Lightning Over Yemen: A History of the Ottoman Campaign in Yemen, 1569-71
Yemen’s inhospitable mountain ranges and fiercely independent people have kept all but the most determined invader at bay; and even the Ottomans, when they entered the region in the 16th century, were hard put to achieve more than a tenuous occupation of its highlands. Their military campaign was chronicled by Qutb al-Din al-Nahrawali, a scholar charged by an Ottoman general to document his army’s progress. Lightning Over Yemen makes an invaluable 16th century Ottoman source document...
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Yemen’s inhospitable mountain ranges and fiercely independent people have kept all but the most determined invader at bay; and even the Ottomans, when they entered the region in the 16th century, were hard put to achieve more than a tenuous occupation of its highlands. Their military campaign was chronicled by Qutb al-Din al-Nahrawali, a scholar charged by an Ottoman general to document his army’s progress. Lightning Over Yemen makes an invaluable 16th century Ottoman source document available in English for the first time. Al-Nahrawali’s work vividly brings to life a vital period in the history of this far-flung province of the Ottoman empire, which Clive Smith’s exemplary translation fully conveys.
IllustrationsAcknowledgementsGlossaryIntroduction11Sinan Pasha's appointment to lead the expeditionary force to Yemen, and his passage to Mecca152Sinan's journey from Mecca to Yemen193Sinan's arrival at and activity in Jizan204Sinan's journey from Jizan to Ta'izz215Sinan's directions concerning the battle at al-Aghbar, near Ta'izz, against Zaydi forces236The Zaydi defeat at al-Aghbar247The surrender of al-Qahirah, citadel to Ta'izz268Turkish preparations for the assault on Aden309Sinan's consultations concerning the journey northwards3110'Uthman Pasha's refusal to attend Sinan for consultations3211'Uthman Pasha's dismissal and arrival at Mecca3412Sinan Pasha's deliberations over the choice of route to Dhu Jiblah3913The conquest of Aden4114Sinan's appointment of his nephew as governor in Aden4415The journey to Masjid al-Qa'ah, on the Maytam route4516The journey to Wadi Maytam4817The battle of Maytam, and the completion of the journey to Dhu Jiblah5018The capture of the strongholds of al-Ta'kar and Bahranah5319The Da'i 'Abdullah's capture of the strongholds of Khadid and al-Hubaysh5520Sinan Pasha's conquest of Ibb and Shamahi stronghold in Ba'dan; flight of the Zaydi commanders, Muhammad b. Shams al-Din and 'Ali b. Shuway'5721Rewards for the Turkish troops and reflections on the Yemeni budget and the Zaydi leader, Mutahhar6122Sinan's dispositions concerning Habb castle in Ba'dan6323Sinan's journey over the Samarah pass to Yarim and Dhamar6424Sinan's journey via Dhira' al-Kalb to San'a'6525Engagement with Qatran and capture of Khawlan stronghold6726Hasan Pasha's raids into Wadi al-Sirr for plunder6927Sinan's journey to Shibam; its capture and the release of prisoners from al-'Aridah7028The transfer of Sinan's base to the plain below Kawkaban and Thula, and the departure of the Da'i'Abdullah to collect reinforcements7229The Da'i Salah's raids into Wadi Bawn7430Skirmishes between Turkish and Zaydi forces7531The massacre of Janissaries and the dispatch of Hasan Pasha to retrieve the Da'i'Abdullah7632Sinan's reconnaissance of Kawkaban and attacks by Mutahhar7833Sinan's customary visits to Kawkaban escarpment and the defeat of a Zaydi attack on his camp8034Mutahhar's attack on Sinan's camp, with the death of his son, al-Hadi8235Sinan's capture of Habb al-'Arus stronghold and a further unsuccessful attack on his base by Mutahhar8436Two unsuccessful attempts by Sinan to capture the stronghold of Bayt 'Izz, and news of success in Wadi Khuban8837The Da'i 'Abdullah's campaign in al-Haymah, Haraz and Sari'9238The submission of Mt Tays district and Hasan Pasha's movements9539Hasan Pasha's engagement with Zaydi leaders in the ranges west of Kawkaban and the Da'i 'Abdullah's capture of Mt Siwwan9740Turkish success in climbing the Mt Dula' escarpment and capturing two key forts thereon; flight of Muhammad b. Shams al-Din and other Zaydi leaders10241Hasan Pasha's assignment to lay siege to Kawkaban; capture of Shamat stronghold and the release of prisoners in Kawkaban10542Move of the minister's camp next to Kawkaban and the surrender and destruction of various strongholds10843Death of the Zaydi General Abu Dawud in an engagement near Thula11344Death of Muhammad b. Shams al-Din's twin brother and other Zaydi leaders, and the submission to the sultan's authority of an important sharif from the Jawf11545Turkish criticism of Mutahhar and his invitation to people in the Jawf and Sa'dah. Their failure to appear on the battle field11846A comparison of numbers of Turkish and Zaydi forces in the field. Two unsuccessful Zaydi attacks12247Battle near Hadur al-Shaykh resulting in Zaydi defeat but with loss of senior officers on both sides12648Mutahhar's successful call to renewed rebellion after advice from the Prophet Muhammad in a dream; the story of pre-Islamic Tasm and Jadis13049Widespread rebellion from tribesmen near San'a' southwards to Ta'izz, in which Qatran and 'Ali b. Nushayr were prominent13550Near outbreak of revolt in San'a'13951Crisis over Turkish military funds; Turkish military numbers; deaths of Qatran and 'Ali b. Nushayr in engagement at Mt al-Lawz14152Change of governors in Ta'izz; deterioration of situation in Dhamar and catastrophic losses in Turkish besieging force at Habb castle at the hands of 'Ali b. Sharaf al-Din, following the widespread, renewed rebellion14653Sinan Pasha's attention to the widespread disorder through dispatch of key Turkish officers to Aden, Ta'izz and Samarah; appalling condition of Egyptian reinforcements in Zabid, dispatched from cairo; defeat of large Zaydi force at Samarah15154The rebuilding of Shamat stronghold for strategic reasons and the murder of its Turkish commander15555Attempts to cross the ditch/chasm protecting Kawkaban; deliberations and correspondence leading to the request for peace terms over the siege of Kawkaban from Muhammad b. Shams al-Din, and the arrival of the Zaydi delegation at Sinan's camp; details of the terms agreed15756Mutahhar's request for peace terms, and Sinan's agreement to them16757Sinan Pasha's return to San'a'; the arrival in Zabid of the new governor-general, Behram Pasha; inconclusive fighting between the latter and the Zaydi in the area of Naqil Ahmar17158The assistance given to Behram Pasha, and the defeat of the Zaydi and collection of hostages17459Behram Pasha's concentration on the siege of 'Ali b. Sharaf al-Din at Habb castle; Sinan's move to Dhamar, and 'Ali b. Sharaf al-Din's death at Habb; Sinan's settlement with Mutahhar17660Sinan Pasha's transfer of the government of Yemen to Behram Pasha; Sinan's journey to Mecca; his reception there and his performance of the pilgrimage before leaving for Medina and Cairo181Notes193Bibliography210Index222
