The final Sultan of Zanzibar & the world's oldest Monarch

 

It is easy to bring this term into global spotlight when distinguished monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II & even religious leaders like Pope Benedict XVI die. However, the same is almost impossible when the deceased holder of the distinction was a long-deposed royal, never mentioned by his former kingdom (that doesn't exist any longer) and had lived as a private citizen in another monarchy (no matter of his distant relationship with The Ruling Family). Currently, royal researchers would easily conclude that the oldest living person who once led a Sovereign Monarchy is Emperor Emeritus Akihito, the previous Emperor of Japan. But who - reigning or not - has hold the distinction before him? And who of the world's living Reigning Monarchs (who is not head of a Sovereign State) is yet older, than the new oldest Monarch? To the first answer, Jamshid bin Abdullah Al-Said, the last Sultan of Zanzibar, this contribution is particularly dedicated. Aside of that, it honors the unprecedented age record of The Japanese Emperor & his still living Father.

Elizabeth II hold the distinction of the world's oldest living Monarch (reigning or former) from December 2020 until her death in September 2022. After her Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI hold it until his own death on 31 December 2022. Then the distinction passed to Janaab Sayyid Sir. Jamshid bin Abdullah Al-Said, a member of The Royal Family of Oman, and the last Sultan of Zanzibar. He passed away on 30 December 2024, at the age of 95, having been the oldest-living former Sovereign head of state in the shadow for two years.

Jamshid bin Abdullah was born on 29 September 1929 into the Omani Al Bu Said Royal Family, which reigned over The Isles of Zanzibar (currently part of Tanzania) from 1856, developing its Eastern African shores into a significant center of Slave trade. A grandson of the reigning Sultan of Zanzibar Khalifa II, Jamshid was sent abroad for further studies in Alexandria, Egypt & Beirut, Lebanon, before he served in British Royal Navy, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant General, and then appointed to administrative roles by Sultan Khalifa bin Hairub. Zanzibar - which came under Omani Arab control in 1698 - was still under British protection during the brief reign of his father, Sultan Abdullah bin Khalifa, from October 1960 to July 1963, a period of increasing African Nationalism across the Sultanate. When he inherited the throne on 1 July 1963 the outcome of this nationalism had become definitive; just a month after the British withdrawal from the self-governed Zanzibar made him a Sovereign Sultan on December 10 (1963), a bloody revolution broke out and forced Jamshid bin Abdullah into exile on January 12, 1964, after just six months of eventful reign (& only formal State headship by a Zanzibari Sultan). The Royal Palace was seized after about 800 revolutionaries marched to Zanzibar Town, and the Monarch was soon replaced by Abeid Amani Karume, elected as President.

In the aftermath of The Zanzibari Revolutions, Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah Al-BuSaidi fled Zanzibar by the royal yacht, never to return (reports of the Sultan's preparations to visit The Isles shortly before his death remain unconfirmed). After initial refusal to settle into Oman (the land of his Royal ancestors), Jamshid, his family & entourage flew to The United Kingdom, and after a donation by The British government settled in a semi-detached house in Portsmouth (Southern England) in May 1964. The quite street in Southsea, Hampshire, would become home for the former Monarch for the most of his lifetime; where his entire Royal past - but his old red Mercedes and personal collection of stamps & items - would fade away. As thousands of Arab Zanzibaris following the revolution, Jamshid's first wife, Sheikha Anisa bint Salim Al-Said, and their children were allowed to settle in Oman in the 1980s. However, the former Sultan was always refused permission by the government of his distant cousin, the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said, based on security concerns. As Jamshid bin Abdullah aged, and according to his family expressed the wish to spend his final days in the land of his ancestors; a royal permission was finally granted by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said in September 2020, allowing the long-exiled monarch to settle in Oman on the eve of his 91st birthday, after 56 years of quite life in the UK. The condition was that Jamshid will not use any priviledges as a titular Sultan, but would just live as a private person & distant member of the Royal Family, with the honorable referrence: "Janaab Sayyid".

