Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il (c. 1610 – 15 August 1676) was an Imam of Yemen who ruled the country from 1644 until 1676. He was a son of Al-Mansur al-Qasim. His rule saw the biggest territorial expansion of the Zaidiyyahimamate in Greater Yemen.
Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il was the son of the founder of the Qasimid imamate, al-Mansur al-Qasim. In 1644 his elder brother al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad died. With his death, fraternal strife broke out, as several brothers competed for the imamate. In the end, the other brothers submitted to Isma'il. In Zaidi sources, his reign is portrayed in exceedingly positive terms. Yemen was restored to prosperity as the farmers enjoyed excellent harvests. His rule was considered just and incorruptible. Nevertheless, in 1648 a dispute arose between the imam and the various ulema over taxation policy. As Ismail managed to uphold public order in the deeply localized and factionalized Yemeni society, merchants ventured to visit Yemen from other countries.[1] The coffee trade that went through Mocha had been going on for some time and gave the imam's government increased revenues.
Conquest of Hadramautedit
The authority of al-Mutawakkil Isma'il expanded eastwards along the South Arabian coast. Aden had been conquered by Yemeni forces in 1644.[2] In 1654, a struggle for the throne in the Kathiri area provided the imam with an excuse to send a sizable army into the Hadramaut. The Yafa tribesmen submitted, as did the Kathiri sultan. A further expedition in 1658 renewed the suzerainty of the imam in an area as far east as Dhofar. However, the conquest of Hadramaut resulted in a military confrontation with Sultan bin Saif, the sultan of Oman. Being in control of the seas in these areas, the Omanis were able to raid Yemen. Insecurity at sea led to a decrease in goods being imported into the Yemeni seaports.[3]
Diplomatic relationsedit
Yemen in the 17th century was not a very outward-looking society, but its role as virtually the sole coffee producer of the world made it a vital link in the Indian Ocean trading system.[4] Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il's reign saw a number of diplomatic ties with other powers around the periphery of the Indian Ocean. An Ethiopian embassy visited the imam in 1646, and a Yemeni return visit took place in the following year. With Mughal India there were likewise friendly contacts. Surat on the Indian west coast was the principal trading partner of Yemen at this time. The Ottoman Empire, which had lost control over Yemen in 1635, planned a renewed attack in 1674. However, this was abandoned over their fear of Portuguese power.[5]
Interior policyedit
Although he was the most resourceful of the Qasimid line, al-Mutawakkil Isma'il had to contend with the deep localism persisting in the Yemeni society, in particular among the highland tribes. Some tribes were not taxed, but on the contrary received stipends to keep quiet. This was a practice that prevailed until the 20th century. The imam himself is reputed to have lived a life of Spartan simplicity; he would sew and sell caps for his subsistence, and his household consisted of his one wife and a female slave.[6]
During the imam's reign, he quelled what he thought was a rebellion against the Yemeni state, led by the Jewish leader of a Sabbatean sect, Suleiman Jamal. Although the imam resided in al-Suda, he was informed by the governor of Sana'a about the man's actions (i.e. he had tried to usurp authority) and the man was immediately sentenced to die.[7][8] The imam then made it more difficult for his Jewish subjects by confiscating their property and by prohibiting them from owning land.[9]
Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il died in 1676, and a dispute arose between two of his nephews over the succession. Of these, al-Mahdi Ahmad finally succeeded to the imamate.[10]
^R.L. Playfair, A History of Arabia Felix or Yemen. Bombay 1859, p. 112.
