Sheikhdom of al-Hawra

The Sheikhdom of al-Hawra[note 1] (Arabic: Mashyakhat al-Hawra[1]) was a state of the Protectorate of South Arabia which existed from the 19th century to 1967.[2] It became a British protectorate in 1902.

Sheikhdom of al-Hawra[note 1]

Mashyakhat al-Hawra
19th century–1967
Hawra and surrounding polities in 1946.
Capitalal-Hawra
Religion
Islam
GovernmentSheikhdom
Sheikh 
• 1858 – 1895
`Abd Allah ibn Muhammad Ba Shahid
• 1917 – 1951
Awad ibn Salih Ba Shahid
History 
• Established
19th century
• British protectorate
1890
• Disestablished
1967
Population
• 1946
300
Today part ofYemen

History

Early history

The Sheikhdom of al-Hawra was established in the 19th century.[2] The first known Sheikh of al-Hawra was Abd Allah ibn Muhammad Ba Shahid, who ruled from circa 1858 to 1895.[1]

Theodore Bent's visit

Between 1893 and 1897, Theodore Bent, and his wife, Mabel Bent, undertook several expeditions into Southern Arabia. At one point, they visited the Sheikhdom of al-Hawra, where they described a large castle, belonging to the ruling Al Kaiti family, dominating a humble village. The castle, built out of sun-dried bricks, was seven stories high and covered roughly an acre (4 km2) of land, and prominently featured battlements, towers, and machicolations. Theodore and Mabel were welcomed by the Sultan, who requested a gift, which was given in the form of 20 Indian Rupees.[3]

British protectorate

al-Hawra became a British protectorate following two treaties on 28 April 1888 of 7 April 1902.[4] While the second treaty was signed with Haura,[5][6] the first was signed with Lower Haura.[7] It's unclear whether or not Lower Haura was a separate state. The full text of the 1902 treaty goes as follows:[5][6]

The British Government and Sheikh Saleh-bin-Awadth, Sheikh of Haura and its dependencies, being desirous of maintaining and strengthening the relations of peace and friendship existing between them:

The British Government have named and appointed Brigadier-General Pelham James Maitland, C.B., Political Resident at Aden, to conclude a treaty for this purpose. The said Brigadier-General Pelham James Maitland, C.B., and Sheikh Saleh bin-Awadth, Sheikh of Haura and its dependencies, aforesaid, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:

Article I

The British Government, in compliance with the wish of the undersigned Sheikh-Saleh-bin-Awadth. hereby undertakes to extend to Haura and its dependencies, which are under his authority and jurisdiction, the gracious favour and protection of His Majesty the King-Emperor

Article II

The said Sheikh-Saleh-bin-Awadth agrees and promises, on behalf of himself, his heirs and successors, to refrain from entering into any correspondence, agreement or treaty, with any foreign nation or Power, except with the knowledge and sanction of the British Government, and further promises to give immediate notice to the Resident at Aden, or other British officer, of the attempt by any other Power to interfere with Haura and its dependencies.

Article III

The aforesaid Sheikh Saleh-bin-Awadth hereby binds himself, his relations, heirs and successors and the whole tribe for ever, that he or they will not cede, sell, mortgage, lease, hire or give, or otherwise dispose of the Haura territory, or any part of the same, at any time, to any Power other than the British Government.

Article IV.

The above treaty shall have effect from this date, in witness whereof the undersigned have affixed their signatures and seals at Aden this seventh of April one thousand nine hundred and two.

— Protectorate Treaty - Haura, - 1902

End of the Sheikhdom

The Sheikhdom ended in 1967,[2] following the collapse of British rule in south-west Arabia in the Aden Emergency.

Rulers

The rulers of al-Hawra bore the title Shaykh al-Hawra.[1]

List of Sheiks
  1. `Abd Allah ibn Muhammad Ba Shahid, 1858? – 6 May 1895[1]
  2. Sa`if ibn `Abd Allah Ba Shahid, 1895 – February 1896[1]
  3. Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah Ba Shahid, February 1896 – 1 March 1900[1]
  4. Salih ibn `Awad Ba Shahid, March 1900 – 6 October 1917 (Interrupted in May 1904)[1]
  5. Awad ibn Salih Ba Shahid, October 1917 – 1951[1]

Graphical timeline

Demographics

In 1946, the Sheikhdom of al-Hawra had a population of 300.[8]

Geography

A report in 1946 described al-Hawra as a "small fishing village".[9]

Notes
  1. Also spelled Haura.

References
  1. "States of the Aden Protectorates". www.worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  2. "WHKMLA : History of Yemen". www.zum.de. Retrieved 2019-06-23. al-Hawra (19th c-1967)
  3. Bent, Mabel; Bent, Theodore (1900). Southern Arabia. BiblioBazaar. pp. 106, 107. ISBN 9780554298146.
  4. Egyptian review of international law. Egyptian Society of International Law. 1955. p. 6.
  5. "'A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries [...] Vol XI containing the treaties, & c., relating to Aden and the south western coast of Arabia, the Arab principalities in the Persian Gulf, Muscat (Oman), Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province' [74v] (157/822)". Qatar Digital Library. 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2019-12-30. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. "'A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries [...] Vol XI containing the treaties, & c., relating to Aden and the south western coast of Arabia, the Arab principalities in the Persian Gulf, Muscat (Oman), Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province' [75r] (158/822)". Qatar Digital Library. 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2019-12-30. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. "'A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries [...] Vol XI containing the treaties, & c., relating to Aden and the south western coast of Arabia, the Arab principalities in the Persian Gulf, Muscat (Oman), Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province' [74r] (156/822)". Qatar Digital Library. 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  8. An Economic Survey of the Colonial Territories. H.M. Stationery Office. 1951. p. 134.
  9. Division, Great Britain Naval Intelligence (1946). Western Arabia and the Red Sea. Naval Intelligence Division. p. 147.
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