That's how the elderly royal, once upon a time The Sultan in a monarchy sounding like fairytaile, led his twighlight years in Oman, surrounded by his family, away from any public appearances. While Zanzibar - which celebrates the January 12 Revolution as a giant political landmark - offered Jamshid an amnesty in 2000 to return & settle back, he refused. More than 60 years after the Revolution, which switched Zanzibar from a 250-year Arab Rule to an autonomous territory within The Republic of Tanzania; reports aroused that preparations were made between The Isles (Zanzibar) & Oman for a visit of the elderly Sultan on 9 January 2025. Some even went as far to mention his possible settle there in one of the former palaces. Those news were never to come to broader light as long as Jamshid bin Abdullah was alive. He died in a Royal Hospital in Oman after a prolonged illness in an advanced age, 10 days short of what was supposed to have been a chance of bridging the pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary eras, fostering a sense of unity & healing. He was buried in The Royal Cemetery in Muscat at the end of 2024, as quite as he lived, laying any prospects of global recognition to rest.

Following Jamshid bin Abdullah's passing, no Monarch of a Sovereign State born in the 1920s remains alive. The oldest Monarch, reigning IN a Sovereign Monarchy is HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi, The Ruler of Ajman (part of The UAE), born in 1931. He is not the oldest SOVEREIGN Monarch (since he is not Head of a Sovereign State), however, he is two year older than the new Oldest Living (former) Sovereign Monarch: HM Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 125th Emperor of Japan (1989 - 2019). Why include the non-Sovereign Monarchs in Sovereign Monarchies? And (most importantly - ) why counting them, but not other Subterritorial Monarchs, reigning in present-day Republics (eg South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Indonesia, New Zealand...)? My answer here is quite specific, given the cases of TWO Sovereign Monarchies, where subterritorial Monarchs play an important role: Malaysia & The UAE. The former, the only case of rotational monarchy in the world, is headed by a Federal King (Yang di-Pertuan Agong), who is elected (according to a pre-determined order of state seniority) among the Monarchs of nine Malay Monarchies, for a fixed five-year-term. The latter, is governed by The Sovereign President & his executive Prime Minister, who are chosen (& endorsed) by The Supreme Federal Council of the Rulers of the seven emirates; always having been The Heads of the biggest & the wealthiest of The Federation's emirates: The Abu Dhabi & Dubai. Thus, in both cases, the said Monarchs should have a special recognition ASIDE The living (current & former) Sovereign Monarchs, because they either have a chance to become Head of State, or take a certain role in his appointment.

Of course, at this stage, one cannot but recognise AKIHITO as the world's oldest-living Monarch (among the current & former Heads of State). His Imperial Majesty, who occupied The Imperial Chrysanthemum throne for 30 years, fostering The Era of "HeiSei" (Achieving Peace) in Japan, has already become the longest-living Emperor, ever recorded in modern History books (in September 2021) and since November last year, has been The Oldest-living member of The Imperial Family. At the age of 91 (his Birthday was on December 23), The Emperor Emeritus is now officially on the top of the list of the world's living Monarchs by age, as is his Sovereign Son among those Monarchs whose abdicated predecessor & Parent, is still alive. His Majesty The Emperor Naruhito, 126th Emperor of Japan since 2019, turned 65 on Sunday, February 23 (2025). As a full-scale of banqueting events, celebrating The Reigning Emperor's Birthday, was implemented for the first time in five years, another personal, yet poignant record was reached by His Imperial Majesty. NARUHITO became the first present-day Sovereign Monarch, who passed the mark of "old age" (commonly referred from 65 years and above) with both of his parents (Emperor Emeritus Akihito & Empress Emerita Michiko) still alive! No other known Monarch, has achieved this milestone after his formal accession & Enthronement. This is a truly remarkable precedent in history & present-times of the world's monarchies, another part of the unimaginable records set by The world's oldest & only Imperial Monarchy, well-adaptive to the present & global traits, and yet precisely aroused to traditions & sacret rites, dating back thousands of years. The oldest & oldest non-orphaned Monarchs from the same family have been unprecedented at the ages of 91 and 65; however, following both Emperors in the list of living Monarchs by age is another record-setting pair of father & son, both just a few months younger than the previous, and the reigning monarch having the potential of also reaching his 65th birthday with both his retired parents alive - they are HM King Albert II of Belgium (aged 90) & HM Philippe, King of The Belgians since 2013 (aged 64).

