Nawwaf bin Nuri Al Sha'alan (Arabic: نواف بن نوري الشعلان, romanized: Nawwaf bin Nouri as-Shaalan; 1883–1921) was the son of the paramount chief of the Ruwallah, Nuri bin Hazaa Al Shalaan, and governor of Al Jawf from 1909 to 1919, when it was re-captured by the Emirate of Jabal Shammar. He died in 1921 and was succeeded by his young son Sultan, who reconquered it in August 1921 and remained governor until Al Jawf's annexation by Ibn Saud in 1922.[1]
Early life
Nawwaf was born in 1883. He was the eldest son of Nuri bin Hazaa Al Shalaan.[2] According to British sources, while Nawwaf was a less colourful personality than his father, he was more educated and considered by the Arab Unionist Party in Damascus to be the most advanced political thinker in the desert.[3] Nawwaf married Jawaher bint Sattam bin Fendi Al-Fayez who is also the sister of Mithqal Pasha Al-Fayez, she bore him Princess Nouf and Prince Nayef. Princess Nouf would later marry King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and had Princes Thamir, Mashhour, and Mamdouh. Mashhour's daughter is the wife of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.[4]
Career
Al Jawf experienced a revolt by Sheikh Faisal Al Sha'alan against the leadership of the Al Rashid family, which was crushed by Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid in the 1860s.[1] For decades after, Al Jawf remained in Rashidi hands until a seizure of the territory by a rebellious member of the Al Rashid family in 1905, Sultan bin Hamoud Al Rashid. This followed with the assassination of reigning emir Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Rashid in December 1906 by Sultan and his brothers, and Sultan's subsequent accession to the throne.[5] Sultan was deposed by his brother Saud bin Hamoud Al Rashid in July 1907, who ruled until September 1908, when he was overthrown by Hamoud bin Sabhan Al Sabhan and the surviving brother of the assassinated Emir, Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Rashid was crowned.
Nawwaf's palace in Kaf
After this weakening of the Emirate of Ha'il, in February 1909, Nawwaf came with 35 slave soldiers and annexed the territory of Al Jawf. He was subsequently appointed the governor by his father, the Sheikh Nuri Al Sha'alan.[6] Nawwaf appointed his slave Amer Al-Mushwarib as his deputy governor, who proved to be a vastly unpopular leader. Amer was assassinated by locals who called on Ibn Rashid to reoccupy the region in 1919.[7]
Nawwaf built two palaces. One was a palace in Kaf in Qurayyat, which he was busy building for several years until it was finished in 1918, which still stands today. He used it as a center for his rule during the completion of construction operations. As for the other, it was located in Sakakah and has since disintegrated.
Death
Nawwaf died prematurely from smallpox in Syria during the summer of 1921.[1]
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