The Lion of the Gulf (an Alternate Kuwait TL)
- Thread starter Alarabi98
- Start date
I see Hedjaz and Yemen, but not Asir.
The Idrisid Emirate is still there but the maps that I found that I used did not show them. But in the future I will try to manually add them.
Here is the map of the Middle East ITTL 1925
P.S. Tell me if you can see it, as I am in School and Imgur is blocked for some reason.
If it doesn't work, here is the link until I can fix it:
http://i.imgur.com/wa4fBys.png
Here is the map of the Middle East ITTL 1925
P.S. Tell me if you can see it, as I am in School and Imgur is blocked for some reason.
If it doesn't work, here is the link until I can fix it:
http://i.imgur.com/wa4fBys.png
Map looks good.
Hasdrubal Barca
Hey guys,
I will post a new part this weekend so get ready for that. But what I want to discuss is that my TL (This one) was nominated and I only need it to be seconded for the Turtledove awards.
I know I won't win anything, but seeing that someone would put my name makes be more motivated.
So I want to that Hasdrubal Barca for putting my name up there.
Thanks a lot dude
Well Cya in the weekend!
Hey guys,
I will post a new part this weekend so get ready for that. But what I want to discuss is that my TL (This one) was nominated and I only need it to be seconded for the Turtledove awards.
I know I won't win anything, but seeing that someone would put my name makes be more motivated.
So I want to that Hasdrubal Barca for putting my name up there.
Thanks a lot dude
Well Cya in the weekend!
I'd also be interested in seeing a continuation of this, a regional power of Kuwait could be extremely interesting in the Middle East. What is the proportion of religions in Kuwait like? I know it is Sunni majority but is there any significant Shi'ite population?
Also has any attempts at significant urbanisation occurred yet, perhaps backed by the British?
Also has any attempts at significant urbanisation occurred yet, perhaps backed by the British?
The Saudis did reside in Kuwait for a short time, but that was before they became a nuisance to Kuwait. Believe me, if they knew the Saudis were to become the dominating power over Arabia they would've gotten rid of them VERY fast.
Yea sorry, School has been taking me over, but I have not given up on this at all! In fact I might work on it today. Also in this TL The Sunnis are the Majority while the Shia are the largest Minority, There are also Christians and a very small community of Jews living in Kuwait (IRL Jews were not kicked out of Kuwait but left the country in the 30s to Iraq for better opportunities. In this TL they will stay due to the rising influence of Kuwait in the Arabian Peninsula.)
New Sheikh of Kuwait and Oil Struck near Al Ahmadi
On 22 February 1924, Sheikh Salim Al Sabah died in his sleep peacefully. His death caused an outcry of sadness and despair, his leadership lead Kuwait into a path of certain greatness.
The news spread around Arabia and the British ears of the death of the Emir. Ibn Saud in his privacy celebrated the death of "the old fool". The Al Rashidi Family and officials of the British Empire attended his funeral, which was a simple one as he has requested in his will.
Now the question of how his successor will fair.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah became the 10th Emir of Kuwait, and his leadership may or may not send Kuwait into an unknown future. What is known about the now 39 year old Sheikh is that he is a strong and well-built man. He was the commander of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces and was a bane to all attackers of the Kuwaiti Sheikhdom.
His first declaration as Sheikh of Kuwait was his promise to bring Kuwait into a Golden Age of growth and prosperity. He pledged to even see through to end the Saudi hostilities against Kuwait in any way possible.
The new Great War-era weapons and machines gave Kuwait a definitive edge over their Arab neighbors. This made Kuwait into a very much feared nation in the Arabian Peninsula.
However soon enough, Sheikh Ahmad had hired the Anglo-Persian Oil Company to began finding Oil within their lands.
This endeavour soon benefited the Sheikhdom as in 1925 the Burgan, Magwa and Ahmadi oilfields were found as soon as Oil struck in all of these areas.
The founding of this amount of Oil in one region baffled many of the British and Kuwaitis in the project. Nothing this large was ever found in the world. This new findings were later confirmed and the oilfields were soon began to be exploited by a joint British and Kuwaiti operation.
This brings Kuwait into a whole new era.
----------------------------------------------------
Surprise surprise, I'm back! Its been a year since I've updated this. School has dominated me and still is and I'm lucky to find time to update this and so here it is!
Sorry for the long wait and I hope to update this more frequently from now on. I have big plans for Kuwait in this TL. I'd appreciate some constructive criticism to help me improve as I go.
Again I thank you and I hope you enjoy to what comes next!
On 22 February 1924, Sheikh Salim Al Sabah died in his sleep peacefully. His death caused an outcry of sadness and despair, his leadership lead Kuwait into a path of certain greatness.
The news spread around Arabia and the British ears of the death of the Emir. Ibn Saud in his privacy celebrated the death of "the old fool". The Al Rashidi Family and officials of the British Empire attended his funeral, which was a simple one as he has requested in his will.
