Al-Nuri Bin Shaalan

Nuri bin Hazaa Al Shalaan (; 1847–1942) was the Prince of Ruwallah tribe settled in northern Arabia and the Syrian Desert. He headed the tribe between 1904 and 1942 and developed alliances with various ruling forces in the region.

Early life

Al Shalaan was born in 1847 as one of the children of the Emir of the Ruwallah tribe. The tribe belonged to the Anizah Confederation.

Tribal chieftaincy and activities After the death of his father, Al Shalaan's brother Sattam succeeded him as the Emir of the Ruwallah tribe. Nuri's brother was killed in 1904, then he inherited the rule becoming the ruler of the tribe. He occupied Al Jawf region in 1909 that had been under the control of Al Rashid forces. Following this he was called Emir of Jawf.

In that period, the Ruwallah tribe was one of the most influential nomadic groups in the Syrian Badiya and northern saudi, with loose encampments that could spread over hundreds of kilometres. Al Shalaan was responsible for the management of water and pastoral resources across these encampments and maintaining peace amongst the various factions within the tribal confederacy.

Then Al Shalaan became an ally of the Hashemites as a result of the Allies' influence, particularly of T. E. Lawrence, and was financially assisted by Emir Faisal, son of Sherif Hussein. Al Shalaan first rejected the offer of Emir Faisal to join the Arab revolt against the Ottomans, and his meeting with Lawrence in July 1917 was not fruitful.

Al Shalaan made significant efforts in the occupation of Daraa and capture of Damascus by the Hashemite forces. However, his alliance with Emir Faisal did not last long since he began to support the occupying French forces from July 1920 and was paid by them for his services.

He gave the Al Jawf region in 1920 to Ibn Saud. Al Shalaan's alliance with the French was also short-lived, ending in July 1921 due to the emergence of a new cooperation between him and Emir Abdullah, another son of Sherif Hussein. These innovations drew protest from other tribal leaders. The French financial aid to him resumed in 1927. He was also financially assisted by Ibn Saud. In the meantime, he allied himself with the French forces against the Druze during the Great Syrian Revolt, in exchange for getting aerial support against his tribal adversaries. He was also awarded the medal of Knight of the Legion of Honour.

Al Shalaan signed a peace treaty with the chief of the Sba'a tribe, Rakan bin Mershed, in June 1930. The Sba'a tribe was also part of the Anizah confederation.

His most notable son was Nawwaf, known as the most advanced thinker in the desert, who participated in Al Shalaan's military activities. One of his granddaughters, Nouf bint Nawwaf, married Ibn Saud. She had three sons from her marriage to Ibn Saud: Prince Thamir, Prince Mamdouh and Prince Mashour. He was buried in Adra, near Damascus, on land he owned.