Mustafa Agha Barbar

Mustafa Agha Barbar (born 1767) 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.^[1]

Name

The middle word in his name, Agha, is actually a title derived from the Turkish 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".

Biography

Barbar was originally a peasant from Al-Qalamoun,^[2][3][4] 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,^[2] he attained high office and acquired standing among the viziers and subjects.^[5] It is said that he was the chief antagonist of Emir Bashir Shihab II around Abdullah Pasha (the Ottoman Governor of Damascus).^[2]

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 (mamluks), shortly after his grip on power was challenged.^[1] He also endowed property in Tripoli for the building of a canal and two water fountains, in order to enhance his local image.^[1] In 1816, Barbar built the fortress of Iaal.^[6] That same year, soldiers serving him ravaged a number of Syrian Ismaili Shia villages, which proved disastrous for the Ismailis of Syria.^[7]

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^[8] (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.^[9]

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.^[10] from his subjects, which was prohibited by the new Egyptian authorities^[11]

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.

See also

• Ottoman Syria

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} http://history.berkeley.edu/faculty/Doumani/endowing%20family.pdf pg.9
2. ^ ^{a b c} http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ISHHYMNmp0gC&pg=PA150&dq=mustafa+agha+barbar pg.109
3. ^ http://www.fallingrain.com/world/LE/3/Al_Qalamun.html
4. ^ Google Maps: Al Qalamoun
5. ^ http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ISHHYMNmp0gC&pg=PA150&dq=mustafa+agha+barbar pg.57
6. ^ www.lebanon.com
7. ^ http://www.mostmerciful.com/book-5.htm
8. ^ Google Maps: Ash Shuwayfat
9. ^ http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ISHHYMNmp0gC&pg=PA150&dq=mustafa+agha+barbar pg.150
10. ^ http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/1833-awayid-abolition-tf/
11. ^ http://books.google.com.au/books?id=T91k6HAODzAC&pg=PA338&dq=mustafa+agha+barbar pg.338

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

Persondata
Name	Barbar, Mustafa Agha
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1767
Place of birth
Date of death	1835
Place of death

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