LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORY OF KUWAIT DURING THE OTTOMAN ERA, BASED ON THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE OTTOMAN ARCHIVES

1700-1710: The Utub Tribe, which also includes the Al Sabah family, leaving Bahrain  due to Iranian pressure, seeks refuge in Basra, an Ottoman province. With the permission of the Ottoman Empire, some of them settles in Kuwait, then a place of summer houses for the Ahsa tribe. The families settled in Kuwait start to be traditionally ruled by the Al Sabah family.

1820-1840: Like all the other Gulf Sheikhdoms, Kuwait becomes one of the British areas of interest.

1840- 1860: Ottoman Empire, feeling uncomfortable because of the rising British influence over the region, starts to control strategic places like Bahrain and Kuwait through Basra. However, this was  a passive control era.

1860-1869: Especially after the Paris Agreement, the Ottoman Empire, wishing to improve its sovereignty over the Gulf in opposition to the Westerners, specifically the British, tries to implement active control in the region. In 1864, Kuwait was mentioned and taken into consideration in all the administrative regulations on provinces.The Governers of Baghdad namely Takiyuddin Pasha and Mehmed Namık Pasha worked hard on this matter.

1869-1872: Mithat Pasha, the Governer of Baghdad, takes an active role in the Gulf region. In this framework, several administrative districts were established, including Kuwait. As  was the case for every district, the most well-known, influential family, Al Sabah, was appointed to govern Kuwait. From this time on, the Al Sabah family cooperates with the Ottoman rule. The most significant example of this cooperation  between the Al Sabah and the Ottoman Empire is the contribution by the Al Sabah of 80 boats to the Ahsa military operations of the Empire. After this, the Al Sabah family was granted  permission to buy property in the Basra and Fav regions.

1872: Mithat Pasha visits Kuwait.

1872-1890: Starting from 1878, Britain, using pirate activity as an excuse, starts to implement one-sided initiatives in the Gulf. These affect the Ottoman-British diplomatic relations for many years. In the meantime, the struggle of the traditional powers in the central Arab Peninsula affects Kuwait as well. In particular, as one of these powers İbn Reşid’s efforts to increase his infuence over Kuwait pushes Kuwaiti  officials to seek protection from the British.

1890- 1916: This is an era which witnessed diplomatic activities by different powers including Russia and Germany, in competition with each other for influence. This time Russians and Germans are also in the scene. The Germans were chosen as the privileged constructors of the Baghdad railway by the Ottoman Empire. The last station of this Baghdad railway was planned to be Kuwait , and this caused  serious problems between the British and the Ottomans. After negotiations held from 1909 to 1913, the problems were settled to some extent.The Agreements signed between the Ottomans and the British in 1913 and 1914 have shaped the region. With these agreements, Britain accepts the control of the Ottoman Empire over the autonomous Kuwait, and the Ottoman Empire renounces its claims over Bahrain. In the meantime the borders of the autonomous Kuwait were drawn. Yet, the First World War changes the balances and the Ottoman de facto control over Kuwait ends  in 1916, when the British gain control over Basra.