Hamoud bin Mohammed of Zanzibar

Sayyid Hamoud bin Mohammed Al-Said, GCSI, (1853 18 July 1902) (ruled 27 August 1896 - 18 July 1902) (Arabic: حمود بن محمد) was the British-controlled Omani sultan of the protectorate of Zanzibar, who outlawed slavery on the island.

Portrait on a Zanzibar 1899 issue stamp
Hamoud bin Mohammed of Zanzibar.

Hamoud became sultan with the support of the British consul, Sir Basil Cave, upon the death of Sayyid Hamad bin Thuwaini. Before he could enter the palace, another potential contender for the throne, Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash, seized the palace and declared himself sultan. The British responded the next day, 26 August 1896, by issuing an ultimatum to Khalid and his entourage to evacuate the palace by 9:00 am on 27 August. When he refused, Royal Navy warships fired on the palace and other strategic locations in the city, causing Khalid and his group to flee. According to the Guinness Book of World Records the resultant Anglo-Zanzibar War was the shortest war in history, and the same day Hamoud was able to assume the title of sultan, more indebted to the British than ever.

Hamoud demanded that slavery be abolished in Zanzibar and that all the slaves be manumitted.

By his wife Sayyida Khanfora bint Majid Al-Busaid (daughter of the first Sultan of Zanzibar) he had ten children:

On his death in 1902 he was succeeded by his oldest son, Sayyid Ali bin Hamud.

Titles

  • 1853-1896: Sayyid Hamud bin Muhammad
  • 1896-1898: His Highness Sultan Sayyid Hamud bin Muhammad, Sultan of Zanzibar
  • 1898-1902: His Highness Sultan Sayyid Sir Hamud bin Muhammad, Sultan of Zanzibar, GCSI

Honours

  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) – 1894

References

    Preceded by
    Khalid bin Barghash
    Sultan of Zanzibar
    18961902
    Succeeded by
    Ali bin Hamud


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