Lahej ( ), the Sultanate of Lahej ( ), or, sometimes, the Abdali Sultanate ( ), was a Sheikdom based in Lahij in Southern Arabia. The Sultanate became self-ruling in 1728 and gained independence in 1740. In 1839, the Sultanate became part of the Aden Protectorate of the British Empire, though nominally the 'Abdali Sultan retained his status. The Aden Protectorate was briefly ruled again by the Ottomans during World War I, but regained by the British and absorbed into Federation of South Arabia in 1963. The 'Abdali dynasty was officially abolished in 1967, with the proclamation of South Yemen.
History
Establishment
Lahej was a sultanate of the 'Abdali dynasty. In 1740 the 'Abdali sultan became independent. It became independent thanks to the fracturing of the Zaidi State in north Yemen. The Sultanate of Lahej became an independent entity, from 1728 to 1839.
The arrival of the British
The first political intercourse between Lahej and the British took place in 1799, when a naval force was sent from Great Britain, with a detachment of troops from India, to occupy the island of Perim and prevent all communication of the French in Egypt with the Indian Ocean, by way of the Red Sea. The island of Perim was found unsuitable for troops, and the Sultan of Lahej, Ahmed bin Abdul Karim, received the detachment for some time at Aden. He proposed to enter into an alliance and to grant Aden as a permanent station, but the offer was declined. A Treaty was, however, concluded with the Sultan in 1802 by Admiral Sir Home Popham, who was instructed to enter into political and commercial alliances with the Chiefs oil the Arabian coast of the Red Sea.
The loss of Aden
From that time there was little or no intercourse with Aden until 1837, when attention was drawn to the plunder and maltreatment of the crews of British vessels wrecked on the Aden coast. The most notable case was that of the Deria Dowlut, the crew of which were stripped and barbarously treated. Captain Haines, who was then employed in the survey of the Arabian coast, was instructed to demand satisfaction. He was at the same time to endeavour to purchase Aden as a coaling depot for the steamers plying between India and the Red Sea. Sultan Muhsin, who had succeeded his uncle, Sultan Ahmed, in 1827, at first denied all participation in the plunder; but, finding the British Commissioner firm in his demands, he eventually consented to give up part of the property and pay compensation for the rest. A draft treaty for the cession of Aden was laid before the Sultan, to which he gave his verbal consent and promised formally to agree after consulting his Chiefs. In this draft the amount of compensation to he paid for Aden was left undetermined, hut it was afterwards arranged that an annual payment of 8,700 crowns should he made.
On 22 January 1838 Sultan Muhsin sent a letter under his seal, engaging to make over Aden, after two months, but stipulating that his authority over his people in Aden should be maintained after the cession. To the continuance of the Sultan's jurisdiction the British Agent objected. The Sultan replied that he was willing to abide by the terms first offered: but, if these were not accepted, his letter of 22 January should be returned to him. Negotiations were at this stage when a plot was laid by Ahmed, the Sultan's son; to seize the Agent and rob him of his papers, and delivery of the property stolen from the wreck of the Deria Dowhit was also refused. Preparations were therefore made to coerce the Sultan. On 19 January 1839 Aden was bombarded and taken, and the Sultan and his family fled to Lahej. On 2 February peace was made in the Sultan's name by his son-in law, and on 18 June the Sultan himself signed a Bond, engaging to maintain peace and friendship with the British Government, who agreed to pay him and his heirs 6,500 dollars a year, and likewise to pay the stipends which the Sultan was bound to give to the Fadhili, Haushabi and Amiri tribes.