CRITICAL ASSESSMENT ON THE REIGN OF MUBARAK 18961915
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Table of Contents Introduction:-...................................................................................................................................3 Reign of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah:-..............................................................................................3 Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................7 Reference list:..................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction:Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah is mostly addressed as the one of the most dominating personality man in Kuwait. His contribution towards the betterment of people of Kuwait is immense. He is also considered as the founder of the modern Kuwait and performed different kinds of activities for shaping the Kuwait at different level. Apart from that it is noted that there is no any particular record which comprehensively deals with the reign of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah. There are so many critics imply over the reign of Mubarak in the history is literature (Alghanim, 2011). Most of the academic researchers and historians have gathered different kinds of ideas and assumptions about the reign of Mubarak from the conception of Sheikh’s seizure of power, the political affairs underlying the 1899 Anglo-Kuwait agreement, Mubarak’s adopted policy with Najd, the continuous struggle for mastery of central Arabia between the Al Saud and Al Rashid dynasties and involvement of Mubarak in tribal politics. It is also noted that reign of Mubarak is mainly marked between the period of 1896-1915 and the impact of the reign of Mubarak has been felt on the Kuwait in many ways (Rapus et al. 2014).
Reign of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah:The reign of Mubarak started from his seizure of the power to his death. There are so many critics and arguments took place in the history of literature about unrecorded history of reign of Mubarak (Alhajeri, 2011). The researcher and most of historians have attempted to figure out the reign of the Mubarak as an Arab event and through Arab eyes, nevertheless, it would not be possible to deny that the existence of the British presence and the effective of British policy are more and less connected with Mubarak and Kuwait. It is noted that the power of British were pre-eminent during the reign of Mubarak in Arabia Gulf. On the other hand, Slot (2009) commented that reign of Mubarak begun with the seizure of power in 1896 by the murder of his two brothers. Beside it, the relationship of Mubarak between Kuwait and the Ottoman Empire at the same time is also considered as the starting point of the reign of the Mubarak. According to Duane et al. (2011), there has been a constant and reflective theme in the history of Kuwait specially in the year of 1896 and 1925 and that is the crucial and major significant to Mubarak and his prior connection and contribution to British. It is also noted that British support 3
proved to be very crucial part to the existence of the Mubarak and to the development of the Kuwait as an independent state. Gischler and Lomando (2010) opined that Mubarak had performed different kinds of activities in helping Kuwait when he came into the thrown for more and more power and sovereign apart from the Ottoman. He had decided to allow exclusive rights for Britain to establish a post office in Kuwait in1904 and in 1905-1906; it was being considered that Kuwait should fly its own flag in its states instead of the Ottoman standard. It is noted that neither post office nor flag would be entertained until the world war the first. The Mubarak has allowed and made alliance with the Indian subcontinent for the dealing business and extending relationship with more than one countries. In 1907, Mubarak has sold the rights and decisions for any terminus railroad’s sites to the British, compromising the German-Ottoman for extending the Berlin –Baghdad railway to the port that would give an opportunity to make business connection with Indian subcontinents (Gischler and Lomando, 2009). In the reign of Mubarak, he has also engaged in affair concerning the neighboring areas around him that resulted in consternation on both the Ottoman and the British. Heard-Bey and AbuHakima, 2011) commented that Mubarak had supported and also smuggled British arms and ammunitions along with guns to the local Arabian leader for controlling the power over Kuwait. Apart from that, Najd was considered as one of the most