Editing History of Jordan (section)

==Ottoman period==
{{main article|Ottoman Syria}}

=== Early Ottoman period ===
The Levant, which has been under Mamluk control since 1250 and specifically the [[Burji Mamluks|Burji dynasty]] since 1382, was lost to the Ottomans after their victory in the [[Battle of Marj Dabiq]] that ended with the killing of the ruling [[Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghuri|Qansuh al-Ghuri]] in August 1516.<ref name="Faroqhi">{{cite book |author=Saraiya Faroqhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0p2cfVe6EEC&pg=PA60 |title=The Ottoman Empire: A Short History |publisher=Markus Wiener Publishers |year=2009 |isbn=9781558764491 |pages=60ff}}</ref><ref name="Cambridge 4982">{{cite book |author1=M. W. Daly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0KYzOISv_4C&pg=PA498 |title=The Cambridge History of Egypt |author2=Carl F. Petry |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780521471374 |pages=498ff}}</ref> Initially, the Ottomans didn't interfere much east of the Jordan river, but the increased trade activity passing through Jordan and their new responsibilities towards the Hajj soon caused the establishment of a Government in Al-Karak and a Garrison in [[Shoubak|Al Shobak]]. Agricultural villages in Jordan witnessed a period of relative prosperity in the 16th century, benefiting from the stability and administrative structures the Ottomans brought.<ref name="VSS2">{{cite book |author=Eugene Rogan, Tariq Tell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lh1_ernmsnwC |title=Village, Steppe and State: The Social Origins of Modern Jordan |publisher=British Academic Press |year=1994 |isbn=9781850438298 |pages=37, 47 |access-date=2016-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410044141/https://books.google.com/books?id=lh1_ernmsnwC |archive-date=2023-04-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> The region saw tribes vie for regional hegemony, as in contrast to other regions such as Palestine or Damascus, the Jordanian territory would have less Ottoman oversight, and at times virtually absent and reduced to annual tax collection visits.<ref name="VSS2" />  This allowed the tribes in the area to have much more autonomy. The Ottoman period would see the power players inside Jordan which were the Bani Amr-Banu Oqbah, the Mihaydat, and [[Al Fadl|Al-Fadl]], be replaced roughly by [[Majali|Al-Majali]], [[Al-Fayez]]-[[Bani Sakher]], and the Adwan respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=86}}</ref>

=== Arrival of the Bani Sakher and the Adwan ===
Around the end of the 16th century, a portion of the ancient tribes of [[Bani Sakher]] and of the Suwiet clan of the [[Al-Dhafeer|Bani Dhafir]], both descendants of [[Tayy]], were heading northwards, with the Sakherites migrating from their ancestral home of [[Al-Ula|Al Ula]] and the Dhafirites leaving also from an area close to [[Medina]]. The Bani Sakher have up until then been roaming the areas from south of Al Ula to as far north as the Golan Heights, and as far East as Fayum in Egypt since at least the Early Mamluk age, but the migration that was about to occur was more permanent and significant in nature. Enmity between the two migrating tribes would soon begin as they collided in battle in Southern Jordan which resulted in a decisive victory for the Bani Sakher. The Dhafir's would flee to [[Azraq, Jordan|Al Azraq]] where the Bani Sakher tracked them and battle with them again, decimating their forces and killing their Sheikh, Sultan Al-Suwiet. After this defeat, the tribe would split into two, one continued eastwards into [[Iraq]], and the other remained in Jordan, going westwards and become the ancestors of the Adwan tribe. The Bani Sakher also collided with the Wuld Ali [[Anizah|Anazzah]] on the way who migrated northwards at the same time, the battle ended with a Bani Sakher victory and would set the stage for further enmities between the two tribes later in the 18th century.<ref name="Peake 1958 168">{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=168}}</ref>

