Silahdar Süleyman Pasha

Silahdar Süleyman Pasha (Arabic transliteration: Sulaymān Pasha al-Siliḥdār, died 1837) was the Ottoman governor of Damascus Eyalet from February 1812 to May 1816.[1]

Silahdar Süleyman Pasha
Wali of Damascus
In office
February 1812 – May 1816
MonarchMahmud II
Preceded bySulayman Pasha al-Adil
Succeeded byHafiz Amasyali Ali Pasha
Personal details
BornHama
Died1837
NationalityOttoman

Biography

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Silahdar was from Hama in central Syria, but his government career was made in the Ottoman capital, Istanbul. He replaced Sulayman Pasha al-Adil as governor of Damascus and his appointment marked the permanent end of a trend whereby local rulers or non-local rulers who made their careers in Syria, such as the al-Azm family or Jazzar Pasha and his mamluk heirs in Acre, were appointed to the governorship.[2]

During his first days as governor, Silahdar faced a rebellion by the janissary commander of the Citadel of Damascus, Ali Agha al-Baghdadi, who refused to accept Silahdar's authority. After a siege of several days, Ali Agha surrendered, was executed and the remaining rebellious janissaries were allowed to leave the city unharmed.[3] In 1813, Silahdar commissioned the Kurdish Dalat cavalry commander of Hama, Mullah Isma'il, to oversee that year's tax collection tour in the province.[4] Silahdar was commended by the Damascene chronicler and Silahdar's contemporary, Hasan Agha al-'Abd, for successfully protecting and provisioning the Hajj caravans of 1813 and 1814 as part of his duty as amir al-hajj (commander of the Hajj caravan);[5] Al-'Abd accompanied Silahdar during the Hajj of 1813.[6]

Silahdar was replaced by Hafiz Amasyali Ali Pasha in May 1816.[1] Silahdar died in 1837.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Syria". The World Statesmen. Ben Cahoon.
  2. ^ Douwes 2000, p. 58.
  3. ^ Douwes 2000, p. 108.
  4. ^ Douwes 2000, p. 117.
  5. ^ Sajdi 2013, p. 100.
  6. ^ Sajdi 2013, p. 98.
  7. ^ Atasoy, M. Celâlettin (1982). Kandilli'de tarih. Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu. p. 78.

Bibliography

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Preceded by Wali of Damascus
1812–1816
Succeeded by