Al-Ḥasā and al-Qaṭīf under the al-Baghdādī Regime, 1606–1670

Abstract This article reviews the unrest that prevailed in al-Ḥasā and al-Qaṭīf in the wake of the weakening of the Ottoman Empire from the beginning of the 17th century. This unrest created a chance for the emergence of ʿAlī Pasha al-Baghdādī, who independently ruled al-Hasā and al-Qaṭīf. He forced Istanbul to recognize his legitimacy. ʿAlī Pasha and his sons achieved a presence in the political arena and established relations with the Portuguese to confront the Safavids, their mutual enemies. They also established close relations with the Sharifs of Makkah and prevented the Imams of Yemen from extending their supremacy to their lands. However, they had relations with the ruler of Basra, Ḥusayn Pasha Afrāsiāb, who had ambitions in their country, and an alliance with Shaykh Barāk, the leader of the Banū Khālid. These relations led to their downfall, after ruling for nearly six decades.