=== Al-Majali of Al-Karak ===
Around the year 1565, the [[Banu Tamim|Tamimi tribe]], well established in Al-Karak at the time, raised a rebellion which proved too costly to send a regular force to quench. [[Lala Mustafa Pasha]], Wali of Damascus at the time, asked for [[Al-Nimr Palace|Yusuf Al-Nimer]] of Nablus's aide. Al-Nimer marched on Al-Karak with his forces and captured Al-Karak, fleeing the Tamimi to their relatives in [[Hebron]], the Al-Tamimi who left Al-Karak were now nicknamed Al-Majali and it became their family name. He left behind some of the forces with one of his brothers, who held the area until a Turkish Ottoman governor arrived.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=144}}</ref> The following period would see Al-Karak have a balanced power balance between the Turks, the Aghawat (the descendants of Yusuf's brother who remained), and the Emiri Banu Oqbah tribe of [[Harb (tribe)|Banu Harb]] that held power in Al-Karak since the Mamluk age. 60 years later, after the death of Omar Agha Al-Nimr, Jalal Ibn Shadid Al-Majali went back to Al-Karak.<ref>{{Citation |last=Lancaster |first=Fidelity |title=People, Land and Water in the Arab Middle East: Environments and Landscapes in the Bilad Ash-Sham |page=122 |year=2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQlMVcKVphwC&dq=majali+karak+hebron&pg=PA122 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781134411344}}</ref>

=== Struggle for the Hauran and Ahl Al-Shamal confederacy ===
The [[Hauran]], a region extending from northern [[As-Suwayda Governorate|Suwayda]] to Northeast [[Mafraq Governorate|Al Mafraq]] in Jordan, alongside the Wadi Al-Azraq, commonly named as [[Wadi Sirhan|Wadi Al-Sirhan]] after the tribe, were some of the most coveted fertile grazing lands for Arab tribes up until the modern era. The Sirhan tribe, was the paramount tribe in both regions and lead a confederacy called Ahl Al-Shamal (people of the north) which included other tribes like the Al Issa and the Al Fheili. The neighboring tribe of Al Sardiya, led by Muhammed Al-Mheidi, attacked the Sirhan tribe near [[Damascus]] and killing their sheikh Shafi Al Sirhan circa 1650. The Sardiya would claim the Hauran and the Wadi as their own and would rule the region very strictly. The Al Issa and the Al Fheili deserted and would ally with the new lords, leading the Sirhan to migrate to the [[Al-Jawf Province|Al-Jawf]] region and not counterattack.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=217}}</ref>

=== Anazah Invasion and Bani Sakher wars ===
The end of the 17th century saw the Wuld Ali tribe of the [[Anizah|Anazah confederation]], led by their paramount sheikhs Al-Tayyar and Ibn Smeir, began migrating deeper northwards out of [[Khaybar]] and into the Jawf region, which the Sirhan now inhabited.<ref name=":1" /> The Anazeh intended on violent conquest and would siege the Sirhan in the Jawf, reportedly causing a mass starvation for the tribe. At the time the Bani Sakher the two halves of the Bani Sakher, headed by the [[Al-Fayez]] and the Khreisha, would regularly camp in the [[Beersheba]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] districts respectively. A Bani Sakher tribesmen left the sieged area and informed the Sheikh Sulayman Al-Khreisha of the Bani Sakher who was camped in the Gaza, as I'dbeys Al-Fayez was involved with a conflict with the [[Emir]] of Beersheba at the time that led to the Emir's death. Al-Khreisha rode from Gaza to the Jawf, gathering the Bani Sakher forces on the way, and broke the Anazah siege on the Sirhan. However the Anazah kept pursuing the two tribes and led the tribes to flee to the northwards.<ref name=":1" /> This pushed the Bani Sakher, with their new allies the Sirhan, further north into Jordan and into Sardiya territory. The Bani Sakher and the Anazzah would however maintain political ties, especially in raiding such as the Hajj Caravan raids of 1700 and 1703.<ref>Van der Steen 2014, p. 177.</ref>