^ʻAbd Allah ibn ʻAlī ibn al-Wazīr, Ṭibāq al-Ḥulwā wa-Ṣihāf al-Mān wa-l-Salwā (Arabic)
^P.S. van Köningsveld, J. Sadan, and Q. Al-Samarrai, Yemenite Authorities and Jewish Messianism: Aḥmad ibn Nāṣir al-Zaydī's Account of the Sabbatian Movement in Seventeenth Century Yemen and its Aftermath, Leiden, Leiden University 1990
^Yosef Tobi, The Jews of Yemen (Studies in Their History and Culture), Brill: Leiden 1999, p. 71
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Al Mutawakkil Isma il c 1610 15 August 1676 was an Imam of Yemen who ruled the country from 1644 until 1676 He was a son of Al Mansur al Qasim His rule saw the biggest territorial expansion of the Zaidiyyah imamate in Greater Yemen The rule of Al Mutawakkil Isma il 1675 AD Contents 1 Early reign 2 Conquest of Hadramaut 3 Diplomatic relations 4 Interior policy 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly reign editAl Mutawakkil Isma il was the son of the founder of the Qasimid imamate al Mansur al Qasim In 1644 his elder brother al Mu ayyad Muhammad died With his death fraternal strife broke out as several brothers competed for the imamate In the end the other brothers submitted to Isma il In Zaidi sources his reign is portrayed in exceedingly positive terms Yemen was restored to prosperity as the farmers enjoyed excellent harvests His rule was considered just and incorruptible Nevertheless in 1648 a dispute arose between the imam and the various ulema over taxation policy As Ismail managed to uphold public order in the deeply localized and factionalized Yemeni society merchants ventured to visit Yemen from other countries 1 The coffee trade that went through Mocha had been going on for some time and gave the imam s government increased revenues Conquest of Hadramaut editThe authority of al Mutawakkil Isma il expanded eastwards along the South Arabian coast Aden had been conquered by Yemeni forces in 1644 2 In 1654 a struggle for the throne in the Kathiri area provided the imam with an excuse to send a sizable army into the Hadramaut The Yafa tribesmen submitted as did the Kathiri sultan A further expedition in 1658 renewed the suzerainty of the imam in an area as far east as Dhofar However the conquest of Hadramaut resulted in a military confrontation with Sultan bin Saif the sultan of Oman Being in control of the seas in these areas the Omanis were able to raid Yemen Insecurity at sea led to a decrease in goods being imported into the Yemeni seaports 3 Diplomatic relations editYemen in the 17th century was not a very outward looking society but its role as virtually the sole coffee producer of the world made it a vital link in the Indian Ocean trading system 4 Al Mutawakkil Isma il s reign saw a number of diplomatic ties with other powers around the periphery of the Indian Ocean An Ethiopian embassy visited the imam in 1646 and a Yemeni return visit took place in the following year With Mughal India there were likewise friendly contacts Surat on the Indian west coast was the principal trading partner of Yemen at this time The Ottoman Empire which had lost control over Yemen in 1635 planned a renewed attack in 1674 However this was abandoned over their fear of Portuguese power 5 Interior policy editAlthough he was the most resourceful of the Qasimid line al Mutawakkil Isma il had to contend with the deep localism persisting in the Yemeni society in particular among the highland tribes Some tribes were not taxed but on the contrary received stipends to keep quiet This was a practice that prevailed until the 20th century The imam himself is reputed to have lived a life of Spartan simplicity he would sew and sell caps for his subsistence and his household consisted of his one wife and a female slave 6 During the imam s reign he quelled what he thought was a rebellion against the Yemeni state led by the Jewish leader of a Sabbatean sect Suleiman Jamal Although the imam resided in al Suda he was informed by the governor of Sana a about the man s actions i e he had tried to usurp authority and the man was immediately sentenced to die 7 8 The imam then made it more difficult for his Jewish subjects by confiscating their property and by prohibiting them from owning land 9 Al Mutawakkil Isma il died in 1676 and a dispute arose between two of his nephews over the succession Of these al Mahdi Ahmad finally succeeded to the imamate 10 See also editHistory of Yemen Imams of YemenReferences edit R Serjeant amp R Lewcock San a An Arabian Islamic City London 1983 p 80 R J Gavin Aden under British Rule 1839 1967 London 1975 p 19 Robert W Stookey Yemen The Politics of the Yemen Arab Republic Boulder 1978 p 146 R Serjeant amp R Lewcock pp 80 81 R J Gavin p 17 R Serjeant amp R Lewcock pp 80 81 R L Playfair A History of Arabia Felix or Yemen Bombay 1859 p 112 ʻAbd Allah ibn ʻAli ibn al Wazir Ṭibaq al Ḥulwa wa Ṣihaf al Man wa l Salwa Arabic P S van Koningsveld J Sadan and Q Al Samarrai Yemenite Authorities and Jewish Messianism Aḥmad ibn Naṣir al Zaydi s Account of the Sabbatian Movement in Seventeenth Century Yemen and its Aftermath Leiden Leiden University 1990 Yosef Tobi The Jews of Yemen Studies in Their History and Culture Brill Leiden 1999 p 71 Robert W Stookey p 147 Preceded byal Mu ayyad Muhammad Zaydi Imam of Yemen1644 1676 Succeeded byal Mahdi Ahmad Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Mutawakkil Isma 27il amp oldid 1171605889, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
