Hubbry Logo
search
logo
2129639

Bani Utbah

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Bani Utbah

The Bani Utbah (Arabic: بَنِيّ عُتبَة, romanizedbanī ‘utbah, plural Utub; Arabic: الْعُتُوب al-‘utūb, singular Utbi; Arabic: الْعُتبِيّ al-‘utbī) is an Arab tribal confederation in the Arabian Peninsula. The confederation is thought to have been formed when a group of clans from Najd migrated to Eastern Arabia in the late 17th century and early 18th century. Most of the Utub clans and families, such as the Al-Sabah and Al-Khalifa, trace their lineage back to the Anizah tribe, with the exception of some, such as the Al Bin Ali, whose lineage goes back to the Banu Sulaym tribe. The Al Bin Ali along with the current ruling families of Bahrain and Kuwait were the rulers of the federation. The name of the confederation is found in the form Attoobee or Uttoobee in English sources up to the late 19th century.

The Shia Iranian Safavids asked for the assistance of the Utub in invading Oman in 1697; however, they were defeated, as they were already engaged in another war with the Ottomans for the control of Basra. Some Utub and Huwala at that time were serving as mariners in the Persian navy, but they revolted due to maltreatment and took possession of some ships and sailed away.

The Imam of Oman at the time, Sultan bin Saif II, asked for the assistance of the Utub in invading Bahrain in 1717. The Utub assisted him and he successfully took Bahrain, Qishm and other Islands near the Persian coast from the Safavids.

The Bani Utbah led many clans along with Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Khalifa and Salama bin Saif Al Bin Ali invaded and conquered Bahrain in 1783. Bahrain has been ruled by the Bani Utbah House of Khalifa ever since.[citation needed]

On 17 May 1783, war broke out between the Al Bin Ali clan and the army of Nasr Al-Madhkur. Zubarah was originally the center of power of the Al Bin Ali Bani Utbah clan, which ruled Zubarah and are the original dominant clan in Zubarah. About 2,000 Persian troops arrived in Bahrain by December; they then attacked Zubarah on 17 May 1783. After suffering a defeat, the Persians withdrew their arms and retreated to their ships. An Utub naval fleet from Kuwait arrived in Bahrain the same day and set Manama ablaze. The Persian forces returned to the mainland to recruit troops for another attack, but their garrisons in Bahrain were ultimately overrun by the Utub.[citation needed]

Shaikh Nasr Al-Madhkur was the strategist of the battle; his sword fell into the hands of Salama Bin Saif Al Bin Ali after his army collapsed and his forces were defeated.[citation needed]

The Utub under the leadership of Shaikh Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and his subjects in Zubarah, Qatar, conquered and expelled the Persians from Bahrain in 1782 after defeating them in the battle of Zubarah between the people of Zubarah and the Army of Nasr Al-Madhkur. The Bani Utbah were already present at Bahrain at that time, settling there during summer season and purchasing date palm gardens.

In 1811, the confederation was involved in a battle against Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami, who was preparing to invade Bahrain via Al Khuwayr, Qatar in the service of the Emirate of Diriyah. The battle ended in a victory for the Utub.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.