Several sultanates on the Comoros, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, were founded after the introduction of Islam into the area in the 15th century. Other titles could also be fani, mfaume and ntibe. Unlike sultans in many other Arab nations, these sultans had little real power. At one time alone on the island of Ndzuwani or Nzwani (today Anjouan), 40 fanis and other chiefs shared power of the island; Ngazidja (today Grand Comore) was at many times divided into 11 sultanates. This article addresses the major sultanates.
The term Shirazis (derived from the former Persian capital Shiraz) is a reference to Iranian roots, in some dynasties. The sultans of Hamamvu (Washirazi sultans) are a surviving dynasty that claims origins in Persia and carries an extant connection to the Washirazi people of the East African Coast.
The following five cities have been collectively proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Including:
| # | Name[1] | Reign Start[1] | Reign End[1] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muhammad I | c. 1500 | c. 1506 | Founder |
| 2 | Hassan | c. 1506 | ? | - |
| 3 | Muhammad II | ? | ? | – |
| 4 | Msindra | ? | ? | |
| 5 | Alimah I | ? | c. 1590 | First female sultan of Anjouan. Otherwise known as Halima. |
| 6 | Sayid Alawi | c. 1590 | c. 1605 | Regent |
| 7 | Hussein | c. 1605 | c. 1610 | – |
| 8 | Sayid Idarus | c. 1610 | c. 1619 | Regent |
| 9 | Sayid Abu Bakr | c. 1619 | c. 1632 | Regent |
| 10 | Alimah II | c. 1632 | c. 1676 | Second female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halima II. |
| 11 | Alimah III | c. 1676 | c. 1711 | Third female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halima III. |
| 12 | Sheikh Salim | c. 1711 | 1741 | – |
| 13 | Sheikh Ahmad | 1741 | 1782 | Also known as Said Ahmad. |
| 14 | Abdallah I | 1782 | 1788 | – |
| 15 | Alimah IV | 1788 | 1792 | Fourth female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halimah IV. |
| – | Abdallah I | 1792 | 1796 | Second reign |
| 16 | Alawi I | 1796 | 1816 | Also known as Mwinye Fani |
| 17 | Abdallah II bin Alawi | 1816 | 1832 | – |
| 18 | Ali | 1832 | 1833 | Also known as Ali bin Salim |
| – | Abdallah II bin Alawi | 1833 | 1836 | Second reign |
| 19 | Alawi II | 1836 | 1837 | Also known as Saidi Alawi bin Abdallah |
| 20 | Salim I | 1837 | 1852 | Also known as Salim bin Alawi |
| 21 | Abdallah III | 1852 | February 1891 | Also known as Saidi Abdallah bin Salim. The Sultanate of Anjouan became part of the Mayotte Protectorate in 1866.[1] |
| 22 | Salim II | February 1891 | 2 April 1891 | Also known as Salim bin Abdallah |
| 23 | Said Omar | 2 April 1891 | 14 April 1892 | Also known as Saidi Omar bin Said Hasan |
| 24 | Said Ali | 14 April 1892 | 25 July 1912 | Also known as Said Ali bin Said Omar |
Sultans of Mayotte
[edit]Mayotte was conquered by the Sultanate of Anjouan in 1835, after which it was ruled by Anjouani qadis (governors) until 1841 when it became a protectorate under the French.[2]
| # | Name[2] | Reign Start[2] | Reign End[2] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hassan I | c. 1515 | c. 1530 | |
| 2 | Muhammad | c. 1530 | c. 1550 | |
| 3 | Isa | c. 1550 | c. 1590 | |
| 4 | Amina | c. 1590 | c. 1596 | Queen Regent |
| 5 | Bwana Fuma ibn Ali | c. 1596 | c. 1620 | Regent |
| 6 | Ali I | c. 1620 | c. 1640 | |
| 7 | Umar | c. 1640 | c. 1680 | |
| 8 | Ali II | c. 1680 | c. 1700 | |
| 9 | Aisa | c. 1700 | c. 1714 | Queen Regent |
| 10 | Monavo Fani | c. 1714 | c. 1720 | Queen Regent |
| 11 | Abu Bakr | c. 1720 | 1727 | |
| 12 | Salim I | 1727 | 1752 | |
| 13 | Bwana Kombo I | 1752 | 1790 | |
| 14 | Salim II | 1790 | 1807 | |
| 15 | Salih | 1807 | 1817 | |
| 19 | Ahmad | 1817 | 1829 | |
| 20 | Bwana Kombo II | 1829 | 1832 | |
| 21 | Andrianametaka | 1832 | 19 November 1835 | |
