Bani Khalid

Bani Khalid (Arabic: بني خالد‎‎) is an Arab tribal confederation. The tribe ruled the southern region of Iraq and eastern Saudi Arabia (al-Hasa and al-Qatif) from the 15th century to the 18th century, and again under the auspices of the Ottoman Empire during the early 19th century. At its greatest extent, the domain of Bani Khalid extended from Iraq in the north to the borders of Oman in the South, and wielded political influence by ruling the region of Nejd in central Arabia. Most of the tribe's members presently reside in eastern and central Saudi Arabia, while others live in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Palestine, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. The Bani Khalid are mostly all Sunni Muslims.[1][2][3]

History

First Khalidi Emirate

The main branches of the tribe are the Al Humaid, the Juboor, the Du'um, the Al Janah, the Grusha, the Al Musallam, the 'Amayer, the Al Subaih and the Mahashir.[4] The chieftainship of the Bani Khalid has traditionally been held by the clan of Al Humaid. The Bani Khalid dominated the deserts surrounding the Al-Hasa and Al-Qatif during the 15th and 18th century.[5] Under Barrak ibn Ghurayr of the Al Humaid, the Bani Khalid were able to expel Ottoman forces from the cities and towns in 1670 and proclaim their rule over the region.[6][7] Ibn Ghurayr made his capital in Al-Mubarraz, where remnants of his castle stand today.<ref name="Ibn Agil, p. According to Arabian folklore, one chief of the Bani Khalid attempted to protect the prized desert bustard (Habari) from extinction by prohibiting the bedouin in his realm from poaching the bird's eggs, earning the tribe the appellation of "protectors of the eggs of the Habari", an allusion to the chief's absolute supremacy over his realm.[8] The first chieftain of the "Khawalid" was Haddori.

Fall to the Saudis

The Bani Khalid of eastern Arabia maintained ties with members of their tribe who had settled in Nejd during their earlier migration eastwards, and also cultivated clients among the rulers of the Nejdi towns, such as the Al Mu'ammar of al-Uyayna. When the emir of Uyayna adopted the ideas of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the Khalidi chief ordered him to cease support for Ibn Abd al-Wahhab and expel him from his town. The emir agreed, and Ibn Abd al-Wahhab moved to neighboring Dir'iyyah, where he joined forces with the Al Saud. The Bani Khalid remained staunch enemies of the Saudis and their allies and attempted to invade Nejd and Diriyyah in an effort to stop Saudi expansion. Their efforts failed, however, and after conquering Nejd, the Saudis invaded the Bani Khalid's domain in al-Hasa and deposed the Al 'Ura'yir in 1793.

Return and Fall from Power

When the Ottomans invaded Arabia and overthrew the Al Saud in 1818, they conquered al-Hasa, al-Qatif, and reinstated members of the Al 'Uray'ir as rulers of the region. The Bani Khalid were no longer the potent military force they once were at this time, and tribes such as the Ajman, the Dawasir, Subay', and Mutayr began encroaching on the Bani Khalid's desert territories. They were also beset by internal quarrels over leadership. Though the Bani Khalid were able to forge an alliance with the 'Anizzah tribe in this period, they were eventually defeated by an alliance of several tribes along with the Al Saud, who had reestablished their rule in Riyadh in 1823. A battle with an alliance led by the Mutayr and 'Ajman tribes in 1823,[9] and another battle with the Subay' and the Al Saud in 1830, brought the rule of the Bani Khalid to a close. The Ottomans appointed a governor from Bani Khalid over al-Hasa once more in 1874, but his rule also was short-lived.[10]

Present

Many clans and sections of the Bani Khalid had already settled in al-Hasa and Nejd by this time, but many of those who remained leaving east Arabia after their military defeats against the Al Saud, eventually settling in Iraq, Jordan- most notable of which are the Al-Khaldi clan that consist of very important rulers, and members of government. Many families from Bani Khalid can be found today in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan Saudi Arabia, and Qatar as well as in North Palestine, the village of Arab Al-Subaihi, Homs city in Syria and in large parts of Europe.

Notes

  1. ↑ Yitzhak Nakash (2011)Reaching for Power: The Shi'a in the Modern Arab World p. 22
  2. ↑ "Arabia, history of." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 30 Nov. 2007
  3. ↑ Nakkash
  4. ↑ Al-Jassir
  5. ↑ Mandaville, p. 503
  6. ↑ Fattah, p. 83
  7. ↑ Ibn Agil, p. 78
  8. ↑ شبكة قبيلة بني خالد
  9. ↑ Meglio
  10. ↑ Al-Rasheed, p. 36

References

أبو عبدالرحمن بن عقيل الظاهري، "أنساب الأسر الحاكمة في الأحساء، القسم الثاني: بنو حميد (آل عريعر)"، من منشورات دار اليمامة، الرياض، المملكة العربية السعودية
عبدالكريم الوهيبي، "بنو خالد وعلاقتهم بنجد"، دار ثقيف للنشر والتأليف، 1989
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