Video:

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bu_Said_dynasty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamshid_bin_Abdullah_of_Zanzibar

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/exit-sultan-jamshid-bin-abdulla-last-arab-ruler-of-zanzibar-4883236

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/20/so-long-southsea-last-sultan-of-zanzibar-quits-uk-after-56-years-in-exile

https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/zanzibar-sultan/100910/jamshid-bin-abdullah-the-last-sultan-of-zanzibar-passes-away-at-95

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_bin_Khalifa_of_Zanzibar

https://dailynews.co.tz/last-sultan-of-zanzibar-sayyid-jamshid-bin-abdullah-al-said-dies-at-95-in-oman/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalifa_bin_Harub_of_Zanzibar

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/zanzibar/last-reigning-sultan-of-zanzibar-sayyid-jamshid-bin-abdullah-dies-at-95-years-old-in-oman-4874494

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/sultan-of-zanzibar-was-our-neighbour-english-life-with-a-reserved-royal-resident-1.1085089?fbclid=IwAR0UPRxt9V3fReuYrFBxnCJom9kNYatRmCwZSdxdRS63vs1pE7zandl7JOc

https://tanzaniatimes.net/the-last-sultan-of-zanzibar-dies-in-oman-just-as-he-was-preparing-his-return-to-the-isles/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_monarchs_of_sovereign_states

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_reigning_monarchs_by_length_of_reign

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humaid_bin_Rashid_Al_Nuaimi_III

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruhito

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_II_of_Belgium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_of_Belgium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Malaysia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conference_of_Rulers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Supreme_Council

DEATH AND SUCCESSION OF THE AGA KHAN

His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, The Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismai'li Muslim Community, died at the age of 88 on Tuesday, 4 February 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the 50th generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad, and inherited the Nizari imamat and title of Aga Khan from his grandfather in 1957, at the age of 20. Refered by his religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his followers, and recognized as a titular royal by the British & Iranian monarchs, the Aga Khan used his influence, and extended wealth to forge a dialogue within the muslim religion and way of thought as well as a foundation & development network named after him, to assist the less privileged in countries across four continents, by investing in education, health, economic development, pluralism of mass media, and patronages for the arts & architecture. A billionaire & socialite, Prince Karim had several citizenships, including (British & Portuguese) and owned a series of real estate buildings, an island in the Bahamas, yachts, and race-horses, the breeding of whom made him famous among the high-profile British elites. His eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, was announced as his successor on February 5 (with the Imami title of Aga Khan V) and Prince Karim was laid to rest on February 9 in a Mausoleum built by his grandfather in Egypt, after a funeral ceremony the previous day at the Ismaili center of Lisbon. The new Imam was formally enthroned on February 11 in Lisbon.

Prince Karim Al-Hussaini was born on 13 December 1936 in Geneva, the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan & Princess Taj-ud dawlah (the British model Joan Yarde-Buller). He was raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and attended a boarding school (Institut Le Rosey) in Switzerland, after his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah (The Aga Khan III) vetoed his decision to enroll to Harvard University. On 11 July 1957, The Aga Khan III died, leaving a will that his grandson (who grew up into the new atomic age) and none of his two sons should succeed him as 49th Imam of the Nizairi Ismailis (who comprise an approximately 20% of Shia Muslims worldwide). The 20-year-old Prince Karim was installed on 19 October, and recognized as "His Highness" by Queen Elizabeth II (a tradition followed since the first Aga Khan) & as "His Royal Highness" by ShahanShah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (successor to the Qajar Shahs, who expelled the Ismaili Imams from Persia in the past). The Aga Khan eventually enrolled to Harvard & graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Islamic History in 1959. A keen sportsman & downhill skier, he represented Iran in the 1964 Winter Olympics (& Britain in FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1962).

The Aga Khan IV entered a new approach into the Ismailist way of thinking, his material wealth never conflicting with the spiritual sacrity of his role. He established the Aga Khan Foundation in 1967, bringing together human, financial & technical resources to address the challenges of poverty & marginalization of communities around the world. The Aga Khan Development Network came later to bridge the agencies of Aga Khan's non-profit enterprise, together with national & international resources, aiming at the elimination of global poverty, promotion & implementation of pluralism, advanement of the status of women and honoring Islamic Art & Architecture. The network begun operating in the most vulnerable countries with a significant number of Nizari Ismailis (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan), before expanding its work to countries in East Africa, central Asia, The Middle East & elsewhere, as the members of the Nizari community settled to those regions and beyond to Europe, North America & Australia in recent decades. More than 200 schools & 700 health facilities have been established in the poorest countries of Asia & Africa, where the Network's annual budget was up to 1 billion US$, while some 96,000 people from those countries have been employed, and numerous volunteers helped to practically implement the Network's projects. And while The Aga Khan invested tens of millions of US$ in developing local economies, he never thought of it as an act of humanitarianism - but rather a duty as a privileged, spiritual leader of his community; which members feel the moral obligation to donate up to 12,5% of their income to the Imam, as their steward.

