Shammar

The tribe of Shammar (Arabic: Šammar) is one of the largest tribes of Arabia, with an estimated 1 million in Iraq, over 2.5 million in Saudi Arabia (concentrated in Hail), a Kuwaiti population (centered in Aljahra) of around 100,000, the Palestinian population that was not displaced by war is the house of Abu Ghousa, a Syrian popolution is thought to exceed 1 million and with an unknown number in Jordan and 1 million in lebanon . In its "golden age", around 1850, the tribe ruled much of central and northern Arabia from Riyadh to the frontiers of Syria and the vast area known as Aljazeera in Northern Iraq.

Origins

The Shammar is a tribal confederation made up of three main branches: the Abdah, the Aslam, and the Zoba. According to the tribe's oral tradition, the Shammar originated from a bedouin Yemeni tribe called the Dhayaghem who immigrated northwards, conquering the area around the twin mountains of Aja and Salma in northern Nejd from a local chief known only as "Bahij". The first mention of Shammar comes from the 14th century. The area of the two mountains subsequently came to be known as Jabal Shammar ("Shammar's Mountain") from that time. In modern times, it has become common to link the Shammar with the tribe of Tayy, the ancient inhabitants of that area, and some genealogists believe that Shammar may have indeed absorbed some remnants of that tribe.

History

Oral tradition mentions that the first chiefs of the Shammar tribe were the family of Dhaigham, (Arar & Omair) from 'abda, who supposedly ruled Shammar at the center of their presence in Jabal Shammar. In the 17th century, a large section of the Shammar left Jabal Shammar under the leadership of Al Jarba and settled in Iraq, reaching as far as the northern city of Mosul. The Shammar are currently one of the largest tribes in Iraq, and are divided into two large branches. The northern branch, known as Shammar al-Jarba, is mainly Sunni, while the southern branch, Shammar Toga, converted to Shi'ism largely just before or during the 19th century after settling in southern Iraq.

The Shammar that remained in Arabia had their tribal territories in the area around the city of Ha'il, and extending from Ha'il northwards to the frontiers of the Syrian Desert. The Shammar had a long traditional rivalry with the confederation of 'Anizzah, who inhabited the same area.

The city of Ha'il became the heart of the Jabal Shammar region and was inhabited largely by settled members of Shammar and their clients. Two clans succeeded each other in ruling the city in the 19th century. The first clan, the Al Ali, were replaced by the Al Rashid with their uncles Al Sabhan, who pledged allegiance to the Al Saud family in Riyadh. Both these clans belonged to the 'Abda section of Shammar.

During the civil war that tore apart the Second Saudi State in the late 19th century, the emirs ("rulers") of Ha'il from Al Rashid intervened and were able to gradually take control of much of the Saudi realm, finally taking over the Saudi capital Riyadh in 1895 and expelling the Saudi leaders to Kuwait. The bedouin Shammari tribesmen provided the majority of the Al Rashid's military support.

The Al Rashid were defeated by Ibn Saud during his campaign to restore his family's rule in the Arabian Peninsula in the first two decades of the 20th century, with Jabal Shammar falling to Saudi rule in 1921. Later, some sections of Shammar were incorporated in the Ikhwan militias loyal to Ibn Saud. Ibn Saud also married a daughter of one of the Shammari chiefs, who bore him the current Saudi king, Abdullah.

After the establishment of modern borders, most bedouins gradually left their nomadic lifestyle. Today, most members of Shammar live in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and some sections have settled in Syria and Jordan.

