Qasr Al Hosn - The History Of The Rulers Of Abu Dhabi 1793 - 1966
تاريخ النشر: 01/01/2002
الناشر: الأرشيف الوطني
نبذة الناشر:For nearly two centuries the Qasr Al Hosn served as the fortress, royal residence and administrative headquarters of the Al Nahyan Rulers of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, who belonged to the Al Bu Falah clan of the famous Beni Yas tribal confederation. Any study of this fortress and royal ...residence is inseparable from the achievements of the Al Bu Falah Shaikhs who lived and ruled from there and guided the political and economic fortunes of their Emirate.
It is against this background that this study proposes to outline the history and contributions of the 11 Al Bu Falah Shaikhs who, starting with Shaikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab bin Isa and ending with Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan bin Zayed, ruled Abu Dhabi from 1793 to 1966. Although it was Shaikh Dhiyab bin Isa who first founded a settlement on the island of Abu Dhabi, it was his son Shaikh Shakhbut (1793-1816) who permanently transferred his capital there, from Al Mariyah in Liwa in the desert hinterland, and ac- cordingly became the first effective Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
By virtue of his military prowess, statesmanship and superior leadership, Shaikh Shakhbut set an example which was followed with vigour by all his successors, all of whom turned out to be worthy Rulers in their own right.
Shaikh Tahnun bin Shakhbut (1818-1833), who succeeded his father after a brief two-year rule in between by his brother Shaikh Muhammad (1816- 1818), was an equally powerful and competent Ruler. By the time his reign came to an end, the barren and unproductive island of Abu Dhabi had been transformed from a tiny fishing village to a thriving pearl centre on the Gulf Coast, and an acknowledged political and military force in south- eastern Arabia.
Both the successors of Shaikh Tahnun, Shaikh Khalifah bin Shakhbut (1833-1845) and Shaikh Said bin Tahnun (1845-1855), were famous for their bravery in the battlefield and their remarkable influence over the tribes. Their firmness, prudence and gallantry, raised the importance of the principality of Abu Dhabi to new heights إقرأ المزيد