Asma Khaled
The ninth century AH/ sixteenth AD was represented by the continued influence of the Jabour state in Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf thanks to its land and free power, in addition to the wise policy of most of its princes, which received acceptance among the residents and people of the region. Nevertheless, this historical stage witnessed a major external challenge represented by the emergence of European ambitions following the movement of the major geographical discoveries led by Portugal, and its impact reached India to extend its influence on the main marine corridors in the world, and given the importance of the Persian Gulf the presence of the Portuguese through their large marine fleet in Hormuz in 1507 AD, and took it as a base for their influence and presence in the Arabian Gulf. At this critical historical moment, the Jabour state, led by its Emir Muqrin bin Zamil, tried to confront the Portuguese attempts to expand, which took a heroic stance by refusing to obey the Portuguese after their control of Hormuz in 1507 AD, and refrained from paying taxes to them, and refused to recognize the influence of the Portuguese in the Persian Gulf, which the Portuguese considered an explicit challenge, which prompted them to form An alliance with Hormuz and launched several campaigns on Bahrain, which was the most severe in 1521 AD, supported by a large fleet and modern marine artillery.
Despite the Jabour in the defense of their castle known as the “Jabour Castle”, which is one of the castles that they created in the vicinity of what is known today as “Bahrain Castle”, the difference in the kit and the number suggested the Portuguese, so the heavily imposed Portuguese forces and defenders were able to reach the Bahrain Castle, and Muqrin bin Zamil was martyred in the battle in 1521 AD, and that was the end of the rule of Jabour In Bahrain.
But the Portuguese influence was not real and long, but rather fragile and limited. The Portuguese were satisfied with a military garrison and a group of employees in the Portuguese part of the Bahrain Castle, without direct interference in the affairs of government. They also relied on local departments.
The response and rejection continued by the people of Bahrain, and with the support of the Arab tribes coming from the eastern coast of the Arabian Gulf, the people of Bahrain succeeded in ending the Portuguese influence in 1602 AD, to start a new stage of sovereignty, as Bahrain residents remained their identity and their position as a prosperous commercial center in the Gulf.
The events continued, until the moment of the most important transformation in the history of modern Bahrain came in the year 1783 AD when Bahrain was opened by Sheikh Ahmed bin Muhammad Al Khalifa (Al -Fateh), who put an end to external ambitions and restored Bahrain independence and position. Rejecting all forms of dependency, and drawn to its Arab and Islamic identity and the authentic Gulf affiliation, raising the flags of tolerance and justice, and rejecting all attempts by external control.
Thus, the role of Jabour, the sacrifices of Muqrin bin Zamil, and the heroic stances of the Bahrainis, were a honorable page in the series of Bahrain’s history in Islamic times, crowned Al -Fateh Al -Khulaifi to Bahrain and the emergence of a new era of security, prosperity and sovereignty, which made it a regional and globally prominent state to inform Bahrain chapters from the bright Arab Islamic history whose title remained: sovereignty, steadfastness and belonging.
