Azzan ibn Qais Al Sa'id emerges as…

A significant number of Hinawi tribes recognize him as imam, but the public neither elects him nor acclaims him as such.

Imam Azzan understands that to unify the country a strong, central authority has to be established with control over the interior tribes of Oman.

The British, however, interpret this policy as a move against their established order.

The Qais branch of the Al Said family will intermittently ally itself with the ulama to restore imamate legitimacy.