Oman's Forgotten Navy: The Ya'aruba Fleet That Defied Europe

In the 17th century, while European navies dominated the Indian Ocean, the Omani Ya'aruba dynasty built a formidable fleet that challenged Portuguese and Dutch power. This episode explores the rise of Oman's naval force under Imam Saif bin Sultan, the capture of Fort Jesus in Mombasa, and the little-known Omani naval base at Bandar Abbas. We delve into the shipbuilding traditions of Sur, the role of Baluchi and African sailors, and the strategic alliance with the Safavid Empire. Discover how a small Ibadi imamate became a maritime empire, controlling trade routes from the Persian Gulf to the Swahili Coast, and how their ships, like the famous ghanjah and baghlah, dominated the seas long before the Al Bu Said dynasty. The episode also touches on the 1719 Omani invasion of Bahrain and the decline of the Ya'aruba navy after internal strife. A fresh angle on Oman's forgotten naval heritage. #Oman #Ya'aruba #OmaniNavy #FortJesus #IndianOcean #SaifBinSultan #BandarAbbas #Sur #Ghanjah #Baghlah #Safavid #PortugueseEmpire #Mombasa #SwahiliCoast #Bahrain #17thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo