Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad (died 11 December 1849) was an Imam of Yemen who reigned from 1845 to 1849. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidiimamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
Muhammad bin Yahya was a grandson of Imam al-Mansur Ali I. In 1845 he claimed the imamate from the weak incumbent al-Mansur Ali II. In this he was supported by Sharif Husayn of Abu Arish, who acted as autonomous lord in the Yemeni lowlands (Tihamah) under formal Ottoman suzerainty. With a strong force Muhammad bin Yahya appeared outside the capital San'a. The inhabitants endorsed his claim, opened the gates of the city and deposed al-Mansur Ali II. The usurper took the name al-Mutawakkil Muhammad.[1]
The period of Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's reign was marked by the severe oppression of his Jewish subjects in Sana'a, forcing many of them to flee the city and to take-up refuge elsewhere. Many of them, under the orders of the Imam's viceroy, Abū-Zayid b. Ḥasan al-Miṣri, were incarcerated, and shackled in fetters of iron, while others severely beaten and tormented, until they could appease their antagonists by paying large sums of ransom money.[2]
The friendship between the new imam and Sharif Husayn was short-lived. Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad was probably encouraged by the Sharif of Mecca, Muhammad bin Awn, to attack Abu Arish. The imam aimed to win back Zaidi power in the Yemeni lowland. In 1847–1848, the imam's forces defeated Sharif Husayn and took him prisoner. Important cities like Zabid, Bayt al-Faqih and Mocha were captured by al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's forces. Sharif Husayn was kept in the mountain fort al-Qutay. However, the valuable prisoner was freed and took up arms against the imam again. Yam tribesmen from Najran and Haraz chose to support Sharif Husayn and defeated the Zaidi forces. Mocha was recaptured by the Sharif through the treachery of the garrison. Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's position was now precarious, but he resumed the offensive in late 1848 and early 1849, capturing Ta'izz and Yarim.[3]
Ottoman interventionedit
By now, however, the Ottoman government resolved to settle the unruly conditions in Yemen by imposing direct control. In April 1849 the Turkish commander Tevfik Pasha arrived with a strong detachment in Hudaydah on the coast and forced Sharif Husayn to surrender. The Sharif later died (1851) on his way to Constantinople where he had been going plead his cause. As for al-Mutawakkil Muhammad, he was summoned to appear in Hudaydah and hesitantly came to meet the pasha. Despite the imam's concerns, a convention was signed to the effect that the imam would continue to govern the country under his direct control, but only as a vassal of the Porte. Parts of imam's revenues were to go to the Ottoman treasury, and a garrison was to be placed in San'a.[4]
Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad arrived in San'a with Tevfik Pasha and the Turkish troops on 15 July 1849. On the next day, however, a general uprising broke out in the city and a hundred Turks were killed. Tevfik Pasha, who had been critically wounded, immediately deposed al-Mutawakkil Muhammad and raised al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's kinsman and predecessor al-Mansur Ali II to the imamate again. After 25 days the Turkish troops decided to retreat to Hudaydah, leaving the Zaidi state to its own devices for the next 23 years. Al-Mansur Ali imprisoned the deposed imam on the grounds of treachery, and beheaded him on 11 December 1849. According to one writer, "he was one of the most accomplished of men, but fate was not on his side".[5]
^R.L. Playfair, A History of Arabia Felix or Yemen. Bombay 1859, p. 152.
^Amram Qorah, Sa'arat Teman, Jerusalem 1988, p. 30.
^Caesar E, Farah, The Sultan's Yemen; 19th-Century Ottomane Rule. London 2002, pp. 47-54; R.B. Serjeant & R. Lewcock, San'a'; An Arabian Islamic City. London 1983, p. 89.