Shammar in Iraq

Under the leadership of Banu Mohamad known as Al Jarba, there was a massive exodus into Iraq. Many of the Shammar in Iraq gave up the nomadic life to settle in the major cities, especially the Jazirah plain, which is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates from Baghdad all the way to Mosul. In times of drought, there were several migrations of Shammar into Iraq, which, according to the Ottoman census upon its annexation, had only 1.5 million inhabitants. Today, Alhuchaim tribes of Samawa have a large majority of Shammar. Clans from Abda in Ain Tamur, Hacham of Alaslam in Souq Alshiokh, Aladhadh of Alaslam in the city of Nasiriyah are a few examples of Shammar outside of the Jazirah. The Shammar took over the Jazirah after displasing Al-Ubaid tribe. According to the Sheikh Abdullah Humaid Alyawar, the son of the sheikh of all of Shammar, in Iraq the total population of Shammar is estimated to be 1.5 million. Abdullah Alyawar also stated that the majority of Shammar in Iraq is in the South and is Shia, but it does not affect the tribe's unity. Iraq is also the home of Aljarba, the Sheikh ("chief") of all of Shammar. Shammar Toga, which is entirely Shiite, is based in Al Hafriya, very close to Al Suwayrah, in the province of Wasit. Its head was Shaikh Hamed Hmayed Al-Sayyid. The Shammar Alsayeh, a tribal confederation of tribes from Shammar, is the branch of Shammar who were independent of Aljraba's authority. Shammar is divided in to groups for example Al-Zuhairy and Al-Towej in Najaf.

In Iraq the Shammar became one of the most powerful tribes, owning vast tracts of land. They were important supporters of the Iraqi monarchy of the House of Hashem. Shammar power was threatened after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958 by Abdul-Karim Qassem, and the Shammar welcomed Ba'athist rule. With the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Saddam Hussein, the tribe of Shammar lost favour in Iraq due to their close links to their Saudi relatives. After the overthrow of Saddam, Ghazi al-Yawar, from the Al Jarbah clan, was unanimously chosen as interim president. His uncle is the current Sheikh of Sheikhs of the tribe of Shammar. Samir, an Iraqi-American Shammari, pulled Saddam out of his "spider hole" in the famous picture of the capture of Saddam.

Timeline

1171–1172 – Abda joins Saladin against the crusaders Internet source cites an Arabic source below

1442 – The city of Mujmaa is built by abdullah ibn saif alwibari alshammari

1521 (Circa) – the name shammar becomes prominent

1522 – Shammar backs bani Khalid against aluyonien

1609 Shammar unites with Bani Khalid against the sheriff of Makkah

1690 Exodus into Iraq Reference(JFW)P.43

1696 Shammar Raids Baghdad (JFW)P.43

1749-1762 Shammar raids reaches northern baghdad despite the strong ruler Sulaiman abul laila

1750-1760 Wahabi movement emerges

1765 alaslam and zaghareet between Heet and karabla (JFW)P.44

1776 Shikh Mutlag bin Thanian invades Alhafeer Area

1779 Jabal Shammar falls to Saudi Domination

1781 Aladwa battle between Aljarba and Ibn Saud

1780 Shammar joins bani Khalid and Muntafig and the Sheriff of Mecca to attack Alsaud they win

1790 Early that year Wahabis raid southern Iraq P46

1790 Shammar is allied with the Sherif of Mecca against Alasaud. Muslat Iben mutlag is killed Shammar lost 6000 camels and 10000 sheep PAO

1791 Alsaud launches a surprise attack on Shammar and wins two battles 70 miles SE of Hayel

1791 Late that year some Shamaris join other bedouins in an attack against Alsaud and Muslit bin mutlag dies

1791 Mutlag Aljarba takes Shammar to safer places in southern Iraq

1792 Sheikh abudl Wahab dies, Wahabi forces raid southern Iraq defeating Bani Khalid JFW P.46

1792 Mohamad Bin Abdul mohsin Bin Ali Also believed to be "Alsamn alurabi" becomes Emir of Hail internet source

1795 Saudi forces attack Shammar near Samawa and Mutlag is killed PAO 35

1797 Alsaud attacks north of Soug Alshiokh, Faris Bin mohamma aljarba takes over, Wahabis turned back (JFW)

1798 A large coalition including Shammar alubaid and Ottoman Armies more than 500 strong goes to Basra) and Mutlag dies(JFW)47