Around the year 1720, a ploy set up by Sheikh I'dbeys Al-Fayez and Sheikh Sulayman Al Khreisha of the Bani Sakher succeeded against the Mahfuz (chief) of the Sardiya. This event would see the Bani Sakher's number of horsemen rise greatly, and would permanently damage the prestige of the Sardiya.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=216–217}}</ref> The Al-Fayez were soon bestowed as commanders of the Hajj Caravans as the most capable tribe in defending them.<ref name="Peters161">Peters 1994, p. 161.</ref> In one of the following years, the Anazah battled the Sardiya in Muyzarib, a village northeast of [[Irbid]], and would kill their Sheikh and end the Ahl Al Shamal Confederacy. After which the Bani Sakher, Sirhan, Sardiya, Al Issa, Al Fheili, and some minor tribes would take refuge in Palestine, while the tribes that remained agreed to a Khawa or a tax to be paid to their new Anazah overlords. Al Fheili would permanently settle in Palestinian cities as land tillers and gave up their Bedouin status. For the majority of the rest of the century, the Anazah would rule large swathes of modern-day eastern Jordan, from the Hauran to the Jawf, and occasionally the Balqa region and its surrounding regions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=217–218}}</ref>

The Bani Sakher, having lost many of its lands in the east, would set their attention to their western lands in the Balqa and Al-Karak and would even get involved in Palestinian power struggles and politics for the rest of the 18th century. In 1730 they challenged Adwan dominance in the Balqa and were established enough in the Balqa to not pay to graze on Adwani lands.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=170}}</ref> In the 1750s they extended their influence deeper into Al-Karak and imposed Khawa on many tribes of Al-Karak including the Tarawna, Dhmur, Atawna, Sarayra, Nawaysa, Maayta, Habashna, and the Christians of Al-Karak. Both of these expansions were under I'dbeys Al-Fayez's, which began a rivalry between the Bani Sakher and the Majali to their south and the Bani Sakher and the Adwan to their north.<ref name=":6"/>

In 1757, owing to a missed payment by the Ottomans to the Bani Sakher for their help in the siege of Tiberias and a drought in the previous year,<ref name="Joudah4041">Joudah 1987, pp. 40–41.</ref><ref>Hathaway and Barbir 2014, p. 89.</ref> Qa'dan, I'dbeys's brother and successor, attacked the advance guard of the Hajj caravan under the Ottoman command Musa Pasha in Al-Qatranah. Husayn Pasha had also been alerted of the advance guard's plunder and the relief guard's dispersal, and attempted to reach out to Sheikh Qa'dan. The Wali of Damascus Husayn Pasha sent representatives who offered Sheikh Qa'dan to negotiate for safe passage to Damascus but were refused.<ref name="Joudah40">Joudah 1987, p. 40.</ref> This led to the [[1757 Hajj caravan raid|Hajj Caravan Raid of 1757]] which had reverberating effects across the entire Ottoman Empire and greatly affected the Empire's prestige.<ref>Özyüksel 2014, p. 61.</ref><ref name="Burns245">Burns 2005, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=cYqCAgAAQBAJ&dq=1757+Hajj&pg=PA245 245].</ref>

=== Adwan rise to power ===
Around 1640, the dynamics of power within the Belqa District began to shift dramatically with the arrival of two brothers, Fayez and Fauzan of the Al Dhafir tribe, who sought refuge with the [[Kinda (tribe)|Al Kinda tribe]] near Jebel Samik. The death of Fauzan shortly after their arrival left Fayez to integrate into the local tribal hierarchy through a pivotal marriage to the daughter of the Sheikh of Kinda. This union bore a son named Adwan, who would later forge an alliance through marriage with a daughter of the Mihdawiya sheikhs, thereby knitting together significant tribal relations that would lay the groundwork for future confrontations and territorial expansions.<ref name="Peake 1958 168"/>

Adwan's son, Hamdan, became a notable figure in these tribal narratives, distinguishing himself through a successful raid on a caravan traveling from northern Iraq to Mecca. The raid, which occurred as the caravan crossed the stream at [[Zarqa Governorate|Al Zarqa]], not only bolstered Hamdan's reputation but also resulted in the acquisition of a she-camel named "Al Zabta," a prize that would become a war cry for the Adwan. Over time, Hamdan's ambition and growing discontent with his master, Jaudat, the Mihdawiya Emir, drove him to secretly amass a loyal group of followers known as the Al Qradha, or "The Borrowed." This group proved pivotal in Hamdan's strategies, remaining loyal throughout the ensuing turbulent periods.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=169}}</ref>
[[File:Majid (Pacha) - Sheik of Adwan outside his tent at Shunet Nimrin LOC matpc.19018.jpg|thumb|Majid Sultan Al Adwan at Shunet Nimrin, Paramount Sheikh of the Adwan in the early 20th century, and the great-great-great-great-grandson of Salih ibn Adwan.]]
The tension between Hamdan and Jaudat escalated to a breaking point when Jaudat's oppressive demands led to a revolt, sparked by an incident where a tribesman was forced to substitute for an ox in plowing fields. This revolt, smoldering over two decades, eventually led to Hamdan's death. His sons, however, continued the struggle, leveraging the Mihdawiya Amir's controversial attempt to forcibly marry the daughter of a Christian priest from Al Fheis. This situation presented an opportunity for the Adwan to strategically intervene by allying with the Al Ajarmah tribe and setting a trap for Jaudat under the guise of a reconciliatory wedding feast in Al Fheis. The resulting ambush was deadly; Jaudat and several of his men were killed, a pivotal moment still commemorated by Al Mihdawi's tree in the village.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=169–170}}</ref>

In the aftermath, Jaudat's son, Dhamman, unable to maintain control, retreated with his followers to the Ghors al-Kafrain, Al Rameh, and Al Shunnet Nimrin, effectively ceding significant upland territories to the Adwan. Adwan bin Hamdan who succeeded his father capitalized on this retreat by pursuing Dhaman's son, Mashhur, to the modern Dharset Mashhur, where Mashhur was killed. The victory allowed Adwan to consolidate control over the Ghor, distributing the newly acquired lands among his sons and relatives, at the cost of Dhamman who took refuge at the Balawna tribe. His eldest son, Kayid, received the comparatively smaller Ghor al-Rameh and was encouraged to further expand territory by challenging Dhamman and the Balawna.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=170–171}}</ref>
[[File:Daher el-Omar 001.JPG|thumb|Zahir Al Umar, who during his reign fought both the Bani Sakher and the Adwan]]
The battle that followed, taking place at the banks of the Zarqa stream, was costly; Kayid was mortally wounded, and significant losses were suffered. Despite these setbacks, the Adwan, reinforced by their allies, the Qradha, advanced again, decisively defeating the Balawna and driving the Mihdawiya further north, beyond Beisan and into the Ajlun District. This series of conflicts not only solidified Adwan control over the Belqa but also marked the decline of the Mihdawiya as a regional power by 1750, now under Kayid's brother, Diyab.<ref name=":3" />

Hostilities soon arose between the Al-Adwan and [[Zahir al-Umar|Zahir Al Oma]]<nowiki/>r, the latter sent a force under Qasim Al-Said to attack Al-Adwan and successfully captured Al-Salt in 1760, and leading the Diyab and his followers to flee to Al-Karak. Salih, Diyab's brother, remained on his lands and would stage a successful raid on a caravan loaded with weapons sent from Nablus to Al-Said. Al-Said turned his attention to Salih but was defeated at Al Ghor, with Salih seizing the chieftainship of the Adwan and the Balqa from Diyab. A succession crisis followed, with Diyab's failed attempt at battling his brother, he asked for Turkish help which led Salih to stay inside Al Salt. Salih failed to recognize the contempt that the urbanites of Al Salt had for the Adwan and was captured and executed, with his head sent to the Turks as a gift. Diyab regained his position momentarily until another revolt caused his death and the Adwan to flee to [[Jabal al-Druze|Jabal Al Druze]] for half a year, coming back under the leadership of the famous poet [[Nimr Al-Adwan]].<ref name=":3" />

=== Majali rise to power in Al-Karak ===
Upon Jalal's arrival, Al-Karak was dominated by two influential factions: the Imamiya, descendants of Turkish officials, and the Amr, who traced their lineage back to Banu Oqbah of [[Harb (tribe)|Harb]], a participant in the historic defeat at [[Battle of Mu'tah|Mu'tah in 629]]. The Majali remained relatively obscure until Salim, Jalal's grandson, rose to prominence as the Chief of the tribe. Salim was instrumental in leveraging the internal strife between the Imamiya and the Amr. Around the year 1700, Salim, sensing an opportunity, allied with the Amr to confront the Imamiya during a large feast at the Bairam festival. An ambush was organized near the west gate of Al-Karak; the signal for attack—a white flag—was raised if the feast included an ox, indicating the presence of numerous Imamiya leaders. When this signal was confirmed, Salim and his 25 men launched a decisive attack, annihilating the Imamiya's presence in Al-Karak.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=188–189}}</ref>

The leadership of Al-Karak then passed to Muhammed Ibn Salim, and then to Hamad, who engaged
[[File:Jordan Kerak Castle 2531.jpg|thumb|The Kerak Castle, used by the Majalis for centuries]]
the Amr over land disputes near Mezar. Using traditional boundary-setting techniques, Hamad managed to expand Majali territory significantly, a crucial step in securing the tribe's future prosperity. Salim ibn Muhammed succeeded his brother Hamad and sought the support of neighboring tribes such as the Bani Hamida, the Hajaya, and the Bani Sakhr, with which Salim successfully expelled the Amr from Al-Karak. However, the victory was bittersweet as the allied tribes demanded their share of the spoils, leading to continued strife and tributes imposed on various groups within the region, with the Bani Sakher levying khawa on most of the tribes in Al-Karak.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=189–190}}</ref>

Khalil Majali, succeeding Salim around 1760. The Majali's dominance was challenged during a severe famine of 1779 when Khalil, who controlled the local grain supplies planned to leverage the famine to acquire land from desperate locals . However, his plans were disrupted when Salim's grandson Yusef ibn Sulayman Majali, responding to the community's urgent needs, led a grain caravan from Jerusalem back to Al-Karak. Despite attempts by Khalil to intercept and rob the caravan, Yusef's diplomatic skills ensured its safe passage, which earned him great favor with the local Al-Karaki people.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=190–191}}</ref>

Khalil's death soon after marked another pivotal moment for the Majali. Yusef, who was very popular in Al-Karak was elected head of the tribe. He invited the Amr back to Al-Karak in 1804 to strategically incite conflict with the Bani Hamida, ultimately leading to the Amr's expulsion once again. Yusef then incited the Al-Karaki's to attack the Bani Hamida, blaming them for the misfortunes and wars of the region. After a successful attack, Yusef seized the fertile lands north of Al-Karak for himself, securing Majali power and riches in Al Al-Karak.<ref name=":4" />

=== Al-Fayez Period ===
The Beni Sakher under Awad bin Thiab Al-Fayez reinstated the Ahl Al-Shamal confederacy at the beginning of the 19th century with Al Sirhan, Al Sardiya, and the Al Issa as junior tribes, and would raid the Wuld Ali Anazah from Palestine and the Balwa for many decades, until their gradual weakening, ending with the Bani Sakher regaining their lands to the east.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peake |first=Frederick |title=A history of Jordan and its Tribes |publisher=University of Miami Press |year=1958 |location=Miami, United States |publication-date=1958 |pages=218–220}}</ref> The Wuld Ali Anazah were finally pushed out and northwards into Al Mafraq. Around that time, in 1803 the Wahhabi's began occupying lands in Southern Jordan, until they reached Al-Karak in 1808. The Karakis, under Yusuf Al-Majali, refused to pay the Wahhabis, which might've been the reason for Ibn Sa'ud conferring on title of "Emir of all the Bedouins to the south of Damascus, as far as the Red Sea." on Yusuf.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abadi |first=Jacob |title=Between Arabia and the Holy Land |publisher=Taylor Francis |year=2024 |isbn=9781003450313 |location=London |pages=125}}</ref> This title would prove to be short-lived as by 1812 the Bani Sakher were so overwhelming that they defeated the joint-forces of the Adwan, the Wali of Damascus [[Sulayman Pasha al-Adil|Sulayman Pasha]], and the newly arrived but powerful [[Ruwallah|Ruwalla]] tribe to occupy and seize the Balqa and flee the Adwan to Ajloun where Al Freihat and Al Schreideh were the paramount powers. A power struggle between Al Freihat and al Schreideh allowed the Bani Sakher to extend further into Jabal Ajloun. In the same year, [[Johann Ludwig Burckhardt|Johann L. Burckhardt]] would become the first westerner to see the ancient city of [[Petra]] in over a thousand years.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Christie |first=Trevor |date=October 1967 |title=Shaikh Burckhardt: Explorer |url=https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196705/shaikh.burckhardt.explorer.htm |access-date=7 December 2015 |website=Saudi AramcoWorld |archive-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210202750/https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196705/shaikh.burckhardt.explorer.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1820, a battle took place between the Bani Sakher, now led by a young [[Fendi Al-Fayez]] and the Adwan led by Diyab and their allies the Bani Hassan north of the Balqa where "much blood was spilt".

In 1822, Syria was ceded to Ismail Pasha and the growing Muhammad Ali dynasty in Egypt, however rule of the tribes still remained lax and more powerful tribes would see the say autonomy during this period. In 1825, the Al-Freihat and their allies sided with the Adwan and their Balqa coalition which included a list of tribes in Al Qradha and the Bani Hassan, successfully pushed the Bani Sakher out of Jabal Ajloun.<ref name=":1" /> In 1833 Ibrahim Pasha turned on the Ottomans and established his rule, whose oppressive policies led to the unsuccessful [[Peasants' revolt in Palestine]] in 1834. Jordanian cities of Al-Salt and Al-Karak were [[Siege of Al-Karak (1834)|destroyed]] by Ibrahim Pasha's forces for harboring a fled Palestinian [[Qasim al-Ahmad|revolt leader]]. Egyptian rule was [[Egyptian–Ottoman War (1839–41)|forcibly ended]] in 1841 with the help of western intervention, the Ottoman rule was restored. The middle of the 18th century so the rapid expansion
[[File:Fendi Al-Fayez.png|left|thumb|Prince Fendi Al-Fayez in the 1870s]]
of the Bani Sakher, under now Emir Fendi Al-Fayez who has seemingly overshadowed his Khreisha counterpart and would gain effective control of the whole tribe. In 1848, an expedition by American Naval Officer [[William F. Lynch|William Lynch]] had him encounter the Bani Sakher during negotiations with Aqil Agha. Already by then, Lynch, noted that the tribe at this point was the most powerful force east of the Jordan, and that Fendi Al-Fayez was referred to as prince,<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Lynch |first=William |title=Narrative of the United States' Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea |publisher=Blanchard and Lea |year=1853 |pages=360–364}}</ref> and his son and successor Sattam as the young prince.<ref name=":5" /> Around this time Fendi would send Sattam as an emissary to [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt]] bearing horses for gifts.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Tristram |first=Henry Baker |author-link=Henry Baker Tristram |title=The Land of Moab |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1873 |isbn=9781108042062 |location=London, Murray, Albemarle Street |pages=95}}</ref>

During that period, the tribe succeeded in establishing vassalage over a significant number of tribes and villages across Jordan, including Al Sardiya, Al Sirhan, Bani Abbad, Bani Hamida, and notably, the influential Majali. The vassalizing of Al-Karak and the Majalis under the sway of Al-Fayez was notably documented in 1863 by Italian explorer Carlo Guarmani.<ref name="Guarmani 1938 109–110">{{Cite book |last=Guarmani |first=Carlo |title=Northern Najd |publisher=The Argonaut Press |year=1938 |isbn= |location=London, England |pages=109–110}}</ref>

A pivotal event in these power dynamics involved the Majalli family, detailed in Carlo Guarmani's account in his book, ''Northern Nejd''. The villagers of [[Tafilah|Al Tafilah]], traditionally under the jurisdiction of Mohammad Al-Majalli and accustomed to paying annual tributes, expressed dissatisfaction with the Majalis' dwindling protection. Led by Abdullah Al-Huara, chief of Al Tafilah, they collectively decided to renounce their vassal status, proposing instead to offer yearly gifts as a token of homage. This shift did not sit well with the Al-Majalli chief, who intended to reassert control. However, intervention by the Bani Sakher, under the leadership of Fendi, whose diplomatic efforts led to a compromise that averted immediate conflict.<ref name="Guarmani 1938 109–110"/>

The tension resurfaced in January 1864 when Al-Majalli sought to reclaim authority over Tafilah. This move triggered a formal declaration of war from Fendi. Shlash Al-Bakhit Al-Fayez led a successful tactical assault against Qoblan Al-Mkheisen, appointed by Al-Majalli to manage Tafilah. In response, Fendi deployed 200 warriors who faced a formidable opposition of 2000 riflemen mounted on dromedaries. As the standoff prolonged, the people of Al-Kerak found themselves in an effective state of siege, grappling with food shortages and growing discontent. In a strategic move, Al-Majalli covertly approached Fendi under the cover of night to formally concede defeat, agreeing to make amends to those affected by the hostilities, including reinstating Al-Huara's son as the Chief of Al-Tafilah. This resolution solidified Al-Fayez's influential role in mediating and resolving tribal conflicts, further instated their leadership and diplomatic prowess in the region.<ref name="Guarmani 1938 109–110"/>[[File:Mesha_Stele_(511142469)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|182x182px|The [[Moabite Stone]], first revealed to the western world by [[Sattam bin Fendi]]]]Around the late 1860s Fendi began sharing many of his responsibilities with his son [[Sattam Al-Fayez|Sattam]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alon |first=Yoav |title=The Shaykh of Shaykhs |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=2016 |isbn=9780804799348 |location=Stanford, California |pages=17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hill |first=Gray |author-link=John Edward Gray Hill |title=With the Beduins |publisher=T. F. Unwin |year=1891 |location=the New York Public Library |pages=249}}</ref> who would become the first tribal Sheikh in Jordan since the early Mamluk age to focus on administration, agriculture, and state-building in Jordan outside the urban centers of Al Salt and Al Karak.<ref>{{Cite book |last=van der Steen |first=Eveline |title=Near Eastern Tribal Societies During the Nineteenth Century |publisher=Routledge |year=2014 |pages=189}}</ref> A formal alliance was struck between the Bani Sakher and the Adwan since the beginning of their hostilities in the 1620s, with the marriage of Alia, the sister of Ali ibn Diyab Al Adwan, to Sattam.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tristram |first=Henry Baker |title=The Land of Moab |publisher=Gorgias Press |year=2003 |edition=2nd |pages=345}}</ref> [[Henry Baker Tristram|Henry Tristram's]] expedition to the area was right after this marriage, and he was guided by [[Sattam Al-Fayez|Sheikh Sattam Al-Fayez]] around much of the country in a 3-month journey, showing signs of much greater stability than what was the case in the previous centuries. Al-Fayez would introduce Henry to the [[Mesha Stele|Moabite stone]] which was in the vassal [[Bani Hamida]] lands. The stone was a great discovery, and after strained negotiations it was finally sent to Paris where it now resides in the Louvre.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Walsh |first=William |title=The Moabite Stone |publisher=Porteous and Gibbs |year=1872 |isbn= |location=London |pages=8, 12 |language=English}}</ref>
[[File:Emir Sattam bin Fendi Al Fayez.png|left|thumb|A young Emir Sattam bin Fendi in 1848]]
The alliance between the Bani Sakher and the Adwan posed a threat to the Ottoman administration, preceding the Great Arab Revolt by half a century. The mid-1860s would see the Ottomans send multiple forces under [[Mehmed Rashid Pasha|Mehmet Rashid Pasha]] in 1867 into the Adwan lands. The Ottomans instated Mohammad Sa'id Agha as the governor of the Balqa which greatly affected Adwan prestige. Another force was sent against the Adwan who were supported by the Adwan, culminating in another defeat and forcing the Adwan to pay 225,000 piasters as a fine. Another force sent by Rashid Pasha into the Bani Sakher lands in 1869 but the area was too costly to maintain for the Ottomans due to the frequency of attacks.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Alon |first=Yoav |title=The shaykh of shaykhs: Mithqal al-Fayiz and tribal leadership in modern Jordan |date=2016 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-9662-0 |location=Stanford, California |pages=137}}</ref>

