Several sultanates on the Comoros, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, were founded after the introduction of Islam into the area in the 15th century. Other titles could also be fani, mfaume and ntibe. Unlike sultans in many other Arab nations, these sultans had little real power. At one time alone on the island of Ndzuwani or Nzwani (today Anjouan), 40 fanis and other chiefs shared power of the island; Ngazidja (today Grand Comore) was at many times divided into 11 sultanates. This article addresses the major sultanates.
The term Shirazis (derived from the former Persian capital Shiraz) is a reference to Iranian roots, in some dynasties. The sultans of Hamamvu (Washirazi sultans) are a surviving dynasty that claims origins in Persia and carries an extant connection to the Washirazi people of the East African Coast.
The following five cities have been collectively proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Including:
| Name[1] | Reign Start | Reign End | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muhammad I | Founder | |||
| 2 | Hassan | ? | - | ||
| 3 | Muhammad II | ? | ? | – | |
| 4 | Msindra | ? | ? | ||
| 5 | Alimah I | ? | First female sultan of Anjouan. Otherwise known as Halima. | ||
| 6 | Sayid Alawi | Regent | |||
| 7 | Hussein | – | |||
| 8 | Sayid Idarus | Regent | |||
| 9 | Sayid Abu Bakr | Regent | |||
| 10 | Alimah II | Second female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halima II. | |||
| 11 | Alimah III | Third female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halima III. | |||
| 12 | Sheikh Salim | 1741 | – | ||
| 13 | Sheikh Ahmad | 1741 | 1782 | Also known as Said Ahmad. | |
| 14 | Abdallah I | 1782 | 1788 | – | |
| 15 | Alimah IV | 1788 | 1792 | Fourth female sultan of Anjouan. Also known as Halimah IV. | |
| – | Abdallah I | 1792 | 1796 | Second reign | |
| 16 | Alawi I | 1796 | 1816 | Also known as Mwinye Fani | |
| 17 | Abdallah II bin Alawi | 1816 | 1832 | – | |
| 18 | Ali | 1832 | 1833 | Also known as Ali bin Salim | |
| – | Abdallah II bin Alawi | 1833 | 1836 | Second reign | |
| 19 | Alawi II | 1836 | 1837 | Also known as Saidi Alawi bin Abdallah | |
| 20 | Salim I | 1837 | 1852 | Also known as Salim bin Alawi | |
| 21 | Abdallah III | 1852 | February 1891 | Also known as Saidi Abdallah bin Salim. The Sultanate of Anjouan became part of the Mayotte Protectorate in 1866. | |
| 22 | Salim II | February 1891 | 2 April 1891 | Also known as Salim bin Abdallah | |
| 23 | Said Omar | 2 April 1891 | 14 April 1892 | Also known as Saidi Omar bin Said Hasan | |
| 24 | Said Ali | 14 April 1892 | 25 July 1912 | Also known as Said Ali bin Said Omar |
Mayotte was conquered by the Sultanate of Anjouan in 1835, after which it was ruled by Anjouani qadis (governors) until 1841 when it became a protectorate under the French.[2]
| Name | Reign Start | Reign End | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hassan I | |||
| 2 | Muhammad | |||
| 3 | Isa | |||
| 4 | Amina | Queen Regent | ||
| 5 | Bwana Fuma ibn Ali | Regent | ||
| 6 | Ali I | |||
| 7 | Umar | |||
| 8 | Ali II | |||
| 9 | Aisa | Queen Regent | ||
| 10 | Monavo Fani | Queen Regent | ||
| 11 | Abu Bakr | 1727 | ||
| 12 | Salim I | 1727 | 1752 | |
| 13 | Bwana Kombo I | 1752 | 1790 | |
| 14 | Salim II | 1790 | 1807 | |
| 15 | Salih | 1807 | 1817 | |
| 19 | Ahmad | 1817 | 1829 | |
| 20 | Bwana Kombo II | 1829 | 1832 | |
| 21 | Andrianametaka | 1832 | 19 November 1835 | |
| – | Umar | 19 November 1835 | Anjouan Qadi | |
| – | Adriantsuli | 25 March 1841 | Anjouan Qadi | |
| Reign (start) | Reign (end) | Name | Variations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Ngoma Mrahafu | ||
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Mwasi Pirusa | ||
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Fum Mbavu Inkwaba | ||
| c. ??? | c. ??? | Mwenye Mji wa Mwenye Mambo | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Inye wa Mantsi | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Mwenye Mji wa Mwanze | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Tambavu mna Muhame wa Saidi | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Tambavu Inkwaba | ||
| c.?? | c.??? | Fum Nau wa Kori Dozi | He was the first ruler of Bamboa to be given the title (Sultan) Tibe, i.e. Paramount ruler of the island. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Mwenye Mji wa Mvunza Panga | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Mla Nau | Second ruler with the hegemonic title Sultan tibe. | |
| c.?? | c.?? | Fozi Wa | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Suja Oma Inkwaba | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Nyau wa Faume | First female ruler of Bamboa. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Bamba Oma wa Ju Mamba | He ruled a second after Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome's first ruling period. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Ahmed bin Shekhe Ngome | The fourth ruler to styled Sultan tibe. He ruled a second time after Mamba's brief second ruling period which was then again interrupted by a brief period of rule under Saidi Bakari followed by his third ruling period. (A possible explanation is a period of anarchy with multiple rulers). | |
| c.??? | c.??? | Saidi Bakari | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Mwenye Mambo | ||
| c.??? | c.??? | Ju Mamba | ||
| c.???/1874? | c.???/??? | Mohamed bin Ahmed | He ruled twice in the 1800s the second time after Abdallah bin Saidi Hamza's first ruling period. | |
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | |||
| c.??? | c.??? | Shah Wa Pantat Jumbu Kulup | ||
Styled "Mfaume" (in Shingazidja) or Mfalme (in Kiswahili)
Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
Mukou
Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
Styled "Mfaume/Mfalme"
The sultan was also styled Mfaume/Mfalme; the only known incumbent (no dates) was: Bwana Fumu.
Sultans (also styled Mfaume/Mfalme) (no dates available):
The sultan was also styled Mfaume/Mfalme; the only known incumbent (no dates) was: Febeja Mambwe.