Abu al-Dhahab

Born in the North Caucasus region of Circassia or in Abkhazia he was kidnapped and sold to the Mamluk Emir Ali Bey al-Kabir in Egypt. He became Ali Bey's closest and favourite fellow, his most trusted general and even his brother-in-law (according to other sources: son-in-law or adoptive son). ==Military career==

During the Russo-Turkish War Ali Bey declared Egypt's independence from the Ottoman Empire and attempted to restore the former Mamluk Sultanate which was conquered by the Ottoman Turks 250 years before. On behalf of Ali Bey, Abu Dhahab suppressed a revolt in Upper Egypt (1769), seized the Hejaz (1770) and - allied with the Palestinian emir Daher al-Umar - conquered large parts of Ottoman Syria . Having taken Damascus from its Ottoman governor Uthman Pasha al-Kurji ==Siding with the Ottomans==

Abu Al-Dhahab changed sides, choosing to side with the Ottomans against Ali Bey, he handed over all the conquered territories to the Ottomans and marched against Cairo. Ali Bey fled to Daher al-Umar in Acre, and Abu Dhahab became the new Shaykh al-Balad (civil governor) and de facto ruler of Egypt. When Ali Bey came back and tried to restore his position, he was defeated and killed by Abu Dhahab's forces near Cairo (1773). == Palestine campaign==

Acting on Ottoman orders Abu Dhahab invaded Palestine to defeat Sheikh Daher. He conquered Gaza, Jaffa and Acre == Death==

During his Palestine campaign Abu Al-Dahab suddenly died of the plague. His comrades Murad Bey and Ibrahim Bey, the leaders of his Mamluk faction (Abu-Dhahab faction or Muhammadiyya), succeeded him in power. ==See also==