Sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...

Jaber bin Abdullah Al-Sabah (; Jaber I or Jaber Al-Aish; 1775 – 1859) was the third ruler of the Sheikdom of Kuwait. He governed from 1814 to 1859. He was the eldest son of Abdullah bin Sabah, whom he succeeded upon his death.

Reign

Jaber's foreign policy was more closely aligned with the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

and opposed to the British. He assisted the

Ottomans Ottoman may refer to: * Osman I, historically known in English as "Ottoman I", founder of the Ottoman Empire * Osman II, historically known in English as "Ottoman II" * Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empir ...

in fighting against the Banu Ka'b for control of

Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...

and Khorramshahr, and rebuffed British attempts to make Kuwait a British

protectorate A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over ...

. In 1822, he negotiated an agreement with Ibrahim Pasha that allowed Egyptian ships and caravans to pass through Kuwaiti territory. He sheltered political refugees during his reign, most notably Khalid bin Saud Al Saud from

Najd Najd is a Historical region, historical region of the Arabian Peninsula that includes most of the central region of Saudi Arabia. It is roughly bounded by the Hejaz region to the west, the Nafud desert in Al-Jawf Province, al-Jawf to the north, ...

, who fled from his cousin Abdullah bin Thunayan Al Saud. In 1841, he signed a treaty with the British, on freedom of navigation and opposition to the slave trade.

Legacy

He was succeeded by his eldest son Sabah II Al-Sabah. Jaber I Al-Sabah's children were: * Sheikh Sabah (the fourth ruler of Kuwait) * Sheikh Khalifa * Sheikha Bazza * Sheikh Salman * Sheikh Daij * Sheikh Mujran * Sheikh Mubarak * Sheikh Ali * Sheikh Mohammed * Sheikh Hammoud * Sheikh Jarrah * Sheikh Shamlan * Sheikh Abdullah

References

18th-century Kuwaiti people 19th-century Kuwaiti people Rulers of Kuwait 1775 births 1859 deaths House of Al-Sabah {{MEast-royal-stub