1799 Ali basha leaves Zuabir with new allies from almuntafig, althufair, and bani Khalid and fights for a year(JFW)

1800 Truce is broken and an indecisive battle take place near karbala with the Wahabi's(JFW)

1801 Wahabi pressure on Southern Iraq subsides, Shammar migrates to reach Jabal Sinjar in northern Iraq(JFW). The Shiite holy city of Karbala was raided by 10k men on 6k camels plundering Hussien's tomb

1802 Late that year, an anti Yezedi campaign was launched By the Ottomans, shammar, and Alubaid (JFW)P50

1803 Ottoman seeks Shammar's help in a campaign against Al ubaid mutiny, campaign fails (JFW)50

1805 Faris Aljarba decisively defeats Alubaid(JFW)50

1808–1812 Baghdad comes under Saudi threats

1809 Anti Thufair rebellion Ottoman- campaign under Faris aljarba and Sulaimna Basha alsaghir, Althufair and Rola Triomph

1814 Shammar aljarba raids several Iraqi cities

1815 Khazaal, Zuabair, and Shammar rebel against Said Basha Uniza, alubaid, and thufair put down the rebellion, Shiekh Banaia is killed in battle

1818 Shiekh Sfoug bin Faris Aljarba Takes over JFW 61. Mohamad Bin Abdul mohsin Bin Ali is beheaded by Ibrahim Pasah and sent to his father Mohamad Ali Pasha in Egypt (Hail online Arabic reference). Dirayiya is under siege 2000 cavalry 56000 infantry and 12 guns

1820s Mohamad bin Ali was killed and his brother Saleh becomes ruler of town PAO

1822 Shammar's Sfoug aljarba defeats a 40 thousand strong Persian army meant for Baghdad JFW 70

1823 Anna is bequeathed to Sfoug

1824 Uniza raids Shammar and steals their Arabian horses

1826-1926 Period of little information

1831 Shammar aids the Ottoman siege of Baghdad to remove its rebellious Dawood Pasha JFW 73

1832 Shammar retaliates against Ali Pasha and declares rebellion JFW 77

1832 Uniza is forced to leave Syria's desert and enter aljazera 35000 man strong due to the Egyptian invasion of Syria

1833 Two Pashas join the rebellion and attack the yazidis in Sinjar to stop their looting

1833 July Shammar Sieges Baghdad and intercepts all Ottoman correspondence 20-30 Miles North JFW 78

Abdull bin Rashid the future founder of the emirate of Hail is said to have participated

1833 5000 Ottomans under Mohamad Pasha leave a rebellion near Hilla and attack Shammar, siege remains active JFW 79

1833 late that year Shammar moves north to help Mosul's Pasha, Siege is broken and ottomans launch a successful surprise attack

1834 Rogue Shiekh Shlash of Shammar attacks Uniza supporting the ottomans, Sfoug supports Shlash with 2000 men Uniza wins

1835 Uniza cross the Euphrates and leaves Aljazeera

1835 Shammar is at the peak of its power in aljazeera and Sfoug Aljarba is Soultan Albar

1835 Rasheed Pasha ambushed Sfoug and his son Farhan and exiles him to the Istana

1835 Shammar retaliates by raiding and destroying the fields of Tikrit

1836 Battles ensue between Shammar and Uniza, Sfoug's brother Faris bin Mohamad rules over 12000 families Mohamad Ali Pasha forces reach Yanbo for a second invasion of Arabia

