohammed Al Thani | None | 1878 | 1934 |
| 6 | Sheikh Thamir bin Mohammed Al Thani | None | Unknown | Unknown |
| 7 | Sheikha Rowda bint Mohammed Al Thani | None | Unknown | Unknown |
| 8 | Sheikha ... bint Mohammed Al Thani | None | Unknown | Unknown |
Death
Sheikh Mohammed died two years after abdicating from his throne in 1876. He died a natural death on 18 December 1878. As remembrance, it is a national day in Qatar.[2]
References
- "Sheikh Mohammed Bin Thani | The Amiri Diwan".
- "Shaikh Mohamed Bin Thani - Amiri Diwan". Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- Abū Nāb, Ibrāhīm (1977). Qatar: A Story of State Building. p. 85.
External links
- Shaikh Mohammed Bin Thani :: Amiri Diwan
- Al Thani Tree, offered in Arabic
- Official Page in Al Thani Tree, offered in Arabic
Mohammed bin Thani House of Al-Thani Born: c. 1788 Died: 18 December 1878 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir |
Emir of Qatar 1847–1876 |
Succeeded by Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani |
