Rahmah bin Jabir al-Jalahimah

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Rahmah bin Jabir Aljalahma رحمة بن جابر بن عتبة الجلهمي أو الجلاهمة was an Arab ruler and pirate in the Persian Gulf (1760? 1826). His first name means 'mercy' in Arabic. He was born in Qurain (modern day Kuwait) in the north of the Persian Gulf. Ironically, he also wore an eye-patch because he lost one of his eyes in battle.

He first formed an alliance with the first Saudi kingdom, and founded the fort of Dammam in 1809. In 1816 he allied himself with the rulers of Muscat, and turned away from the Saudis, angering them. The Saudis then destroyed the fort of Dammam, causing him to move to Khor Hasan in Qatar. He initially targeted the shipping of his tribe of al-Utoob العتوب who are his own kinsmen, due to a quarrel with them. He also targeted Bahrain's shipping and the ruling al-Khalifah family there for four decades. His reputation was for being ruthless and fearless.

He died in his ship, al-Ghatroushah, in a sea battle against the Al-Khalifa ships, lighting the gunpowder kegs with his eight year old son on his side, killing everyone that was onboard including his men and the Al-Khalifa men that were raiding his ship, preferring to die by his hands than to die by the hands of Al-Khalifa.

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