Sultanate of Lahej

Sultanate of Lahej سلطنة لحج (Arabic)
1728–1967
Flag Emblem
Map of the Sultanate of Lahej
Map of the Sultanate of Lahej in its region
Status	Qasimid state (1728–1740) Independent (1740–1872) Aden Protectorate (1872–1963) Federation of South Arabia (1963–1967)
Capital	Lahij
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Sultanate
Sultan
History
• Beginning of self-rule	1728
• Independence from the Zaidi Imamate	1740
• British invasion	1839
• Start of the British protectorate	1872
• Deposed by the NLF	1967
Population
• 1960 estimate	50,000
Preceded by Succeeded by Qasimid state Aden Settlement South Yemen
Today part of	Yemen

Lahej (Arabic: لحج Laḥij), the Sultanate of Lahej (Arabic: سلطنة لحج Salṭanat Laḥij), or, sometimes, the Abdali Sultanate (Arabic: سلطنة العبدلي Salṭanat al-'Abdalī), was a Sheikdom based in Lahij in Southern Arabia. The Sultanate became self-ruling in 1728 and gained independence in 1740. In 1839, the Sultanate became part of the Aden Protectorate of the British Empire, though nominally the 'Abdali Sultan retained his status. The Aden Protectorate was briefly ruled again by the Ottomans during World War I, but regained by the British after the Ottoman defeat in World War I and absorbed into Federation of South Arabia in 1963. The 'Abdali dynasty was officially abolished in 1967, with the proclamation of South Yemen.