'File 19/191 IV (C 103) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎153r] (308/681)

i
II.—Bahrein prior to 1783
3. The very conflicting evidence available goes to show that Bahrein was
subject to Persian rule for a period in the early part of the Christian era, and
between A.D. 615 and 723. It is stated to have been conquered by one Keshin bin
Abdul Malik, and to have come under the sway of the Umaiyid Caliphs, in the
latter year, and to have remained under the control of the Caliphs until the close
of the Abbasid dynasty in the 11th century, when it again became subject to chiefs
of its own race. Its mediaeval history is obscure, but a writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. who visited the
islands in A.D. 1051 refers to the fact that half of the pearls taken in Bahrein
belong to the Chiefs of Hasa on the Arab mainland. Idrisi, the Arab geographer,
writing about a century later, states that the island " is governed by an
independent chief. The inhabitants of the two shores are satisfied with his
justice and piety, and when he dies he is replaced by a person of equal virtue and
piety.'' It was conquered about 1320 by the (Arab) rulers of Hormuz, a kingdom
finally subdued by the Portuguese in 1506, but which appears to have been
tributary to Persia in at any rate its later days. Bahrein appears at the same date
to have fallen under Portuguese control. The Persians have adopted in a recent
Xote on the subject a statement that it remained under Portuguese control from
1507 to 1622. It would appear, however, that there are at any rate some breaks in
the continuity of Portuguese control. An agreement of 1515 between the Portu
guese and the Persians, under which the King of Hormuz was to be " ruler of
Hormuz in the name of King Dom Manuel, his Lord," provided inter alia that
Portuguese shipping should be available to enable the Persians to invade Bahrein
and Qatif. In 1522 a revolt stimulated by the King of Hormuz broke out against
the Portuguese at Bahrein among other places, but was quelled, and in 152S
endeavours by the Portuguese to quell a subsequent rebellion in Bahrein against
the King were beaten off. In 1559 it was temporarily occupied by the Turks, who
were, however, driven out by the Portuguese in the same year. In 1602 the
Portuguese were forcibly expelled from the islands by the Persians. The Persian
occupation was of uncertain duration, and in their Note of 2nd August, 1928, they
refer to 1622 as the date on which Persia regained possession of Bahrein. Thet
appear in any event to have had a military depot in Bahrein in 1622. Curzon
states that " the Portuguese ... in 1625 concluded a treaty with Shah Abbas,
by which they restored to him all his coast possessions, retaining onlv the pearl
banks at Bahrein. ..."
4. In the early years of the 18th century the authority of the Persian
Government in the Gulf area was at an extremely low ebb, and it seems most
unlikely that they were able to maintain a garrison in Bahrein. In 1717 the
islands were occupied by the Arabs of Muscat, who appear to have met with no
opposition. In 1718 however, the Persians, by means of shipping lent by the
1 ortuguese, were able to transport a force to Bahrein and temporarily to reoccupy
the islands. During the confused period following upon the Afghan invasion of
Persia in 1722, the Huwala Arabs established themselves on the islands : thev
maintained their control until 1736 when Nadir Shah (who had built up a naval
force in the Gulf) sent an expedition to Bahrein and drove out the Pluwalas. After
Nadirs assassination in 1747 another period of chaos occurred, during which
the Huwalas or other Arabs, gained control over the islands. However, in 1753 the
iviilci undei tho 1 eisian Ciovernment oi the town of Bushire made a descent upon
Bahrein, the chief resident tribe in which (the Huwala Arabs—at the present day
still strongly represented in the islands) was seriously divided by internal feuds
and established his authority there. In this manner the islands again became
at least in name, dependent on Persia. In 1782 the Arabs of Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. , on the
Aiabian mainland, effoits to reduce which had been made by the Governor of
Bahrein under the Persians in the years immediately precedino- that date
Tetaliated by a descent on the island of Bahrein. They defeated^the Persian
Governor, drove him to his fort, plundered and destroyed the town of Manama
and took possession of a Bushire vessel, with which thev retired to Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. A
counter-attack was repulsed, and in the following year the Uttabi Arabs of
ZubaraJh, assisted by contingents from various tribes of Qatar, occupied the
Hah rem islands, the Persian garrison of the Manama Fort capitulating on 28th
July, 1783, after a siege of about two months' duration, and beino- allowed to
return to Bushire.
Summary
5. It will be seen tihat while the history of Bahrein prior to 1783 is verv
ohscnre, it would appear that Persia for not inconsiderable periods exercised
control over the islands. The nature of that control is not, however verv clear-
85-177 ' '
Bombay
Selections,
XXIV, 23,
G. of I.
Desp. No. 18
of 22.2.1870,
para. 2.
Wilson,
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
pp. 85-6.
Wilson, 88-90.
Wilson, 105.
Wilson, 116.
Wilson, 121.
Wilson, 124.
Lor. I, 841.
Wilson, 140.
Lor. [, 836.
Curzon,
Persia fl, 419.
Memorandum
in French.
Ministry for
Foreign
Affairs,
Perse, Vol. I,
fol. 43 (6).
L. Lockhart's
" Nadir
Shah," p. 108.
Lor. 1, 837.
Lor. I, 839-40.
B 2