1836 Alrashid establish an emirate centered at Hail

1837 Shammar's unity fragments In Iraq

1840 Shammar Jarba attacks the Egyptians at Orfa

1841 Anna is taken away from Sfoug

1842 Shammar jarba retaliates by raiding near alkhabor, some internal splintering

1843 Sfoug is reappointed as Shammar's Shiekh

1844 Shammar Jarba raids Uniza near Harran, famine year

1844 Summer, Unizaa brings 20000 man and raids areas between baghdad and Mosul

1844 Shammar, only 1000 men, allies with Kurdish cavalry to expel Uniza. Fighting continues in the Fall

1845 Uniza seeks a truce and gives 15000 sheep, 3000 camels, and 8 horses,

1845 Shammar Jarba defeats Uniza and spoils 7000 sheep, famine strike Shammar

1846 Farhan becomes the Shiekh of Shiekhs the runner up from the other six brothers is abdulkareem

1846? Abdulkarim declares a revolution against the ottomans he is delivered by Naser Alsadoun to Ottomans and hanged

1847 Internal fighting between rebellious Shammaris, Sfoug is assassinated and beheaded by Najeeb Pasha

1847 December, Shammar raids aljazeera, Najeeb Pasha appoints Oda as Shiekh

1848 Spring Uniza raids Shammar under Daham Ibn Gaishish and Ibnn Hath-thal.

1850-1851 Abdi Pasha stops his Shammar rations, Shammar raids Sothern Baghdad. JFW 108

1853-1856 Ottoman control plummeted outside of big cities

1901 Mach Alsarif Battle: 1200 Shammaris lost 400 under abdul aziz almutab Alrashid defeat an invasion of Hayel against the Emir of Kuwait over 64000 men and lost 9000.

1910 aljumaima shammar against Unizah and Alerwilah

1910 March Hadya Battle: 500 shammari horsemen join alsadoun on 4000 in a battle again Sabah backed by Abdulaziz alsaud and defeat them

1920 Zuba participates in Iraq's 1920 revolution against the British

1921, 1299+622 Mohamad Ibn adullah bin Rashid ends the siege of Aridh and Abdullah ibn faisal retreats

1921 Arwa Battle Utaiba and Shammar Utaiba is defeated

1932 population estimates of Hail's population is 20000, badu Shammar 150k-200k: 30% alaslam,37% Abde, 25% sinjara, Tuman 7.5%

1948 Shammar is driven out of Naqab desert south of Palestine by Israeli forces

February 16, 1948, Zaraa Battle

April 10, 1948, Almanara

October 1948, Naqab battle 143 shammaris join the Arab army to reclaim Naqab

June 26, 2007, Shamar Mahon was given the President's Education Award signed by George W. Bush.

Main sections

ABDA

(CLANS)

*Aljaafar -ruler of shammar comes from this clan.

*Alrubaeya - sub clan of rubeya sharefat,gesham,zagareet,nabhan

*Alyihya

* ALASLAM (CLANS)

*Almanee' - Albu Salih, Fayid, Twalah, Masud and Kamel (subclans)

*Wahab - Qder , Muhammed , Jathel

*Alsultah -al jarba the sheiks of shammar come from this clan

*Aladhadh

*Alkhashman

* ZOBA' (CLANS)

*Zoba' Al- Mathlothah.

*Alkhrusah, Leaders of shammar "Aljarba family" come from this clan.

*Sinjarah:

#Althabit

#Alghafilah

#Alzameel sometimes referred to as Alsouid or Alfaddaghah

#Alzomail

References

Aladhadh, Amer; A comprehensive history of Shammar

Alazzawi, Abbas; The Tribes of Iraq (Arabic)

AlfudailyThe Days of the Arabs before Islam (Arabic )

Hassan, Hussein D.; Tribal Structure, Social, and Political Activities Information Research Specialist Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Consultancy Knowledge Services Group (re Iraq)

Madawi Al Rasheed: Politics in an Arabian oasis. The Rashidi Tribal Dynasty. I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd, London & New York 1991 (based on a Ph.D. thesis presented to Cambridge University, 1988). ISBN 1-85043-320-8 (English)

Tayy (Shammar) tribe official website.

Williamson, John Frederich; The History of Shmmar (Arabic)

Notes

Category:Bedouin groups Category:Tribes of Arabia Category:Tribes of Iraq