considerable rivals to Mubarak. He supported Ottoman’s opponent, Ibn So’ud by giving him strong moral and material. On the other hand, Peterson (2009) also noticed that the aspiration of the independence of the Kuwait as an independent emirate was one of the primary and major goal and objective of Mubarak. It is also noted that there are so many critics which imply that Mubarak has assassinated his half brothers for occupying the thrown of the Kuwait and to rule over the people of Kuwait. There are so many theories stated about the murder of two brothers. According to Radin (2009), the major defeat of the Mubarak at Sarif threatened his rule very badly and he further requested for British protectorate status in May 1901. It was secret plan made by Mubarak and was denied die to the international tension surrounding Kuwait. On the Ottoman has tries his to take the advantages of major defeat of Mubarak by deliberating military solutions to gain direct control over the Kuwait. Due to the passage of time, Ottoman understood that growing British presence across the Kuwait was the sign of secret plan of Mubarak in dealing with British. Ottoman had also again attempted to have control over the Kuwait by 4
opening up the larger number of customers and post of the harbormasters. But the secret plan for dealing with the British proved to be fatal to the end of the Ottoman in Kuwait. Stracke (2009) commented that Mubarak was one of the ambitious men in the history of Kuwait. He had performed different kinds of activities for the betterment of the Kuwait under the secret planning with British presence. The prior agreement of 1899 was considered to be the first success of Mubarak of his reign. It is also noted that during his reign, the role of Nadj and the adopted policy for dealing with also be the major part of the reign of the Mubarak (Duane and Al-Zamel, 2009). According to Alghanim (2011), the reign of Mubarak was mainly marked by peace and increasing sovereignty of Kuwait. However, there are so many stigmas made on the shoulder of Mubarak for the murder of his two brothers, in spite of this, he proved to be e good human being for the emirate of the Kuwait that why he is considered as the founder of the modern Kuwait. On the other hand, Gischler and Lomando (2010) commented that Mubarak has really adopted a canning way for gaining the thrown of the Kuwait and in dealing with Ottoman and Nadj. One of the major parts of the reign of the Mubarak was the episode of the banishment of Mubarak from Kuwait. Spending in the area of the desert inspired him much to rule over Kuwait. Lomando (2009) opined that he was more considered as protector rather than rulers. Most of the parts of his life were completely dedicated to the improvement and development of the Kuwait and how the Kuwait would be a independent states. Mubarak was a efficient statesman characterized with sagacity, smartness and strength. Peterson (2009) argued that Mubarak has started his reign with concluding protection agreement with the British and also established a customs system for collecting takes at 5% of value of all exporting and importing of all products and services. According to Radin (2009), the impact of the reign of Mubarak has been seen in many ways. His major contribution lies to the development of the modern Kuwait and giving proper and suitable protection to the people of Kuwait to great extent. In 1911, Mubarak had inaugurated into Kuwait medical services in American hospital for the first time and it is also noted that he also established Al-Mubarakaya school in the same year. During his reign, wireless telegram line and maternity hospital were also established in the year of 1912 and in the year of 1913, he granted a privilege to the British for the exploration of the oil. On the other hand, Mubarak’s reign is also noticed with the concept of the equality. He mainly adopted same and equal behaviors and 5
attitudes for the people of Kuwait. However, his attitudes towards the Ottoman and Nadj were very much diplomatic, but overall he was proved to be a man of Kuwait and his contribution to its national was considerable (Stracke, 2009). Duane and Al-Zamel (2009) opined that Mubarak had to struggle much for legitimacy during his reign. He acted quickly to bribe of Ottoman bureaucracy through lavish gift giving in order to have greater support for his appointment as Kaymakam of the Kuwait just like his own previous brother. Adding to this, Mubarak had worked hard to maintain his rule and the independence of the country and confronted different kinds of issues and challenge from his opponents. One of the most