| – | Umar | 19 November 1835 | c. 1838 | Anjouan Qadi |
| – | Adriantsuli | c. 1838 | 25 March 1841 | Anjouan Qadi |
Sultans on Ngazidja (Grande Comore)
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| Reign (start) | Reign (end) | Name | Variations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Ngoma Mrahafu | ||
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Mwasi Pirusa | ||
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Fum Mbavu Inkwaba | ||
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Mwenye Mji wa Mwenye Mambo | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Inye wa Mantsi | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Mwenye Mji wa Mwanze | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Tambavu mna Muhame wa Saidi | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Tambavu Inkwaba | ||
| c.?? | c.??? | Fum Nau wa Kori Dozi | He was the first ruler of Bamboa to be given the title (Sultan) Tibe, i.e. Paramount ruler of the island. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Mwenye Mji wa Mvunza Panga | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Mla Nau | Second ruler with the hegemonic title Sultan tibe. | |
| c.?? | c.?? | Fozi Wa | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Suja Oma Inkwaba | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Nyau wa Faume | First female ruler of Bamboa. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Bamba Oma wa Ju Mamba | He ruled a second after Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome's first ruling period. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome | The fourth ruler to styled Sultan tibe. He ruled a second time after Mamba's brief second ruling period which was then again interrupted by a brief period of rule under Saidi Bakari followed by his third ruling period. (A possible explanation is a period of anarchy with multiple rulers). | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Saidi Bakari | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Mwenye Mambo | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Ju Mamba | ||
| c.???/1874? | c.???/??? | Mohamed bin Ahmed | He ruled twice in the 1800s the second time after Abdallah bin Saidi Hamza's first ruling period. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | Shah Wa Pantat Jumbu Kulup |
Sultans of Itsandra
[edit]Styled "Mfaume" (in Shingazidja) or Mfalme (in Kiswahili)
- Fey Owa Mbaya
- Fey Mwenza
- Fey Jumbe
- Ju Mwamba Pirusa
- Zombe Ilingo
- Nguzo waInehili
- Tibe waKanzu
- Mkongo
- Mna Musa Hibu
- Muhammadi Saidi
- Mvunza Panga
- Fey Beja waWabeja(f)
- Fum Nau waKori Dozi
- Fey Fumu
- Bwana Fumu
- Fey Fumu (2nd time)
- Bwana Fumu (2nd time)
- Fey Fumu (3rd time)
- Fum Mbavu
- Musa Fumu waFey Fumu
- Tibe Bamba
- Musa Fumu waFey Fumu (2nd time)
- Tibe Bamba (2nd time)
- Musa Fumu waFey Fumu (3rd time)
- Tibe Bamba (3rd time)
- Musa Fumu waFey Fumu (4th time) (d. c.1883)
- Tibe Bamba (4th time)
- Kalega
Sultans of Mitsamihuli
[edit]Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
- Mahame Msahi
- Fozi waMahame
- Mbantsi
- Ju Mambu Madi waMusa Fumu
- Jumbe Fumu Mfaume waDomba (possibly ruled jointly with Kori Dazi)
- Kori Dazi
- Jumbe Fumu Mfaume waDomba (as sole Mfaume)
- Tambavu waJumbe Fumu
- Fozi
- Suja Fumu Mbamba (possibly ruled jointly with Mba Fumu wa Jumbe Fumu)
- Mba Fumu waJumbe Fumu
- Mba Fumu waTambwe (possibly ruled jointly with Jumbe Fumu wa Jumbe Mfumu)
- Jumbe Fumu waJumbe Mfumu
- Mbandhi waBwana Haji (possibly ruled jointly with Abdallah bin Ahmad)
- Abdallah bin Ahmed
- Bwana Fumu (reign ended c.1886)
- mukou
Sultans of Washili
[edit]Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
- Mohama Mdume waBeja
- Fey Zinda waMawana
- Fey Zinda waMakasara
- Tambwe Musa Fumu
- Tambwe waHabadi (possibly co-ruler with Mfaume Tambwe Musa Fumu)
