Al-Azm
Encyclopedia
Al-Azm is a prominent Damascene
family. The origins of the family are Arabic, as it belonged to a notable family from the region of Ma'arrat al-Numan
south of Aleppo
. The family rose to prominence in the 18th century. Their rule started with appointment of Ismail Pasha al-Azm as wāli
of Damascus in 1725. Between 1725 and 1783, members of the family, including the famous As'ad Pasha al-Azm
, held power in Damascus for 47 years, in addition to periodical appointments in Sidon
, Tripoli, Hama
, and Aleppo
. The family's influence declined in the 19th century, failing to establish a true dynasty.
(governor) of Tripoli, was transferred to Damascus in 1725 at the request of the mufti
, after fighting between different factions of janissaries prevented the Hajj
caravan from departing on time. His brother became the wali of Tripoli, and his son became the wali of Sidon. In 1730 when Ahmed III
was deposed they were all dismissed, but not for long. Sulayman Pasha al-Azm
, brother of Ismail Pasha, became wali of Damascus between 1733 and 1738 and again from 1741 until his death in 1743. He was succeeded by his nephew As'ad Pasha al-Azm
who reigned between 1743 and 1757, and was considered the greatest governor of Damascus in Ottoman times. As'ad Pasha overcame all his local adversaries after three years struggle. In his reign Hama and Homs
were added to the province of Damascus.
Despite As'ad Pasha's ability to ensure the security of the pilgrim caravan, the new Ottoman authorities in Istanbul deposed him in 1757 after fourteen years of governance. The Grand Vizier
at the time, Raghib Pasha, denounced him as a, "peasant son of a peasant," after a deal between the two of them failed. In addition, the Kizlar Agha
of Istanbul disliked al-Azm for apparently not taking good care of him when he passed through Damascus on the pilgrim caravan. The Ottoman state was also interested in confiscating the wealth al-Azm accumulated during his tenure in office. The large amounts of money collected made the state revalue its currency. He was transferred to Aleppo
and later dismissed and executed. This marked the end of the family's golden age. It continued to assert some influence, and many of its members served as walis later, but its great days were over.
, khans
, schools and souqs were built, many of which still remain today. Most famous of them are the Azm Palace
in Damascus, and the Azm Palace
in Hama, both of which were built by As'ad Pasha al-Azm as palatial residences.
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
family. The origins of the family are Arabic, as it belonged to a notable family from the region of Ma'arrat al-Numan
Ma'arrat al-Numan
Maarat al-Numaan, , is a city in northwestern Syria with a population of about 90000 . It is located at the highway between Aleppo and Hama and near the Dead Cities of Bara and Serjilla...
south of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. The family rose to prominence in the 18th century. Their rule started with appointment of Ismail Pasha al-Azm as wāli
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
of Damascus in 1725. Between 1725 and 1783, members of the family, including the famous As'ad Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm was the governor of Damascus under Ottoman rule from 1742 to his deposition in 1757. He is responsible for the construction of several architectural works in the city and other places in Syria.-Background:...
, held power in Damascus for 47 years, in addition to periodical appointments in Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
, Tripoli, Hama
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
, and Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. The family's influence declined in the 19th century, failing to establish a true dynasty.
History
Ismail Pasha al-Azm, wāliWali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
(governor) of Tripoli, was transferred to Damascus in 1725 at the request of the mufti
Mufti
A mufti is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law . In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population...
, after fighting between different factions of janissaries prevented the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
caravan from departing on time. His brother became the wali of Tripoli, and his son became the wali of Sidon. In 1730 when Ahmed III
Ahmed III
Ahmed III was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and a son of Sultan Mehmed IV . His mother was Mâh-Pâre Ummatullah Râbi'a Gül-Nûş Valide Sultan, originally named Evmania Voria, who was an ethnic Greek. He was born at Hajioglupazari, in Dobruja...
was deposed they were all dismissed, but not for long. Sulayman Pasha al-Azm
Sulayman Pasha al-Azm
Sulayman Pasha al-Azm was the governor of Damascus under the Ottoman Empire from 1733–37 and 1741-43. He belonged to the prominent Arab al-Azm clan and was the uncle of As'ad Pasha al-Azm who succeeded him as governor...
, brother of Ismail Pasha, became wali of Damascus between 1733 and 1738 and again from 1741 until his death in 1743. He was succeeded by his nephew As'ad Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm was the governor of Damascus under Ottoman rule from 1742 to his deposition in 1757. He is responsible for the construction of several architectural works in the city and other places in Syria.-Background:...
who reigned between 1743 and 1757, and was considered the greatest governor of Damascus in Ottoman times. As'ad Pasha overcame all his local adversaries after three years struggle. In his reign Hama and Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
were added to the province of Damascus.