Russian [[Ethnic cleansing of Circassians|persecution]] of Sunni Muslim [[Circassians]] in [[Circassia]], forced their immigration into the region in 1867, where they today form a small part of the country's ethnic fabric.<ref name="leg2">{{cite book |author=Beverley Milton-Edwards, Peter Hinchcliffe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HRV9AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |title=Jordan: A Hashemite Legacy |date=2009-06-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781134105465 |page=14 |access-date=2016-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410044115/https://books.google.com/books?id=HRV9AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |archive-date=2023-04-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> Oppression and neglect for the people of the region forced the population to decline, the only people left were nomadic [[Bedouins]].<ref name="Understanding Jordan2">{{cite book |author=Perdew Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_CXBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA17 |title=Understanding Jordan Today |date=2014-11-01 |publisher=Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc. |isbn=9781612286778 |page=17 |access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref> Urban settlements with small populations included; Al-Salt, [[Irbid]], [[Jerash]] and [[Al-Karak]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Pete W. Moore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ChPfBfCHFrMC&pg=PA58 |title=Doing Business in the Middle East: Politics and Economic Crisis in Jordan and Kuwait |date=2004-10-14 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781139456357 |page=58 |access-date=2016-06-04}}</ref> What added to the under-development of the urban life in Jordan was the fact that the settlements were raided by the Bedouins as a source of living, the urbanites had to pay them to stay

safe.<ref name="KOJ2">{{cite book |author=Raphael Patai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-jfWCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |title=Kingdom of Jordan |date=2015-12-08 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=9781400877997 |pages=23, 32 |access-date=2016-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410044110/https://books.google.com/books?id=-jfWCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |archive-date=2023-04-10 |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Jizah Reservoir and Mamluk Building.jpg|thumb|The Al-Jizah reservoir, dating back to the Pax Romana, and the Mamluk building which was refitted by the Ottoman for Sattam to govern from.]]
The Circassians, supported by the Ottomans, were resettled in Amman, which was a huge loss to the prestige and riches of Adwan. In a balancing act the Ottomans then resettled the Christians of Al Karak which have been paying tribute to the Al-Fayez since 1750 in Madaba,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> the stronghold of Al-Fayez. This greatly angered Sheikh Sattam who was by now the effectively the paramount Sheikh of the Bani Sakher. Sattam first protested,<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Abu Jaber |first=Rauf |title=Pioneers Over Jordan |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |year=1989 |isbn=1850431167 |location= |pages=}}</ref> and with the Ottoman's firm resolution, resorted to violence in order to drive them out. Instead of a prolonged battle, the Ottomans appeased the young Emir by officially giving him the office of Emir Al Jizah, which included the titles Bey and Agha.<ref name=":8" />

=== Late Ottoman Period ===
Ottoman oppression provoked a revolt, Most notably the [[Shoubak revolt]] and the [[Karak revolt]], they were only suppressed with great difficulty.<ref name="leg2" />