Now the question of how his successor will fair.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah became the 10th Emir of Kuwait, and his leadership may or may not send Kuwait into an unknown future. What is known about the now 39 year old Sheikh is that he is a strong and well-built man. He was the commander of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces and was a bane to all attackers of the Kuwaiti Sheikhdom.
His first declaration as Sheikh of Kuwait was his promise to bring Kuwait into a Golden Age of growth and prosperity. He pledged to even see through to end the Saudi hostilities against Kuwait in any way possible.
The new Great War-era weapons and machines gave Kuwait a definitive edge over their Arab neighbors. This made Kuwait into a very much feared nation in the Arabian Peninsula.
However soon enough, Sheikh Ahmad had hired the Anglo-Persian Oil Company to began finding Oil within their lands.
This endeavour soon benefited the Sheikhdom as in 1925 the Burgan, Magwa and Ahmadi oilfields were found as soon as Oil struck in all of these areas.
The founding of this amount of Oil in one region baffled many of the British and Kuwaitis in the project. Nothing this large was ever found in the world. This new findings were later confirmed and the oilfields were soon began to be exploited by a joint British and Kuwaiti operation.
This brings Kuwait into a whole new era.
----------------------------------------------------
Surprise surprise, I'm back! Its been a year since I've updated this. School has dominated me and still is and I'm lucky to find time to update this and so here it is!
Sorry for the long wait and I hope to update this more frequently from now on. I have big plans for Kuwait in this TL. I'd appreciate some constructive criticism to help me improve as I go.
Again I thank you and I hope you enjoy to what comes next!
The Saudi Conquest of the Hedjaz
On August 29th 1925, Ibn Saud has authorised the beginning of attacks on the realms of the Sharif of Mecca, the Hedjaz. This came as an absolute surprise due to the treaty of Darin, which was signed just a decade ago, specified that the Saudi State would not attack any British Protectorate.
However the Ibn Saud had found a loophole which he had created when making the Treaty of Darin, he never promised to not attack the Hedjaz as it wasn't technically a British Protectorate. As well as the British, who were fearful of the growing power of the Hashemites among the Muslims in their colonies, allowed the invasion to happen to quell the power of the Hashemites.
This of course caused outrage in Kuwait among the Al Sabah Family, their Wahhabi rival are about to gain to two Holy Mosques! The fear that after the Hedjaz the Sheikhdom would be next. Kuwait, due to recent changes in its foreign and domestic policies, no longer apply in the same way as the nearby Bahrain and Trucial States. Kuwait is effectively an independent state unofficially, they are in the same level as the Kingdom of Hedjaz.
A few days later in September, the City of Ta'if was taken by the Ikhwan without resistance. the Sharif Hussein's son, Ali bin Hussein Al Hashimi, was supposed to defend the city from the Saudi attack, but had fled the city in a panic along with his whole force. What came after the capture of Ta'if was an indiscriminate massacre of almost 400 innocent men and women. The word of the massacre spread eventually to Kuwait where Sheikh Ahmad bin Jaber began mobilisation of the newly equipped Kuwaiti Armed Forces. The fear that the Saudis would do the same in Kuwait like they have done in Ta'if was very great, they must prepare for what they would perceive as a soon to come second Kuwait-Najd War.
Soon enough Mecca, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom in the Hedjaz, fell to Ibn Saud and his Ikhwani army, and then followed by Medina. By then Sharif Hussein had escaped to his last stronghold, the City of Jeddah. The Siege and subsequent fall of Jeddah on January 8th 1927, more than a year after the be forced the Hedjazi Hashemite Royal Family to go into exile to Baghdad, escaping through the Red Sea.
Soon enough Ibn Saud was crowned the King of Hedjaz, much to the dismay of the Hashemites and Kuwait. Soon the Al Saud family are the holders of the Kingdom of Najd and Hedjaz.
Eventually, there has been talks between the Ikhwan leadership in invading other British protectorates such as Transjordan and Iraq. There has also been talks to invade the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, due to fears of its growing power in the region.
A war is coming to the Gulf once more. This war however will be bigger than the last one, Guns will be used for the first time in the Gulf between Arab Nations in a large scale.
This however was dashed when the plan was presented to Ibn Saud as he did not want to anger the British. While Ibn Saud wanted to unite the Arabian Peninsula under Wahhabism, he was not a stupid man, he knew he was no match for the British in an major war.
The Ikhwan were outraged, they wanted to expand the borders to encompass on all of Arabia under the Flag of Abdul Wahhab. Not even a King can stop them.
And so they gathered as much men as they can and marched towards Hafr Al Batin, Kuwait. Little did they know that this will exact upon them unwanted consequences.
On August 29th 1925, Ibn Saud has authorised the beginning of attacks on the realms of the Sharif of Mecca, the Hedjaz. This came as an absolute surprise due to the treaty of Darin, which was signed just a decade ago, specified that the Saudi State would not attack any British Protectorate.
However the Ibn Saud had found a loophole which he had created when making the Treaty of Darin, he never promised to not attack the Hedjaz as it wasn't technically a British Protectorate. As well as the British, who were fearful of the growing power of the Hashemites among the Muslims in their colonies, allowed the invasion to happen to quell the power of the Hashemites.
