BAHRAIN

Kingdom of Bahrain

مملكة البحرين

History

Until 1521, when the Portuguese conquered the Awal Islands, "Bahrain" referred to the larger historical region of Bahrain that included Ahsa, Qatif (both now constitute the eastern province of Saudi Arabia) and the Awal (now the Bahrain) Islands. The region stretched from Basrah to the Strait of Hormuz in Oman. This was Iqlīm al-Bahrayn "Bahrayn Province" and the Arab inhabitants of the province, descendants of the Arab tribe Banī 'Abdu l-Qays, were called Bahārna after it. Since the Portuguese conquest, "Bahrain" has referred to the area that is now the modern state of Bahrain.

From the sixteenth century to 1743, control of Bahrain drifted between the Portuguese and the Iranians. Ultimately, the Iranian Afsharid king Nadir Shah invaded and took control of Bahrain.

In the late eighteenth century, the al-Khalifa family invaded and captured the islands from their base in neighbouring Qatar. In order to secure Bahrain from returning to Iranian control, the Emirate entered 1861 into a treaty relationship with the United Kingdom and became a British protectorate.

The British withdrew from Bahrain on August 15, 1971, making Bahrain an independent emirate. The country was declared a kingdom in 2002.

The Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the sheik of Bahrain was designed in 1932 by the British governor Sir Charles Belgrave (1926-’57).

Rulers of Bahrain
THE HOUSE OF AL-KHALIFA
Sheiks of Bahrein
1	Ahmad bin Khalifah al Khalifa		*? - †1796 1783-1796
2	Abdullah bin Ahmad al Khalifa		*? - †1843 1796-1843
3	Salman bin Ahmad al Khalifa		*? - †1825 1796-1825
4	Khalifah bin Salman al Khalifa		*? - †1834 1825-1834
5 (1)	Muhammad bin Khalifah al Khalifa		*? - †1869 1834-1842
5 (2)	Muhammad bin Khalifah al Khalifa		*? - †1869 1843-1868
6	Ali bin Khalifah al Khalifa		*? - †1869 1868-1869
5 (3)	Muhammad bin Khalifah al Khalifa		*? - †1869 1869 - 1869
7	Muhammad bin Abdullah al Khalifa		* 1813-† 1890 dec. 1869
8	Isa bin Ali al Khalifa		*1848 - †1933 1869-1933
9	Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa		*1872-†1942 1932-1942
10	Salman bin Hama al Khalifa		* 1895-†1961 1942-1961
11	Isa bin Salman al Khalifa		*1933 1961-1971
Emirs of Bahrein
1	Isa bin Salman al Khalifa		-†1999 1971-1999
2	Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa		* 1950 1999-2002
Kings of Bahrein
1	Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa	2002-

It is: Gules, a chief dancetty of three points Argent. On the shield is a crown with five points. inspired by the antique solar crowns and halo’s of the pre-christian Roman Emperors. The five points may refer to the five principles of Islam. After the withdrawal of the British in 1971, red and white lambrequines were added to the crown.

The state coat of arms, also adopted in 1971, consists of the arms and the lambrequines only, the crown being reserved for the emir (top).

Heraldry

Salman bin Hama al Khalifa

* 1895-†1961

10th Sheik of Bahrein 1942-1961

Coat of arms of Salman bin Hama al Khalifa as a member of the Danebrogorden (1957).

Frederiksborg Slot, Danmark.

Isa bin Salman al Khalifa

*1933-†1999

11th sheik 1961-1971 and 1st Emir of Bahrein 1971-1999

Arms: Gules, a chief dancetty of three points Argent.

Crown: An antique crown, lambrequined Gules and Argent.

Police

The history of the police in Bahrain reverts to the year 1869 in the era of the late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa who founded the police patrols for keeping peace and order. At that time they were called (Fedawea). In the year 1920 the first regular police in Bahrain was set up and the first law for police was issued.

In 1961 H.H. Shakih Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa was appointed as the chief of police and public security. Since 15th December 1973 the police and Public security body are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior.

Bahrain Public Security

Back to Main Page

© Hubert de Vries 2007.09.28

Updated 2011-03-24; 2011-06-15