Mustafa Agha Barbar
Encyclopedia
Mustafa Agha Barbar was a governor of the Ottoman provinces of Tripoli, Lebanon
and Latakia
, Syria
for the Ottomans. He ruled between 1800–08, 1810–20 and 1821-35.
word for "chief, master, or lord." It was a title for a civil or military officer in the Ottoman Empire
, and was placed after the name of such military functionaries. Also, his surname, Barbar, may connect him in some way to the Berber
ethnic group
of north Africa
, since the Arabic
word for "Berber" is pronounced as "Bar-bar".
, in the Koura District
. At the beginning of his career he was in the service of Emir Hasan (the brother of Emir Bashir Shihab II
). By virtue of his acumen, bravery, skill and energy, he attained high office and acquired standing among the viziers and subjects. It is said that he was the chief antagonist of Emir Bashir Shihab II around Abdullah Pasha (the Ottoman Governor of Damascus).
He was appointed governor of Tripoli by the Ottomans in 1798. In the early 19th century, he had extensive restoration work done on the Citadel of Tripoli (castle of Saint Gilles
), resulting in its present state. Later on, he endowed large portions of his property in Tripoli to his wives, relatives and slaves (mamluk
s), shortly after his grip on power was challenged. He also endowed property in Tripoli for the building of a canal and two water fountains, in order to enhance his local image. In 1816, Barbar built the fortress of Iaal
. That same year, soldiers serving him ravaged a number of Syrian Ismaili
Shia villages, which proved disastrous for the Ismailis of Syria.
Between 1820 and 1825, an Ottoman imperial decree
went forth, ordering for Barbar's execution. He came to the Mount Lebanon Governorate
, seeking asylum with Emir Bashir, who appointed a residence for him and his people in the village of Shwayfat (Aley District
), until he could obtain a pardon through the offices of the governor of Egypt, Muhammad Ali
(with whom Emir Bashir was allied). A friendship thus was formed between the former enemies.
In October, 1833, Barbar was dismissed from office and arrested by the new Egyptian authorities. Muhammad Ali of Egypt was now in control, as opposed to the previous Ottomans. Barbar was arrested his levying the ‘awayid, a tax levied to support the officeholders. from his subjects, which was prohibited by the new Egyptian authorities
Barbar died April 28, 1835, possibly due to a heart attack
or a similar affliction. He was buried at the Iaal fortress on April 29.
Some of his modern descendants now live in Tripoli and Iaal, Lebanon
.
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
and Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
for the Ottomans. He ruled between 1800–08, 1810–20 and 1821-35.
Name
The middle word in his name, Agha, is actually a title derived from the TurkishTurkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
word for "chief, master, or lord." It was a title for a civil or military officer in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and was placed after the name of such military functionaries. Also, his surname, Barbar, may connect him in some way to the Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
of north Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, since the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
word for "Berber" is pronounced as "Bar-bar".
Biography
Barbar was originally a peasant from Al-QalamounAl-Qalamoun
Al-Qalamoun is a Mediterranean seaside town of the North Governorate of Lebanon in the Tripoli District. The town is 5 km south of Tripoli and is also the first town south of Tripoli.-Name:...
, in the Koura District
Koura District
Koura or El Koura is a district in the North Governorate, Lebanon.Koura is one of the 36 districts of Lebanon, which is very popular for the olive tree cultivation. It is known by its dark green color....
. At the beginning of his career he was in the service of Emir Hasan (the brother of Emir Bashir Shihab II
Bashir Shihab II
Bashir Chehab II was a Lebanese emir who ruled Lebanon in the first half of the 19th century.-Life:Bashir was born 2 January 1767 , son of Emir Qasim ibn Umar Chehab of the noble Chehab family which had came to power in 1697...
). By virtue of his acumen, bravery, skill and energy, he attained high office and acquired standing among the viziers and subjects. It is said that he was the chief antagonist of Emir Bashir Shihab II around Abdullah Pasha (the Ottoman Governor of Damascus).
He was appointed governor of Tripoli by the Ottomans in 1798. In the early 19th century, he had extensive restoration work done on the Citadel of Tripoli (castle of Saint Gilles
Saint Giles
Saint Giles was a Greek Christian hermit saint from Athens, whose legend is centered in Provence and Septimania. The tomb in the abbey Giles was said to have founded, in St-Gilles-du-Gard, became a place of pilgrimage and a stop on the road that led from Arles to Santiago de Compostela, the...