This of course caused outrage in Kuwait among the Al Sabah Family, their Wahhabi rival are about to gain to two Holy Mosques! The fear that after the Hedjaz the Sheikhdom would be next. Kuwait, due to recent changes in its foreign and domestic policies, no longer apply in the same way as the nearby Bahrain and Trucial States. Kuwait is effectively an independent state unofficially, they are in the same level as the Kingdom of Hedjaz.
A few days later in September, the City of Ta'if was taken by the Ikhwan without resistance. the Sharif Hussein's son, Ali bin Hussein Al Hashimi, was supposed to defend the city from the Saudi attack, but had fled the city in a panic along with his whole force. What came after the capture of Ta'if was an indiscriminate massacre of almost 400 innocent men and women. The word of the massacre spread eventually to Kuwait where Sheikh Ahmad bin Jaber began mobilisation of the newly equipped Kuwaiti Armed Forces. The fear that the Saudis would do the same in Kuwait like they have done in Ta'if was very great, they must prepare for what they would perceive as a soon to come second Kuwait-Najd War.
Soon enough Mecca, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom in the Hedjaz, fell to Ibn Saud and his Ikhwani army, and then followed by Medina. By then Sharif Hussein had escaped to his last stronghold, the City of Jeddah. The Siege and subsequent fall of Jeddah on January 8th 1927, more than a year after the be forced the Hedjazi Hashemite Royal Family to go into exile to Baghdad, escaping through the Red Sea.
Soon enough Ibn Saud was crowned the King of Hedjaz, much to the dismay of the Hashemites and Kuwait. Soon the Al Saud family are the holders of the Kingdom of Najd and Hedjaz.
Eventually, there has been talks between the Ikhwan leadership in invading other British protectorates such as Transjordan and Iraq. There has also been talks to invade the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, due to fears of its growing power in the region.
A war is coming to the Gulf once more. This war however will be bigger than the last one, Guns will be used for the first time in the Gulf between Arab Nations in a large scale.
This however was dashed when the plan was presented to Ibn Saud as he did not want to anger the British. While Ibn Saud wanted to unite the Arabian Peninsula under Wahhabism, he was not a stupid man, he knew he was no match for the British in an major war.
The Ikhwan were outraged, they wanted to expand the borders to encompass on all of Arabia under the Flag of Abdul Wahhab. Not even a King can stop them.
And so they gathered as much men as they can and marched towards Hafr Al Batin, Kuwait. Little did they know that this will exact upon them unwanted consequences.
Glad to see this back on tracks...
Seems that Ibn Saud will have no chance and will be thrown into a new war that didn't wished by him...
About the above mentioned (hypothetical ?) war... I'm correct to assume that's this war will not be fought by Arabians peoples only?
Seems that Ibn Saud will have no chance and will be thrown into a new war that didn't wished by him...
About the above mentioned (hypothetical ?) war... I'm correct to assume that's this war will not be fought by Arabians peoples only?
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You are right technically, but I'm still kinda deciding how to proceed with this. I want this war to be a type of proof that Kuwait can defend itself from foreign entities. Essentially wanting to prove to Britain, and to a lesser extent Europe and America, that Kuwait can be in the same level as them, kinda like a Abyssinia type of situation. Eventually I want Kuwait to ask for Independence from Britain before WWII (As I have plans when it hits).
Of course, this thread development it's your decision... But I think that your example choice isn't the best for your goals because the Haile Selassie's kingdom, yes was the first and only that can defeat a European invasion, but the Abyssinian army fought in a traditional way and didn't take this chance for westernized theirs society and eventually to fall and was conquered by the Italians.
I suggest that for your final goal would be a best example the Japanese one ... also I think that for Kuwait will be hard that may will be considered than a peer for the Western powers at least to the moment that managed to defeat one of them.
Because that was the only OTL example, that show us a nation that upper itself successes to a peer level with the Western and keep their self from being assimilated.
Another's option perhaps may be that Kuwait that was a very strong British allied and will ask to send an army to join with the British army against an european's enemy's.
So like maybe join in the Second World War in the Allied side against Nazi Germany? So like a Kuwaiti division a part of the North African campaign and invasion of Italy?
In fact the sending of an expeditionary force to Europe could vary (its size ) from one to 3 or 4, as it does the territory, the population and an economy. That allows the logistical effort that such deployment would imply and of course it would also depend on the evolution of events and / or how and how much the effects of butterflies in and from the Middle East extend to the rest of the world.
As if as time passes and the probably growth of the new Kuwaiti power and in consequence of its interests and objectives In the region (I suppose they would be in agree and or be shared with the British interests) and if the mentionated interests would provoke, deliberately or not, perhaps a possible clash with the interests of the other European power in the region.
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Also I must say that I'm not an expert either in the region or in its history and my speculations are based on general historical knowledge.
Hopefully Uber Kuwait can crush the Wahabits before they become too powerful.
How much of OTL Saudi oil does the new Kuwati state control here?
How much of OTL Saudi oil does the new Kuwati state control here?