mutawakkil, muhammad, died, december, 1849, imam, yemen, reigned, from, 1845, 1849, belonged, qasimid, family, descended, from, islamic, prophet, muhammad, which, dominated, zaidi, imamate, yemen, from, 1597, 1962, contents, struggle, against, arish, ottoman, . Al Mutawakkil Muhammad died 11 December 1849 was an Imam of Yemen who reigned from 1845 to 1849 He belonged to the Qasimid family descended from the Islamic prophet Muhammad which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962 Contents 1 Struggle against Abu Arish 2 Ottoman intervention 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingStruggle against Abu Arish editMuhammad bin Yahya was a grandson of Imam al Mansur Ali I In 1845 he claimed the imamate from the weak incumbent al Mansur Ali II In this he was supported by Sharif Husayn of Abu Arish who acted as autonomous lord in the Yemeni lowlands Tihamah under formal Ottoman suzerainty With a strong force Muhammad bin Yahya appeared outside the capital San a The inhabitants endorsed his claim opened the gates of the city and deposed al Mansur Ali II The usurper took the name al Mutawakkil Muhammad 1 The period of Al Mutawakkil Muhammad s reign was marked by the severe oppression of his Jewish subjects in Sana a forcing many of them to flee the city and to take up refuge elsewhere Many of them under the orders of the Imam s viceroy Abu Zayid b Ḥasan al Miṣri were incarcerated and shackled in fetters of iron while others severely beaten and tormented until they could appease their antagonists by paying large sums of ransom money 2 The friendship between the new imam and Sharif Husayn was short lived Al Mutawakkil Muhammad was probably encouraged by the Sharif of Mecca Muhammad bin Awn to attack Abu Arish The imam aimed to win back Zaidi power in the Yemeni lowland In 1847 1848 the imam s forces defeated Sharif Husayn and took him prisoner Important cities like Zabid Bayt al Faqih and Mocha were captured by al Mutawakkil Muhammad s forces Sharif Husayn was kept in the mountain fort al Qutay However the valuable prisoner was freed and took up arms against the imam again Yam tribesmen from Najran and Haraz chose to support Sharif Husayn and defeated the Zaidi forces Mocha was recaptured by the Sharif through the treachery of the garrison Al Mutawakkil Muhammad s position was now precarious but he resumed the offensive in late 1848 and early 1849 capturing Ta izz and Yarim 3 Ottoman intervention editBy now however the Ottoman government resolved to settle the unruly conditions in Yemen by imposing direct control In April 1849 the Turkish commander Tevfik Pasha arrived with a strong detachment in Hudaydah on the coast and forced Sharif Husayn to surrender The Sharif later died 1851 on his way to Constantinople where he had been going plead his cause As for al Mutawakkil Muhammad he was summoned to appear in Hudaydah and hesitantly came to meet the pasha Despite the imam s concerns a convention was signed to the effect that the imam would continue to govern the country under his direct control but only as a vassal of the Porte Parts of imam s revenues were to go to the Ottoman treasury and a garrison was to be placed in San a 4 Al Mutawakkil Muhammad arrived in San a with Tevfik Pasha and the Turkish troops on 15 July 1849 On the next day however a general uprising broke out in the city and a hundred Turks were killed Tevfik Pasha who had been critically wounded immediately deposed al Mutawakkil Muhammad and raised al Mutawakkil Muhammad s kinsman and predecessor al Mansur Ali II to the imamate again After 25 days the Turkish troops decided to retreat to Hudaydah leaving the Zaidi state to its own devices for the next 23 years Al Mansur Ali imprisoned the deposed imam on the grounds of treachery and beheaded him on 11 December 1849 According to one writer he was one of the most accomplished of men but fate was not on his side 5 See also editHistory of Yemen Imams of YemenReferences edit R L Playfair A History of Arabia Felix or Yemen Bombay 1859 p 152 Amram Qorah Sa arat Teman Jerusalem 1988 p 30 Caesar E Farah The Sultan s Yemen 19th Century Ottomane Rule London 2002 pp 47 54 R B Serjeant amp R Lewcock San a An Arabian Islamic City London 1983 p 89 R L Playfair p 154 R B Serjeant amp R Lewcock p 90 Caesar E Farah pp 56 59 60 Further reading editRobert W Stookey Yemen The Politics of the Yemen Arab Republic Boulder 1978 Preceded byal Mansur Ali II Zaydi Imam of Yemen1845 1849 Succeeded byal Mansur Ali II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Mutawakkil Muhammad amp oldid 1171606287, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
