Sheikhdom of al-ʽIrqa

The Sheikhdom of al-ʽIrqa (Arabic: مشيخة آل عرقة, romanized: Mashyakhat al-ʽIrqa^[2]) was a city-state^[3] which was part of the Protectorate of South Arabia, and existed from the 19th century to 1951.

Sheikhdom of al-ʽIrqa مشيخة آل عرقة
19th century–1951
Map of the Sheikhdoms of al-Hawra and al-ʽIrqa in 1926
Irqa Irqa within modern Yemen
Capital	Irqa[1] (city-state)
Religion	Islam
Government	Sheikhdom
Sheikh
• bef. 1888 – 1901	`Awad ibn Muhammad Ba Das
• 1901 – 1935	Ahmad ibn `Awad Ba Das
• 1935 – 1951	Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Awad Ba Das (last)
History
• Established	19th century
• British protectorate	1890
• Disestablished	1951
Population
• 1946	500
Today part of	Yemen

History

The Sheikhdom was established in the 19th century.^[4]

Starting in 1888, the Shaikh of Irqa received a stipend from the British Empire.^[5] A Protectorate Treaty was concluded with him in that year on 27 April,^[6] and was ratified on 26 February 1890.^[5]

Shaikh Awadh bin Muhammad ba Das died in January 1901. He was succeeded by Shaikh Ahmed bin Awadh bin Muhammad ba Das. A new Protectorate Treaty was concluded with the latter in January 1902, when his stipend was increased from 80 to 180 dollars.^[5]

Shaikh Ahmed bin Awadh ba Das died on 21 October 1935. His grandson, Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Awad Ba Das, was elected as his successor the following day.^[7]

In c. 1951, Irqa was incorporated into Wahidi Balhaf.^[2]

Rulers

The rulers of al-`Irqa bore the title Shaykh al-`Irqa.^[2]

Sheiks

1. `Awad ibn Muhammad Ba Das, bef. 27 April 1888^[6] – 2 January 1901^[2]
2. Ahmad ibn `Awad Ba Das, 1901^[2] – 21 October 1935^[7]
3. Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Awad Ba Das, 22 October 1935^[7] – 1951^[2]

Demographics

In 1946, the Sheikhdom of al-`Irqa had a population of 500.^[8]

Geography

A report in 1946 described al-`Irqa as a "small fishing village".^[9]