The fortune of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan was estimated as more than US$13,3 billion over a decade ago, making him one of the world's wealthiest royals (who was treated as Head of State). Part of his possesions were luxurious hotels in Europe & East Africa, fast cars, yachts & racehorses, including Shergar - the Irish-bred, winning horse of 1981 Epsom Debry, who was kidnapped in 1983 (probably by IRA) & never returned as the demanded ransom was refused to be paid. As Imam - & de-facto Monarch - the fourth Aga Khan sought for opportunities to turn challenges into chances for a global dialogue. He assisted the 1985 talks between Reagan & Gorbachev in Geneva, and constructively responded to global leaders' (including Pope Benedict XVI's) claims of islamic values being anachronistic & non-aligned to reason. He used his Silver (1982), Golden (2007) & Diamond (2017) Jubilees of Imamat to establish, finance and extend more his foundation's programs for health, education & faith, while in 1986 he introduced an universal constitution across the over 25 countries of Ismai'li diaspora (in four continents), amended in 1998. Prince Karim Aga Khan IV formally designated the Henrique de Mendonça Palace in Lisbon as The "Diwan (Seat/Court) of Ismaili Imamat" in July 2018, was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle for his Diamond Jubilee in March that year, while the Jubilee Games, organized ten years earlier (in 2008) have since became a regular form of cultural sport among Nizairi Ismailis. Furthermore, in 2006, His late Highness co-founded with the Canadian Government The Global Center for Pluralism, and funded an empire of Independent Media Columns operating in Eastern African countries (often) in the midst of (& sometimes beyond) iliberal government & dictatorships.

HH Prince Karim Aga Khan IV had been married twice; first, to (fashion model) Sarah Frances Croker Poole, who assumed the name Begum Salimah, from 1969 to 1995; and second to Gabriele Renate Thyssen (née Homey), who took the name Begum Inaara, from 1998 to 2011. He had four children (one daughter & three sons) in total and both of his marriages ended in divorce. His eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini (b. 12 October 1971 in Geneva), was named his father's successor as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, becoming the Aga Khan V, following the Unsealing of the late Imam's Will, announced Wednesday, 5 February, 2025, having succeeded him immediately upon his death in the evening of Tuesday, 4 February (2025). A direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad - through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima and cousin & son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (the fourth Caliph of Islam & first Shia Imam) - Rahim Aga Khan was educated in The US, obtaining a bachelor degree in comparative literature from Brown University (1995) and completing graduate studies in management & administration from IESE Business School, University of Navarra (Spain, 2006). He has been involved into the governance of The Aga Khan Developing Network (AKDN), boarding the executive committees of their agencies & affiliated structures, and overseeing its programs & other projects in person. Prince Rahim was married to Princess Salwa Aga Khan (née Kendra Irene Spears, a fashion model) from 2013 until their divorce in 2022; they have two sons, Prince Ifran & Prince Sinan.

The Funeral of Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, The late Aga Khan IV, took place over the weekend after his death. Members of the global Ismaili community assembled in Jamatkhanas (places of worship & gathering) to witness live streaming from the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, where the funeral ceremony took place on Saturday, February 8 (2025) at 11:00am. The late Imam's casket, drapped in a white cloth with a gold-embroidered personal standard on it, was carried into the hall by Isma'ili community volunteers, for dignitaries & world leaders (including The King Emeritus of Spain, The Emir of Qatar, The President of Portugal & The Prime Minister of Canada) to pass by & pay their last respects, amid prayers & the recitation of blessings, invoked on Prophet Muhammad. Prince Rahim, The Aga Khan V, led the congregation, carrying his father's casket outside the center, with his two sons, siblings, uncle & other relatives watching over; before they all flew to Egypt, for a private burial in Aswan, on Sunday 9 February 2025. The region's government welcomed The Aga Khan's family in person & ordered the closure of roads to facilitate the dignified procession (following the funerary van on foot) towards the banks of the River Nile, to which he participated. From there the coffin of the late Prince Karim was transferred by boat to a private domain of Villa Nour El Salam. Then the casket was carried on hand in a final procession, on top of the hill where The Mausoleum, build by Aga Khan III is situated. The Aga Khan IV was laid to rest next to his grandparents, where he will remain buried, until a resting place dedicated to him, will be adjusted. Following the end of the burial, the Mayor symbolically presented The Aga Khan V with a key to the City of Aswan; Egypt was once the center of the Fatimid Caliphate, ruled by The Ismaili Imams-Caliphs (during the 10th - 11th centuries), who built its present-day capital, Cairo.