Despite As'ad Pasha's ability to ensure the security of the pilgrim caravan, the new Ottoman authorities in Istanbul deposed him in 1757 after fourteen years of governance. The Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
at the time, Raghib Pasha, denounced him as a, "peasant son of a peasant," after a deal between the two of them failed. In addition, the Kizlar Agha
Imperial Harem
The Imperial Harem of the Ottoman Empire was one of the most important elements of the Ottoman court. It was known in the West as "the Seraglio", an Italian term.- Harem quarters:...
of Istanbul disliked al-Azm for apparently not taking good care of him when he passed through Damascus on the pilgrim caravan. The Ottoman state was also interested in confiscating the wealth al-Azm accumulated during his tenure in office. The large amounts of money collected made the state revalue its currency. He was transferred to Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and later dismissed and executed. This marked the end of the family's golden age. It continued to assert some influence, and many of its members served as walis later, but its great days were over.
Legacy
Al-Azm's era brought a building boom to Damascus where dozens of bathsHammam
A Turkish bath is the Turkish variant of a steam bath, sauna or Russian Bath, distinguished by a focus on water, as distinct from ambient steam....
, khans
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
, schools and souqs were built, many of which still remain today. Most famous of them are the Azm Palace
Azm Palace
Azem Palace is a palace in Damascus, Syria which was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.-Architecture:...
in Damascus, and the Azm Palace
Azm Palace (Hama)
The Azm Palace is an 18th-century Ottoman palace in Hama, Syria located at the center of the city on the banks of the Orontes River, about south of the Hama Citadel...
in Hama, both of which were built by As'ad Pasha al-Azm as palatial residences.
Members of the family
- As'ad Pasha al-AzmAs'ad Pasha al-AzmAs'ad Pasha al-Azm was the governor of Damascus under Ottoman rule from 1742 to his deposition in 1757. He is responsible for the construction of several architectural works in the city and other places in Syria.-Background:...
, governor of Hama and Damascus. - Sulayman Pasha al-AzmSulayman Pasha al-AzmSulayman Pasha al-Azm was the governor of Damascus under the Ottoman Empire from 1733–37 and 1741-43. He belonged to the prominent Arab al-Azm clan and was the uncle of As'ad Pasha al-Azm who succeeded him as governor...
, governor of Damascus. - Haqqi al-AzmHaqqi al-AzmHaqqi al-Azm was a Syrian politician. He was active in the Ottoman government, and later served as the first prime minister in republican Syria.-Origins and early career:...
, former prime minister of Syria. - Khalid al-AzmKhalid al-AzmKhalid al-Azm was a Syrian national leader and six-time Prime Minister, as well as Acting President...
, six time prime minister of Syria. - Sadiq Jalal al-AzmSadiq Jalal al-AzmSadiq Jalal Al-Azm is a Professor Emeritus of Modern European Philosophy at the University of Damascus in Syria. He has been a visiting professor in the department of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University until 2007...
, Professor Emeritus of Modern European Philosophy at the University of DamascusUniversity of DamascusThe University of Damascus is the largest and oldest university in Syria, located in the capital Damascus and has campuses in other Syrian cities. It was founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine and the Institute of Law , also making it the oldest university in modern-day Syria...
.
Buildings named after the family
- Khan Sulayman PashaKhan Sulayman PashaKhan Sulayman Pasha is a large khan in the Old City of Damascus. Located in the walled city of Damascus on the eastern side of the Street Called Straight, facing Suq al-Khayyatin and Al-Buzuriyah Souq. It was built and named after Sulayman Pasha al-Azm, the governor of Damascus, in 1732-36...
- Khan As'ad PashaKhan As'ad PashaKhan As'ad Pasha is the largest khan in the Old City of Damascus, covering an area of . Situated along Al-Buzuriyah Souq, it was built and named after As'ad Pasha al-Azm, the governor of Damascus, in 1751-52. Khan As'ad Pasha has been described as one of the finest khans of Damascus, and the most...
- Azm PalaceAzm PalaceAzem Palace is a palace in Damascus, Syria which was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.-Architecture:...
, in DamascusDamascusDamascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
. - Azm Palace (Hama)Azm Palace (Hama)The Azm Palace is an 18th-century Ottoman palace in Hama, Syria located at the center of the city on the banks of the Orontes River, about south of the Hama Citadel...
, in HamaHamaHama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
.