the Federation of South Arabia in 1963. Aftermath South Yemen In 1967 the new Communist regime expelled the Abdali Sultan. The dynasty of the Sultanate of Lahej was abolished with the founding of the socialist state of People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967–1990). Unified Yemen The former territory of the Sultanate has been within the Republic of Yemen since its unification in 1990. Rulers The Sultans of Lahej had the title of Sultan Lahj. Abdali Sultans 1728–1742 al-Fadl I ibn 'Ali al-Sallami al-'Abdali 1742–1753 'Abd al-Karim I ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali 1753–1775 'Abd al-Hadi ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali 1775–1791 al-Fadl II ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali 1791–1827 Ahmad I ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali 1827–Nov 1839 Muhsin ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (1st time) Nov 1839 – Dec 1839 Ahmad II ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali (1st time) Dec 1839 – Aug 1846 Muhsin ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (2nd time) 11 Aug 1846 – Sep 1846 Sayyid Isma'il ibn al-Hasan al-Husayni (usurper) Sep 1846 – 30 Nov 1847 Muhsin ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (3rd time) Dec 1847 – 20 Jan 1849 Ahmad II ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali (2nd time) Mar 1849 – 7 Apr 1863 'Ali I ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali Apr 1863 – 1863 al-Fadl III ibn 'Ali al-'Abdali (1st time) 1863 – 5 Jul 1874 al-Fadl IV ibn Muhsin al-'Abdali 5 Jul 1874 – 27 Apr 1898 al-Fadl III ibn 'Ali al-'Abdali (2nd time) 29 Apr 1898 – Mar 1914 Ahmad III ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (from 9 Nov 1901, Sir Ahmad III ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali) Mar 1914 – 4 Jul 1915 'Ali II ibn Ahmad al-'Abdali (from 8 Oct 1914, Sir 'Ali II ibn Ahmad al-'Abdali) 13 Jul 1915 – 18 Jun 1947 'Abd al-Karim II ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali (from 1 Jan 1918, Sir 'Abd al-Karim II ibn al-Fadl al-'Abdali) 18 Jun 1947 – 21 May 1952 al-Fadl V ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali 4 Jun 1952 – 10 Jul 1958 'Ali III ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali (from 1 Jan 1955, Sir 'Ali III ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-'Abdali) 10 Jul 1958 – Aug 1967 al-Fadl VI ibn 'Ali al-'Abdali (acting with style Na'ib to 8 Dec 1958) Economy British Empire The Sultanate of Lahej and others surrounding the Port of Aden had economic influence by supporting the important trade economy of the British Empire from South Asia. Early 19th century industrial Britain, with its rapidly expanding economy, needed improved and reliable communication with British India and the East India Company