NABHANI

The Nabhani Dynasty began in the 12th century when members of the Bani Nabhan family [i] proclaimed independence from the Seljuks [ii]. The Imams were losing power due to struggles with regional groups in the area. The Nabhani rulers established a hereditary monarchy and ruled as Muluk (kings) while reducing the Imams’ significance and authority. Internal divisions within the dynasty left the coastal towns vulnerable to invasion, and limited Nabhan's reign. In 1507, the port city of Muscat fell under Portuguese control [iii], and Nasir bin Murshid seized power [iv] in 1624 marking the official end of the Nabhani Dynasty.

During the Nabhani’s rule, factions in the region were in conflict with the Nabhani. In the early part of their dynasty, the Nabhani expelled the Seljuk Empire, a Turko-Persian empire. The Persians, residing near modern-day Yemen, were often in conflict with the Nabhani Dynasty and at one point-controlled part of the coast. Additionally, internal dissident groups constantly struggled against the Nabhani. Throughout their dynasty, Nabhani rulers made personal visits to Ethiopia, Zanzibar [v], and the Lamu Archipelago [vi]. It is possible that there was an alliance between the Nabhani and the empires in those regions.

Today, tourists to Oman can visit the Bahla Fort [vii], a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the ruins of a settlement constructed by the Nabhani during their reign. The Bahla Fort consisted of three main parts. The oldest part, Al-Qasabah, the “new house”, Bait al-hadith [viii], and the most recent addition, Bait Al-Jabal, was constructed in the 18th century. The Fort served as the central point of Ibadism [ix], a school of Islam. The city of Bahla where the fort is located served as the capital of the Nabhani dynasty and was ruled by Imam Makhzum ibn Al-Fallah in 1496.

Under Nabhani rule, Imams were both spiritual and religious leaders who led tribes in the interior of Oman. When the Nabhani came to power in 1154, they degraded the ruling power of the Imams over the course of many years. The Nabhani titled themselves as Muluk, (kings in Arabic) and stripped the Imams of their ruling power, leaving them with only superficial authority. Although their rule was not heavily documented, the Nabhani’s rule eventually fell apart due in part to internal power struggles that saw Imams regain enough power and influence to remove the Nabhani ruler Suleiman bin Mudhafar [x] from power.

The Nabhani Dynasty governed regions of Oman for almost 500 years. Throughout the duration of their rule, the Bani Nabhan controlled the land routes of frankincense trade from Sohar to Bahrain, Baghdad, and Damascus. They constructed the historic Bahla Fort. Bahla itself served as the capital of the dynasty from the 12th to the 16 centuries. The Bani Nabhans experienced internal conflict from dissenting tribes and external aggression from the Portuguese and Persians. In 1624, Nasir bin Murshid captured power of the region, ending the Nabhani Dynasty and commencing the Ya’Aruba reign [xi].

There were two main accomplishments worth noting during the Nabhani Dynasty. Those were the construction of the Bahla Fort [xii], a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the control of the frankincense trade. The Bahla Fort served as the designating edifice for the capital city of the dynasty at the time, Bahla. Although UNESCO established the site in 1987, the permanence of such an antiquated relic attests to the quality of the construction. The Nabhani most likely inherited control of the frankincense trade from the previous dynasty. Their ability to secure oversight of frankincense trade routes despite continuous conflict highlights the dynasty’s power.

The main economic highlight of the Nabhani Dynasty was their control of the frankincense trade [xiii] in the region. The spice trade in the gulf and fertile crescent region consisted of numerous incense, spices, and many luxury goods [xiv]. Trade routes started in Morocco and moved across northern Africa into the gulf, up to the Mediterranean region, across the Middle East to India, and further into Asia. Part of that trade passed through Oman during the Nabhani Dynasty. Inhabitants of the region also engaged in frankincense harvesting, a dangerous undertaking made possible by the specialized terrain and geography of the region.