Muhammad (Mehmet) Abu Nabbut Agha (Arabic: محمد أبو نبوت) was the governor of Jaffa and Gaza in the early 19th century on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, from 1807 to 1818, as well as the governor of Thessaloniki from 1819 to 1827 during the Greek War of Independence.
Born Christian in the Balkans, Abu Nabbut converted to Islam and started his military and political career as an officer in the janissary corps[1] A few years after Jezzar's death in 1804, he was appointed by Jezzar's heir, Sulayman Pasha, as governor of the districts of Jaffa and Gaza.[2]
Abu-Nabbut possessed a similar character to Jezzar, becoming known for his ambitious construction and refurbishment projects in Jaffa and for his boundless cruelty as a ruler.[2] He was also known as a just ruler who strove to improve Jaffa and better its inhabitants. Under his rule, the population and economic conditions of Jaffa and Gaza improved substantially.[3]
A number of legends surrounded Abu-Nabbut including one concerning his name. Abu-Nabbut, meaning "Father of the Club" in Arabic, supposedly was attributed to him from his habit of roaming the streets of Jaffa with a club, beating anyone who disobeyed his orders.[2] The English traveller Charles Leonard Irby, who passed through Jaffa in 1817, observed that while his formal name was "Mohammed Aga", he was referred to as "Abou Nabout"; "the master of the mace or stick".[4] Another local Palestinian legend tells of how Abu-Nabbut was locked out of Jaffa after leaving the city to walk through the nearby orchards. When he demanded the gate be opened for him, the guard refused because he did not believe it was Abu-Nabbut waiting outside. After repeated calls, Abu-Nabbut was allowed entry. The next morning he summoned all of Jaffa's inhabitants and proclaimed "Cursed be the man, and cursed his father, who joins himself to a man of Jaffa." He ordered that this to be engraved on his well along the Jaffa Road.[5]
When Sulayman Pasha of Acre fell ill in 1818, Abu Nabbut apparently made moves to become his successor as governor of Acre. However, this did not suit Sulayman Pasha's influential financial advisor, Haim Farhi, who favoured his young protégé Abdullah Pasha, believing that Abdullah would be more easy to control. Farhi therefore convinced Sulayman Pasha in the summer of 1818 to move against Abu Nabbut. Abu Nabbut was hence removed from Jaffa through an internal coup. This earned Farhi the eternal enmity of Abu Nabbut, who after his removal from Jaffa went to Istanbul, "where he could intrigue" against Farhi.[6]
Between 1819 and 1827 Abu-Nabbut again served as a governor, first at Selanik, then at Diyarbakir.[7]
After inquiries in Jaffa in the 1870s, Clermont-Ganneau found that the tomb of "the legendary Abu Nabbut" was located near the Sebil Abu Nabbut in Jaffa.[8] This tomb survived at least until 1950,[9] but it has now disappeared.[10]
During his tenure as governor Abu-Nabbut was responsible for a large number of building projects in Jaffa, including the completion of the fortifications of the city, the renovation of the Great Mosque, the erection of two sabils (public fountains), and the construction of cotton and wool markets.[2][11]
Fortifications
The French sacking of the city after the Siege of Jaffa in 1799 proved the inadequacy of the city walls, and when the city was returned to Ottoman control in 1800, Turkish and British engineers began to rebuild the fortifications. This task was completed under Abu-Nabbut from 1810 and onwards. Abu Nabbut added a monumental eastern gate crowned with three cupolas.[12] The fortifications were specially designed to cope with European artillery and possessed thick walls, with substantial corner bastions, capable of supporting large cannons. Similar fortifications have survived at Acre. However, later in the nineteenth century the political situation had changed, and Abu-Nabbut's fortifications were no longer needed. By 1888 the dismantling process was complete and the moat was entirely filled in. Today, only two gateways and a short section of Abu-Nabbut's wall remains.[13]
Mahmoudiya Mosque
Sabil, or public fountain, in Jaffa, built by Abu Nabbut. Here the west face on old postcard from the British Mandate of Palestine-period.
Clermont-Ganneau, C.S. (1896). [ARP] Archaeological Researches in Palestine 1873-1874, translated from the French by J. McFarlane. Vol. 2. London: Palestine Exploration Fund. Cited in Petersen, (2001).
Irby, C.L; Mangles, J. (1823). Travels in Egypt and Nubia, Syria, and Asia Minor; during the years 1817 & 1818. London: Printed for Private Distribution by T. White & Co.( p.382)
Irby, Charles Leonard, James Mangles, Henrich Steffens (1852),Travels in Egypt and Nubia, Syria, and the Holy Land: including a journey round the Dead Sea, and through the country east of the Jordan Published by J. Murray, 150 pages p.116
Kana`an, Ruba (1998), Jaffa and the Waqf of Muhammad Aga Abu Nabbut (1799-1831): A Study in Urban History of an East Mediterranean City, D. Phil. Thesis. Oxford: Oxford University. Cited in Petersen (2001).
