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Bahrain
Perhaps the first role of Bahrain in recorded history was as the
Sumerian trading partner of
Dilmun. Although the exact location of the ancient centre is unknown,
Bahrain is certainly a strong candidate. More concrete is its identification
as Awal of the various incarnations of the
Persian empire between the
sixth century BC to the seventh century AD. Conquered by
Islam in AD 629, the island
archipelago fell under various Arabic rulers until it was captured by the
Portuguese
in 1521-1602. Then Iran
controlled it for almost two hundred years, followed by periods of
independent rule and reliance again on Iran. Then
Britain
overpowered the island's defenders in 1861 and Bahrain was placed under
British protection.
In 1783, under Iranian overlordship, the hakims (lords, or governors) of
Bahrain controlled the island locally. The family remained in place under
the British protectorate and colony, and emerged into full independence in
1971.
(Timeline of events adapted in part from the BBC chronology of key events in Bahrain.) |
1783 - 1796 |
Sheikh Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa |
First hakim of Bahrain, and grandson of Khalifa. |
1783 |
Following a change of power in the region as tribes fight for local
governorship, the Bani Utbah tribe become the regional power. Thanks to
this, the Khalifa gain control of Bahrain and rule independently in all but
name.
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The Bahrain Fort is based on a mound which has been inhabited
since 2300 BC
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1796 - 1843 |
Sheikh Abdullah |
Son. |
1796 - 1825 |
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Sheikh Sulman |
Brother. Co-ruler. |
1825 - 1834 |
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Sheikh Khalifah |
Son. Successor to Sheikh Sulman as co-ruler. |
1834 - 1842 |
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Sheikh Muhammad |
Son. Successor to Sheikh Khalifah as co-ruler. |
1843 - 1868 |
Sheikh Muhammad |
Former co-ruler (1834-1842). |
1861 |
Britain
takes control of Bahrain and the island is placed under British protection. |
1868 - 1869 |
Sheikh Ali |
Son of Khalifah. First
British
dependent, free of Iranian
control. |
1869 |
Sheikh Muhammad |
Former hakim (1843-1868). |
1869 |
Sheikh Muhammad |
Son of Abdullah. |
1869 - 1932 |
Sheikh Essa Ben
Ali |
Son of Ali. |
1892 - 1895 |
Britain
establishes Bahrain as a colony in 1892, but this leads to a revolt breaking
out in 1895.
This is quickly put down. |
1913 |
Britain
and the Ottoman government
sign a treaty recognising the independence of Bahrain, but the country
remains under British administration (which it had done since 1861). |
1931 |
The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), a subsidiary of the Standard Oil
Company of California (Socal), discovers oil at Jabal al-Dukhan and
production begins the following year. |
1932 - 1942 |
Sheikh Hamad ibn
Isa Al Khalifa |
Born 1872. |
1939 |
Britain decides that the Hawar Islands, which lie in the Gulf of Bahrain
between Bahrain and Qatar, belong to Bahrain and not Qatar. The islands remain a
source of political conflict between Qatar and Bahrain for the course of the
century. |
1942 - 1961 |
Salman ibn Hamad
Al Khalifa |
Born 1894. |
1961 - 1971 |
Sheikh Isa Bin
Salman Al Khalifah |
Born 1933. |
1967 |
Britain moves its main regional naval base from Aden to Bahrain. |
1968 |
On
16 January,
Britain announces that it will close its bases east of Suez by 1971,
part of an ongoing process of withdrawal from imperial territories which had
started at the close of the Second World War. |
1970 |
On 19 January, the Administrative Council becomes a twelve-member Council of
State, headed by a president, the ruler's brother, Sheikh Khalifah Bin-Salman
Al Khalifah. In May the same year,
Iran
renounces its claim to sovereignty over Bahrain after a United Nations
report shows that Bahrainis want to remain independent. |
1971 |
Bahrain declares independence on 15 August and signs a new treaty of friendship with
Britain. Sheikh Isa becomes the first Emir and the Council of State
becomes a cabinet. On 16 December, Bahrain gains formal independence from
Britain. Bahrain is the first Gulf state to sign a free trade pact with the
US.
Later in the same year on 23 December, Bahrain and the US sign an
agreement which permits the US to rent naval and military facilities. |
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Emirate of Bahrain / Kingdom of Bahrain
AD 1971 - Present Day
Modern Bahrain is a borderless island state lying in the Persian Gulf. It is
also the smallest Arab nation.
Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd
Causeway (officially opened on 25 November 1986), while Qatar is to the south
across the Persian Gulf.
The capital is at Manama, a major port city and commercial centre which lies on the
north-eastern tip of the island. It was declared a free port in 1958.
The country changed its name from the 'State of Bahrain' to the 'Kingdom of
Bahrain' in 2002. |
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1971 - 1999 |
Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifah |
First emir of an
independent Bahrain
(hakim since 1961). |
1975 |
On
26 August, following claims by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah Bin-Salman Al
Khalifah that the National Assembly is impeding the work of the government,
the emir dissolves the assembly and rules by decree. |
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1999 - Present |
Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah |
Eldest son. King
from 2002. |
2002 |
On
14 February, Bahrain turns itself into a constitutional monarchy and allows
women to stand for office in a package of reforms.
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Following the creation of a series of artificial islands in
Dubai, Bahrain created its own set, known as Durrat Al Bahrain,
which was opened in 2009
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2011 |
A wave of popular protests against a deeply unpopular and dictatorial
government in Tunisia
forces the president to flee the country, paving the way for fresh
elections and a new start. The protests strike a chord in Arabs across
North Africa and the Middle East, and similar protests are triggered in
Bahrain, Egypt,
Libya,
Morocco,
Syria and Yemen.
Initially, force is used in Bahrain against the protestors, before calmer
heads prevail and talks begin to find a way of resolving matters. |
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Crown Prince Salman
bin Hamad |
Son and heir. |
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