A History of the Omani Admiralty
Volume 1: Of the Sea


“The Omani are a people of the sea. For too long we have been led by tyrants, content with only dirt under their boots and their greedy eyes ever facing inland. Legend says the Omani rose from the sea and to the sea we belong. I do not wish to carry the burden of leadership, but if that is what it will take to free my people, then I shall bare it on my shoulders with honor, through the wind and waves from the deck of my ship.”
-Grand Admiral Walid, 1175 AD


Chapter 1: History of the Imamate
When Allah’s word first made it to the Oman coasts around 700 AD, most Omani were simple fishers and merchant sailors. Towns and cities were usually managed by elder councils. The introduction of Islam was a unifying force for the people of Oman. Religious leaders stepped up to govern the people and the Imamate of Oman was formed. These leaders guided the people justly till about 950 AD. As trade among the Islamic nations increased, more and more valuables and riches passed through the hands of Omani merchants. Soon the Omani leaders grew greedy for these riches themselves. They constructed vast mines, but when they could not get enough people to work the mines, they started enslaving their own people. They recruited massive armies to enforce their rule and keep the mine workers in line. In response, the Naval Council was formed, and elite marine training programs were started in the coastal cities. The Naval Council vowed to protect the coast, but the growing interior was left to the whims of the Imamate. The armies of the Imamate were too strong for the navy’s marines to take the interior, but too weak to enforce all of the Imamate’s laws on the coast.

Chapter 2: Fall of the Imamate
When Murshed came to power in 1149 AD, most of the Omani interior resources had been depleted. Although he still had his slaves and armies scouring the mainland for resources, Murshed realized colonies were his best bet for new resources. This gave the Naval Council the chance they were waiting for. Admiral Walid used this chance to make friends in the Army and insert naval spies into the army ranks. On the long journeys to capture colonies, sometimes uncooperative generals would conveniently be “lost in a storm”. While transporting Murshed’s chosen diplomat to the peace council in Baghdad, Captain Amr, under Grand Admiral Walid’s orders, threw the diplomat over and took his place at the court. When Murshed found out, he realized the Naval Council was getting ready to make their move against him. With the Caliph’s declaration of a Fatwa on the Seljuk, Murshed saw a chance to gain support from the other Islamic nations for his rule. Unfortunately, his diplomat/assassin was no match for Captain Amr and Amr was able to warn Grand Admiral Walid and the Naval Council of Murshed’s coming strike. When three battalions of soldiers stormed the council chambers, they found it deserted, but when they tried to leave they realized they were surrounded by marines. When Murshed welcomed back into his palace his victorious soldiers with a captured Grand Admiral Walid in toe, he was overjoyed; he realized only too late that they were actually marines in disguise. As Captain Amr led the marines against the palace guards, Walid chased Murshed to his throne room, where he cornered him. Murshed quickly surrendered, begging to be spared.

Chapter 3: Rise of the Admiralty
Against Captain Amr’s advisement, Walid chose to spare Murshed and the ruling family. He believed they were needed to perform the duties they were always supposed to, be spiritual leaders to the people. The ruling family was left as ceremonial and religious leaders, while the generals were allowed to live as long as they took an oath of loyalty to Walid and the Admiralty. To keep Murshed out of the way, he was banished to the most distant Omani colony. With the armies now under control, the Omani Admiralty was official. Walid’s first act was to free all enslaved Omani and abandon all fruitless mining operations on the mainland. The celebrations of the fall of the Imamate and the rise of the Admiralty lasted for weeks among the general population, while some sailors were reported to have continued the celebrations for months.

Chapter 4: Afterword
Many problems still lay ahead for the Omani. Many prosperous inlanders will miss the luxuries they enjoyed under the Imamate and the loyalty of the Armies is still shaky; not to mention, who knows what troubles lay beyond the Omani borders. It will take hard work and long nights for Grand Admiral Walid to keep the Admiralty together in the coming days, but for now things are looking bright of the people of Oman.