), resulting in its present state. Later on, he endowed large portions of his property in Tripoli to his wives, relatives and slaves (mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
s), shortly after his grip on power was challenged. He also endowed property in Tripoli for the building of a canal and two water fountains, in order to enhance his local image. In 1816, Barbar built the fortress of Iaal
Iaal Fortress
Iaal Fortress is a huge defensive castle located in Iaal in the Zgharta District of the North Governorate of Lebanon. Built in 1816 by the Ottoman Governor of Tripoli Mustafa Agha Barbar, it sits on a high hill overlooking a wide panoramic view. Barbar was appointed Governor of Tripoli by the...
. That same year, soldiers serving him ravaged a number of Syrian Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Shia villages, which proved disastrous for the Ismailis of Syria.
Between 1820 and 1825, an Ottoman imperial decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
went forth, ordering for Barbar's execution. He came to the Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon is one of the Governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Baabda. The overwhelming majority of its population is Maronites, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Christians...
, seeking asylum with Emir Bashir, who appointed a residence for him and his people in the village of Shwayfat (Aley District
Aley District
Aley is a district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, to the south-east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut. The capital is Aley. Aley city was previously known as the "bride of the summers" during the 1960 and 70s, when Aley and neighboring Bhamdune were attractive tourist locations for Gulf tourists and...
), until he could obtain a pardon through the offices of the governor of Egypt, Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali of Egypt
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha was a commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli, and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan...
(with whom Emir Bashir was allied). A friendship thus was formed between the former enemies.
In October, 1833, Barbar was dismissed from office and arrested by the new Egyptian authorities. Muhammad Ali of Egypt was now in control, as opposed to the previous Ottomans. Barbar was arrested his levying the ‘awayid, a tax levied to support the officeholders. from his subjects, which was prohibited by the new Egyptian authorities
Barbar died April 28, 1835, possibly due to a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
or a similar affliction. He was buried at the Iaal fortress on April 29.
Some of his modern descendants now live in Tripoli and Iaal, Lebanon
Iaal, Lebanon
Iaal is an ancient village located approximately 12 km south-east of Tripoli, 85 km from Beirut and 5 km from Zgharta. It is located within the Zgharta District of the North Governorate of Lebanon. Iaal lies at the foot of the Mount Lebanon range and has a road that runs up into the...
.
Further reading
- The Greek Orthodox waqf in Lebanon during the Ottoman period, Volume 113 of Beiruter Texte und Studien. By Souad Abou el-Rousse Slim. Published by Ergon Verlag, 2007. ISBN 3899135563/ISBN 9783899135565
- The Royal Archives of Egypt and the disturbances in Palestine, 1834 Issue 11 of Oriental series, American University of Beirut Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Issue 11 of Publication of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences: Oriental series. By Asad Rustum. Printed at the American Press, 1938.
- Page 41, A modern history of Syria, including Lebanon and Palestine, by Abdul Latif Tibawi. Illustrated edition. Published by Macmillan, 1969.
- Les européens vus par les libanais à l'époque ottomane, Volume 74 of Beiruter Texte und Studien. By Bernard Heyberger, Carsten-Michael Walbiner. Published by Ergon Verlag, 2002. ISBN 3899130723/ISBN 9783899130720
- Page 189, The American journal of Semitic languages and literatures, Volume 41. By the University of Chicago. Dept. of Semitic Languages and Literatures. Published by the University of Chicago Press, 1925.
- Page 303, Politics and change in a traditional society; Lebanon, 1711-1845, by Iliya F. Harik. Published by the Princeton University Press, 1968
- Pages 100 and 121-122; The Ottomans in Syria: a history of justice and oppression Tauris Academic Studies. By Dick Douwes, Published by I.B. Tauris, 2000. Illustrated edition. ISBN 1860640311/ISBN 9781860640315
- Page 150, Murder, mayhem, pillage and plunder: the history of Lebanon in the 18th and 19th centuries by Mikhāʼīl Mishāqah, translated by Wheeler McIntosh Thackston. Illustrated edition. Published by SUNY Press, 1988. ISBN 0887067123/ISBN 9780887067129