- Jumbe Fumu waMbala Bwani
- Tambwe No Fumu waMba Nau (d. 1815)
- Jumwamba Mwenye Majini
- Mba Fumu waSuja Fumu Bamba
- Shekhe Salim (possibly co-ruler with Mfaume Mba Fumu waShuja Fumu Bamba)
- Mavunzanga
- Tibe Mbe
- Abudu
Mukou
Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
- Mwenye Bamba I
- Bamba Jumbe
- Tambe Mbafu waFum Nau
- Ju Mamba Oma waMba Nau
- Mwambatsi (co-ruler with Mfaume Ju Mamba Oma waMba Nau)
- Mwenye Bamba II
- Bamba Oma
- Suja Oma waTambwe (co-ruler with Mfaume Bamba Oma)
- Shekani (co-ruler with Mfaume Bamba Oma)
- Fumu Oma
- Oma waDari (co-ruler with Mfaume Fumu Oma) (d. 1884))
- Ja Mhaba (f)
- Hashimu bin Ahmed
- Hadija bint Ahmed (f)
- Hashimu bin Ahmed (2nd time)
- 1886–89 uncertain Mfaume or interregnum
- Hashimu bin Ahmed (3rd time)(d. 1889)
Sultans of Hambuu
[edit]Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
- Beja Mbuyuni
- Nau waMigira
- Nau waMoro
- Fumu Nau
- Yasi Azi
- Demani Mtango
- Fumu Jimba waIdimani
- Mahdi Jimbwa waTangwe
- Dari waMba Nau (co-ruler with Mfaume Mahdi Jimbwa waTangwe
- Jumbe Fumu waSuja Oma Inkwaba
- Suja Oma waTambwe
- Mrunda Mijo
- Fey Mwando waTambwe (co-ruler with Mfaume Mrunda Mijo)
- Bamba Oma waJumamba
- Tambwe waHinye
- Abudu bin Mohamed bin Sultani
- Bamba Oma waOma (co-ruler with Mfaume Abudu bin Mohamed bin Sultani)
Sultans of Hamahame
[edit]Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
- Nye Hila
- Haji waNo Fumu
- Suja Oma Mshinda Kodo
- Jumbe Fumu Madi
- Bwana Haji Musa
- Simai
- Dari Oma
- Fumu Oma waNasiri
- Suja Oma waFumu
- Mba Fumu waBwana Haji
- Suja Oma Bwana
Sultans of Mbwankuu
[edit]The sultan was also styled Mfaume/Mfalme; the only known incumbent (no dates) was: Bwana Fumu.
Sultans of Mbude
[edit]Sultans (also styled Mfaume/Mfalme) (no dates available):
- .... – .... Msa Mwinza
- .... – .... Bamba
- .... – .... Lwali
- .... – .... Jumbe Fumu wa Tambwe
- .... – .... Dari Mbamba
- .... – .... Mwandhi Oma wa Jumbe Fumu
- .... – .... Bamba Oma wa Suja Funu
- .... – .... Jumbe Fumu Mna Mango
- .... – .... Bamba wa Madi Jimba
- .... – .... Jumbe Fumu wa Sinai
Sultans of Domba
[edit]The sultan was also styled Mfaume/Mfalme; the only known incumbent (no dates) was: Febeja Mambwe.
Sultans of Mwali (Mohéli)
[edit]- 1830–1842 – Ramanetaka (also Abderremane)(d. 1842)
- 1842–1865 – Raketaka Jombe Sudy (f) (1st time) (c. 1836–1878) (after 1851, Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane)
- 1842–1849 – Regency (Ravao (f), Tsivandini (through 1847))
- 1865–1874 – Mohamed bin Saidi Hamadi Makadara (c. 1859–1874)
- 1865–1868 – Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane (f), Regent (1st time) (c. 1836–1878)
- 1868–1871 – Joseph Lambert, Duc d'Imerina, Regent (1824–1873)
- 1871–1874 – Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane (f), Regent (2nd time) (c. 1836–1878)
- 1874–1878 – Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane (f) (2nd time) (c. 1836–1878)
- 1878–1885 – Abderremane bin Saidi Hamadi Makadara (c. 1860–1885)
- 1885–1886 – Mohammed Shekhe (b. c.1830)
- 1886–1888 – Marjani bin Abudu Shekhe (c. 1851)
- 1888–1909 – Salima Machamba bint Saidi Hamadi Makadara (f) (never acceded) (1874–1964)
- 1888–1889 – Regents (Fadeli bin Othman, Balia Juma (f), Abudu Tsivandini)
- 1889–1897 – Mahmudu bin Mohamed Makadara, Regent (1863–1898)
- 1909– French colony of Moheli
See also
[edit]Sources and external links
[edit]- Almanach de Bruxelles (now a paying site)
- WorldStatesmen- Comoros
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (third ed.). London: McFarland. pp. 19–20. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
- ^ a b c d Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (3rd ed.). London: McFarland. p. 158. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
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