Nawwaf bin Nuri Al Sha'alan

Al Jawf experienced a revolt by Sheikh Faisal Al Sha'alan against the leadership of the Al Rashid family, which was crushed by Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid in the 1860s.^[1] For decades after, Al Jawf remained in Rashidi hands until a seizure of the territory by a rebellious member of the Al Rashid family in 1905, Sultan bin Hamoud Al Rashid. This followed with the assassination of reigning emir Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Rashid in December 1906 by Sultan and his brothers, and Sultan's subsequent accession to the throne.^[5] Sultan was deposed by his brother Saud bin Hamoud Al Rashid in July 1907, who ruled until September 1908, when he was overthrown by Hamoud bin Sabhan Al Sabhan and the surviving brother of the assassinated Emir, Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Rashid was crowned.

After this weakening of the Emirate of Ha'il, in February 1909, Nawwaf came with 35 slave soldiers and annexed the territory of Al Jawf. He was subsequently appointed the governor by his father, the Sheikh Nuri Al Sha'alan.^[6] Nawwaf appointed his slave Amer Al-Mushwarib as his deputy governor, who proved to be a vastly unpopular leader. Amer was assassinated by locals who called on Ibn Rashid to reoccupy the region in 1919.^[7]

Nawwaf built two palaces. One was a palace in Kaf in Qurayyat, which he was busy building for several years until it was finished in 1918, which still stands today. He used it as a center for his rule during the completion of construction operations. As for the other, it was located in Sakakah and has since disintegrated.

Nawwaf died prematurely from smallpox in Syria during the summer of 1921.^[1]