prominent issues and challenges that Mubarak had faced from his rival was Yusuf Al-Ibraham who more and less supported by the Ottoman Wali of Barsa. It is also noted that his relation was worsen with the Mohammed Bin Abdulllah Bin Rashid, who was the ruler of Hailand, rulers of Nadj at the contemporary time (Lomando, 2009). The relation went continue to go in such a way that the reign of Abdul Aziz Bin Metabbin Rashid, where there skirmishers that resulted in battle of Sarif in which Mubarak had been defeated by Ibn Rashid. On the other hand, the severity of the hostile policies adopted by Mubarak with Al Rashid began to decrease after the victory of King Abdul Aziz against the Rashid. Mubarak was in his conception that his interest and willingness is to keep the conflict existing between the two parties in Nadj. Therefore, for making his reign sustainable in Kuwait for the long period of time, he decided to make peace with Abdul Aziz Bin Metab Bin Rashid in 1906, and after then he was killed in the battle of Rawdat Mehanna in 1906 (Peterson, 2009). According to Slot (2009), overall reign of Mubarak is considered to be more effective and beneficial to the development of the Kuwait and making the national as an independent. The goal and purpose of making Kuwait as an independent country and giving rights and protection to the people of Kuwait were achieved after long term. However, Mubarak had died in land of Kuwait after the long struggle with the legitimacy for the Kuwait and its development for the betterment of people. On the other hand, Gischler and Lomando (2010) commented that most of the historian in Kuwait history stated that although Mubarak had killed his two brothers for gaining the power of Kuwait in his contemporary, but his reign was not autocratic but proved to be good for the improvement of Kuwait. The diplomatic relationship with the Ottoman for moving
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forward to making Kuwait as an independent nation was the one of the most effective secret plan and considerable part of the reign of the Mubarak (Radin, 2009).
Conclusion: From the above discussion over the reign of the Mubarak, it is concluded that Mubarak was the man of high personality and his contribution to the development of the modern Kuwait is immense. He is also regarded as the founder of modern Kuwait. His reign is mainly marked by their protection of people and playing a diplomatic plan for making the Kuwait as an independent nation. On the other hand, it is also concluded that role played by Mubarak for making the Kuwait and building an independent country is very considerable. His reign is also marked by the peace and equality among people. On the other hand, it is also noted that Ottoman and Nadj were the primary rivals to Mubarak in the battle. However, many critics imply that he has gained the power of the Kuwait in 1986 by the murder of his half brothers. Adding to this, there are so many theories based on assassination of Shaikh Mubarak and how he tried his best to make the Kuwait as an independent country and nation.
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Reference list: Books: Alghanim, S. (2011). The reign of Mubarak al-Sabah. London: I.B. Tauris. Rapus, U., Virk, T. and Leslinik, A. (2014). Revolucionarni Egipt. Ljubljana: [U. RapusÌŒ]. Slot, B. (2009). Mubarak Al-Sabah. London: Arabian. Journals: Alhajeri, A. (2011). “The attitude of Sheikh Mubarak towards the development of the American role on Kuwait's territory”, 1896–1915. Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, 13(1), pp.89-101 Duane, M. and Al-Zamel, A. (2009). “Syngenetic textural evolution of modern sabkha stromatolites (Kuwait)” Sedimentary Geology, 127(3-4), pp.237-245 Gischler, E. and Lomando, A. (2010). “Offshore sedimentary facies of a modern carbonate ramp”, Kuwait, northwestern Arabian-Persian Gulf. Facies, 50(3-4), pp.443-462 Lomando, A. (2009). “Offshore sedimentary facies of a modern carbonate ramp, Kuwait”, northwestern Arabian-Persian Gulf. Facies, 53(2), pp.317-317 Heard-Bey, F. and Abu-Hakima, A. (2011). “The Modern History of Kuwait 1750-1965”. Die Welt des Islams, 26(1/4), p.168 Peterson, J. (2009). B. J. Slot, "Mubarak Al-Sabah: “Founder of Modern Kuwait 1896–1915 (London: Arabian Publishing, 2005)”. Pp. 461. $54.00 cloth. International Journal of Middle East Studies, 40(03) Radin, M. (2009). “The Reign of Syntax”. The Classical Weekly, 8(27), p.210 Stracke, G. (2009). “Aufsuchungsephemeriden des periodischenPerrineschen Kometen” (1896 VII). Astr. Nachr.; AN, 202(5), pp.85-88
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