Imam Nasir bin Murshid (1624-1649)

I am now going to summarize the rule of the Imams and Sultans of Oman from the Ya’aruba and bu-Sa’idi lines.  The first is Nasir bin Mushid (1624-1649).

Nasir bin Murshid is the first of the Ya’aruba dynasty, which ruled Oman for 118 years.  He was elected as Imam by the people in 1624.  In reality, he was elected by seventy representatives of the people, known as the learned elite (which is reminiscent the American electoral college).  At that time, Oman was sharply divided.  The cities and key areas were controlled by tribal chiefs, self-proclaimed kings, and even the occasional government of politically-minded villagers.  This lack of unity made the region easy prey for foreign ambitions, such as those harbored by the Portuguese and the Persians.  At the time of Imam Nasir’s election, the Portuguese controlled the key port cities of Sur, Sohar, Muscat, and Qariyat (taken by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1508 CE), and the Persians (with a large Portuguese presence) controlled the port of Jolfar, in modern-day Ras al-Khaimah, UAE.

Imam Nasir was a shrewd and charismatic leader, and clearly understood the threats Oman faced, especially when weakened by divisions.  Using familial relations, diplomacy, and overwhelming force, Imam Nasir united the tribes and sufficiently subdued his opposition.  Then, he turned his attention towards the Portuguese and sent a large land army to attack the Portuguese at Muscat and the adjacent port of Muttrah.  The attack forced the Portuguese to pay a yearly tribute to the Imam in exchange for permission stay in Muscat and Muttrah without harassing the Omani residents.  The Portuguese also surrendered most of the town and lands surrounding Sohar, though not the fort.  Next, the Imam directed his forces to Julfar, which was under the control of the Persians, though heavily supported by Portuguese forces.  After a long battle, which concluded in a nighttime raid to take a key fort, Julfar fell to the Imam's forces.  They continued their victorious campaign and went on to retake the cities of Sur and Qariyat as well.  The Portuguese were not ready to give up on the strategic region, though and they shortly stopped paying the required tribute and reinforced their defenses at Muscat, Muttrah, and Sohar.

At the time of Imam Nasir’s death in 1649, the Portuguese only maintained control of a few key fortifications and the tribes, villages, and cities of Oman were united under the leadership of the Ibadi Imam.  Imam  Nasir bin Murshid was succeeded by his cousin, Imam Sultan bin Seif.  (There are two important things to note.  One, Sultan here is a name and not a title.  He held the title of Imam.  Two, this Sultan bin Seif is of the Ya’aruba line, not the bu-Sa’idi line, which also has a Sultan bin Seif.)


All of this information is from "History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman" by Salil ibn-Raziq; translated and edited, with notes, appendices, and an introduction, by George Percy Badger, F.R.G.S