Ḥasan āl-ʿĀiyḍ’s Stance towards the Idrīsī Movement Opposing Ottomans 1908 – 1918 AD / 1326 – 1336 AH

Abstract

This study explores the stance of the Emir (i.e., Prince) of Assīr Ḥasan āl-ʿĀiyḍ towards the Idrīsī movement that erupted in late 1326 AH/ 1908 AD and opposed Ottomans. It carefully approaches the diachronic details pertinent to this stance and traces its developmental twists and turns. Although Emir Ḥasan took a position to support the Idrīsī movement in its early days, this position suddenly changed in 1329 AH / 1911 AD during the siege of Abha, such that Emir Hassan shifted from being a major supporter of the Idrīsī movement to be a supporter of Ottomans and an opponent of the movement. Hence, this study attempts to explain such changes of Ḥasan’s position, and to understand the reasons behind such changes, as well as to discuss what was documented by some historical sources that were interested in this topic, in an attempt to reveal the bias present in the historical readings.

Keywords: Asir, Idrīsī, Emir (Prince) Hassan āl-ʿĀiyḍ, the Ottomans, Abha