Following his ascension to the Ismai'li Imamate, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V was granted the style of: "His Highness" by King Charles III of The United Kingdom on Monday, 10 February, 2025. The next Day, Tuesday, February 11 (2025), the Takht-nishini, formal enthronement ceremony of Mawlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, took place at the Diwan of The Ismai'li Imamat in Lisbon, in presence of representatives of the global Jamat - Chair of The Ismaili Leaders' International Forum (LIF), while for the first time in history, ordinary people could see the live screening of the event from all Jamatkhanas, at 10:00am GMT. The Hazar Imam was first presented with the khilat (ceremonial robes) of his predecessor, alongside his chain & signet ring, as well as ceremonial symbols of authority - Holy Qur'an, Ismaili Constitution, ceremonial sword, intricate parasol & inkwell - all under the rendition of Nashid al-Imamah (The Ismaili Anthem). Then verses from The Holy Qur'an (including the prayer for the 'light' - ayat al-Nur) were recited, followed by renditions of two poems (qasidas & munajat) in four languages. Everyone rose as the LIF Chair gave his loyalty address on behalf of the  global Jamat, before everyone of The Councils' Presidents in attendance submitted bay' a (oath of allegiance) to Mawlana Hazar Imam in turns. Then His Highness The Hazar Imam signed the Constitutional Instrument in his name, confirming his position as Imam-of-the-Time & reaffirming the preservation of the current Ismaili Constitution created by his late father. The ceremony was concluded by The Aga Khan's first address to the Jamat as its 50th hereditary Imam, during which Farman Mubarak he paid tribute to his father, thanked his family for the support, spoke on the the principles of Ismai'li Muslim faith, reminded on the spiritual & material values, set up his Imamate's goals and offered prayers for mushkil-asan. Finally, the leaders of the Jamat presented their 50th Imam with a commemorative gift, a manuscript (titled "Munajat Hazrat Ali Amir al-Mu'minin") encompassing a selection of prayers from the time of the First Imam, embroidered with a series of Perso-Arabesque guilded mottifs of flora & fauna. In the days after his Takht-nishini, HH Prince Rahim Aga Khan V received delegations of State & Community leaders offering both Condolences & Congratulations.

A message of graditude & reassurance by The Aga Khan V two weeks after becoming Imam, completed the whole process of The Transition of Mawlana Hazar Imam of The Nizairi Ismai'list Muslim Jamat.

Videos:

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vmlk4rzzjo

https://transition.ismaili/our-beloved-shah-karim

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/04/world/aga-khan-ismaili-muslim-obit-intl-latam/index.html

https://akf.org/article/in-memorium-his-highness-the-aga-khan/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/09/the-aga-khan-obituary

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/prince-rahim-aga-khan-v-named-50th-hereditary-imam-of-the-shia-ismaili-muslims

https://apnews.com/article/aga-khan-rahim-alhussaini-8efb5353df62fd6f452ca2935507483c

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/funeral-ceremony-for-aga-khan-iv

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/09/world/aga-khan-funeral-egypt-intl-latam/index.html

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/aga-khan-iv-laid-to-rest-in-aswan-egypt

https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-02-10/the-king-is-pleased-to-grant-the-new-aga-khan-the-title-his-highness

https://transition.ismaili/takht-nishini-diwan

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3ndgd6076o

https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/whats-new/news-release/his-highness-prince-rahim-aga-khan-meets-president-of-portugal

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/rahim-al-hussaini-named-as-50th-aga-khan-after-death-of-father

https://the.akdn/en/page/message-from-his-highness-the-aga-khan-february-18

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/citys-ismailis-celebrate-aga-khan-vs-rise/articleshow/118283146.cms