Fort Al Jalali
| Fort al-Jalali | |
|---|---|
| Arabic: قلعة الجلالي | |
| Muscat, Oman | |
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Fort al-Jalali
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 Fort al-Jalali
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| Coordinates | 23°37′00″N 58°35′51″E / 23.616604°N 58.597614°E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Oman |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Restored |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1586 |
| Built by | Portuguese |
Fort al-Jalali, or Ash Sharqiya Fort, is a fort in the harbor of the old city of Muscat, Oman. The fort was built by the Portuguese in the 1580s to protect the harbor after Muscat had twice been sacked by Ottoman forces. It fell to Omani forces in 1650. During the civil wars between 1718 and 1747, the fort was twice captured by Persians who had been invited to assist one of the rival Imams. The fort was extensively rebuilt later.
At times, al Jalali served as a refuge or a jail for a member of the royal family. For much of the 20th century it was used as Oman's main prison, but this function ended in the 1970s. Fort al-Jalali was restored in 1983 and converted into a private museum of Omani cultural history that is accessible only to dignitaries visiting the country. Exhibits include cannons, old muskets and matchlocks, maps, rugs and other artifacts.
The Portuguese called the structure Forte de São João (Fort St. John). The origin of the present name "Al Jalali" is disputed. One theory is that it comes from the Arabic Al Jalal, which means "great beauty". Another is that it is named after a Persian leader called "Jalal Shah". And there may have been a Baluchi or Arab commander called Jalal—however, this is not supported by any historical record. Al Jalali Fort is also known as the Ash Sharqiya Fort.
"Muscat" means "anchorage". True to its name, Old Muscat is a natural port in a strategic location between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. It lies on the coast of the Gulf of Oman on a bay about 700 metres (2,300 ft) long, protected from the sea by a rocky island. The port is surrounded by mountains, making it difficult to access from the landward side. Muscat may have been described by the geographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century, who noted a "concealed harbor" in the region.
Al Jalali Fort lies on a rocky outcrop on the east side of the Muscat harbor. It faces Fort Al-Mirani, which is built on another outcrop on the west side. Muscat was strongly defended against attack from the sea by these twin forts, by the Muttrah fort further to the west and by other fortifications on the rocky ridges surrounding the bay. Until recently, the fort was only accessible from the harbor side by way of a steep flight of stone steps. Land reclamation on the seaward side of the rock has now provided space for a heliport. A funicular railway makes the fort more accessible.
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