Anglo-Zanzibar War sovereign state and the start of a period of heavy British influence. Zanzibar was an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Tanganyika; today it forms part of Tanzania. The main island, Unguja (or Zanzibar Island), had been under the nominal control of the Sultans of Oman since 1698 when they expelled the Portuguese settlers who had claimed it in 1499. Sultan Majid bin Said declared the island independent of Oman in 1858, which was recognised by Great Britain, and split the sultanate from that of Oman. Barghash bin Said, the second sultan and Khalid's father, had
Hamoud bin Mohammed of Zanzibar (daughter of the first Sultan of Zanzibar) he had ten children: On his death in 1902 he was succeeded by his oldest son, Sayyid Ali bin Hamud. Hamoud bin Mohammed of Zanzibar Sayyid Hamoud bin Mohammed Al-Said, GCSI, (1853 – 18 July 1902) (ruled 27 August 1896 - 18 July 1902) () was the British-controlled Omani sultan of the protectorate of Zanzibar, who outlawed slavery on the island. Hamoud became sultan with the support of the British consul, Sir Basil Cave, upon the death of Sayyid Hamad bin Thuwaini. Before he could enter the palace, another potential contender for the