'File 13/166 Forms of addresses while corresponding with native chiefs in the Gulf'

Content

The file consists of telegrams, letters, memorandums, and extracts from the 'Alqabnamah', a register created and maintained by the British Government in India that lists details on the correct forms of address for the many princes, chiefs, sovereigns, and other notables in the Indian territories. It is this information, relating to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. context, that is the subject of the file.

The correspondence covers several decades and is mainly between the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bushire, the Political Agencies in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Muscat, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Basra, the Consulate-General in Baghdad, the High Commissioner to Iraq, and the Government of India.

The main pattern of the file revolves around revisions of the 'Alqabnamah' and the discussion around these. Revisions were made in 1912, 1916/17, 1925/26, 1931, and then quite regularly between 1934 and 1944. The rulers mentioned in the file include the Sultan of Muscat, the Sultan of Nejd (later King of Saudi Arabia), the Sheikhs of Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, and the Trucial Sheikhs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Quwain, Sharjah, Ajman, and Kalba. The information given in the register includes the size of the gun salute given to each ruler.

The file also includes correspondence regarding Persia, namely, the correct address for the Sheikh of Mohammerah (Khorramshahr), a standard for addressing Persian notables proposed by the Foreign Ministry of Persia, and the decision by the Iranian Prime Minister to abolish all old style titles and the adoption of more modern ones.

Folios 198-218 are internal office notes, dated from 27 Jul 1928 to 3 Jul 1945.

Extent and format

1 file (220 folios)

Arrangement

This papers in this file are arranged in rough chronological order.

Internal office notes (folios 198-218) date from 27 July 1928 to 3 July 1945. These use a referencing system related to one of the older, inconsistent foliation systems. Notes on a document are assigned a page number accordingly.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The main foliation sequence starts with the front cover and continues through to the last folio. This sequence is written in pencil, circled and positioned in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of the folios. Two further foliation systems are present starting on folios 2 and 4. These two sequences are also written in pencil in the same position as the main foliation sequence, but are not circled (with an exception being on folio 2). These sequences sometimes miss folios or number both sides of folios.

Condition: Due to wear and tear, some text at the bottom of the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. side of folio 49 is obscured.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/1/237

Former external reference(s)

A Series: 13/166

History of this record

Date(s)

4 Jul 1912-3 Jul 1945 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Places

Būshehr

People & organisations

James OrtonFrancis WardenHugh Weightman

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Cite this record in your research

'File 13/166 Forms of addresses while corresponding with native chiefs in the Gulf', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/237, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0000d2> [accessed 26 December 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0000d2

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