Oman

Oman was a Nabhanid kingdom in the Arabian interior, ruled from fortified centres including Nizwa and Bahla. In 1337 the Nabhani dynasty held power while elected Ibadi imams had a largely symbolic role.

In the fifteenth century the Ibadi imamate recovered strength. Around 1500 Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail deposed the Nabhanid ruler Suleiman bin Mudhafar; in 1507 the Portuguese seized Muscat and expanded along the coast. The Nabhanids held out in Bahla until 1624, when Nasir bin Murshid of the Ya'Aruba founded a new imamate and ended their rule.