Kana`an, Ruba (2001), In Muqarnas XVIII: An Annual on Islamic Art and Architecture. Gülru Necipoglu (ed.). Leiden: E.J. Brill. (.htlm link)
Mayer, L. A.; Pinkerfeld, J.; Yadin, Y. (1950). Some Principal Muslim Religious Buildings in Israel. Jerusalem: Ministry of religious affairs. Cited in Petersen (2001)
muhammad, nabbut, muhammad, mehmet, nabbut, agha, arabic, محمد, أبو, نبوت, governor, jaffa, gaza, early, 19th, century, behalf, ottoman, empire, from, 1807, 1818, well, governor, thessaloniki, from, 1819, 1827, during, greek, independence, muhammad, nabbut, ag. Muhammad Mehmet Abu Nabbut Agha Arabic محمد أبو نبوت was the governor of Jaffa and Gaza in the early 19th century on behalf of the Ottoman Empire from 1807 to 1818 as well as the governor of Thessaloniki from 1819 to 1827 during the Greek War of Independence Muhammad Abu Nabbut Aghaمحمد أبو نبوتMonarchsSultan Mustafa IV 1807 1808 Sultan Mahmud II 1808 1839 Governor of Gaza and JaffaIn office 1807 1818Preceded byMuhammad Abu MarraqSucceeded byMustafa BeyGovernor of ThessalonikiIn office 1819 1827Personal detailsNationalityOttoman Contents 1 Biography 2 Buildings 2 1 Fortifications 2 2 Mahmoudiya Mosque 2 3 Sabil Abu Nabbut 2 4 Palestinian villages 3 See also 4 References 5 BibliographyBiography EditBorn Christian in the Balkans Abu Nabbut converted to Islam and started his military and political career as an officer in the janissary corps 1 A few years after Jezzar s death in 1804 he was appointed by Jezzar s heir Sulayman Pasha as governor of the districts of Jaffa and Gaza 2 Abu Nabbut possessed a similar character to Jezzar becoming known for his ambitious construction and refurbishment projects in Jaffa and for his boundless cruelty as a ruler 2 He was also known as a just ruler who strove to improve Jaffa and better its inhabitants Under his rule the population and economic conditions of Jaffa and Gaza improved substantially 3 A number of legends surrounded Abu Nabbut including one concerning his name Abu Nabbut meaning Father of the Club in Arabic supposedly was attributed to him from his habit of roaming the streets of Jaffa with a club beating anyone who disobeyed his orders 2 The English traveller Charles Leonard Irby who passed through Jaffa in 1817 observed that while his formal name was Mohammed Aga he was referred to as Abou Nabout the master of the mace or stick 4 Another local Palestinian legend tells of how Abu Nabbut was locked out of Jaffa after leaving the city to walk through the nearby orchards When he demanded the gate be opened for him the guard refused because he did not believe it was Abu Nabbut waiting outside After repeated calls Abu Nabbut was allowed entry The next morning he summoned all of Jaffa s inhabitants and proclaimed Cursed be the man and cursed his father who joins himself to a man of Jaffa He ordered that this to be engraved on his well along the Jaffa Road 5 When Sulayman Pasha of Acre fell ill in 1818 Abu Nabbut apparently made moves to become his successor as governor of Acre However this did not suit Sulayman Pasha s influential financial advisor Haim Farhi who favoured his young protege Abdullah Pasha believing that Abdullah would be more easy to control Farhi therefore convinced Sulayman Pasha in the summer of 1818 to move against Abu Nabbut Abu Nabbut was hence removed from Jaffa through an internal coup This earned Farhi the eternal enmity of Abu Nabbut who after his removal from Jaffa went to Istanbul where he could intrigue against Farhi 6 Between 1819 and 1827 Abu Nabbut again served as a governor first at Selanik then at Diyarbakir 7 After inquiries in Jaffa in the 1870s Clermont Ganneau found that the tomb of the legendary Abu Nabbut was located near the Sebil Abu Nabbut in Jaffa 8 This tomb survived at least until 1950 9 but it has now disappeared 10 Buildings Edit Mahmoudiya Mosque built by Abu Nabbut in 1812 During his tenure as governor Abu Nabbut was responsible for a large number of building projects in Jaffa including the completion of the fortifications of the city the renovation of the Great Mosque the erection of two sabils public fountains and the construction of cotton and wool markets 2 11 Fortifications Edit The French sacking of the city after the Siege of Jaffa in 1799 proved the inadequacy of the city walls and when the city was returned to Ottoman control in 1800 Turkish and British engineers began to rebuild the fortifications This task was completed under Abu Nabbut from 1810 and onwards Abu Nabbut added a monumental eastern gate crowned with three cupolas 12 The fortifications were specially designed to cope with European artillery and possessed thick walls with substantial corner bastions capable of supporting large cannons Similar fortifications have survived at Acre However later in the nineteenth century the political situation had changed and Abu Nabbut s fortifications were no longer needed By 1888 the dismantling process was complete and the moat was entirely filled in Today only two gateways and a short section of Abu Nabbut s wall remains 13 Mahmoudiya Mosque Edit Sabil or public fountain in Jaffa built by Abu Nabbut Here the west face on old postcard from the British Mandate of Palestine period Main article Mahmoudiya Mosque During his tenure as governor in 1812 Abu Nabbut ordered the construction of the Mahmoudiya Mosque which today is the largest mosque in Jaffa 2 Sabil Abu Nabbut Edit Main article Sabil Abu Nabbut Above the columns on the west side of the building is a plaque commemorating the construction of the sabil in 1236 H 14 Palestinian villages Edit The inhabitants of al Jiyya reported that their village had been ruined at one point and then rebuilt by Abu Nabbut 15 See also EditLady Hester StanhopeReferences Edit Rene Cattaui 1933 Le Regne de Mohamed Aly d apres les archives russes en Egypte Edition Le Caire Societe royale de geographie d Egypte a b c d e Al Mahmudiyya Mosque Archived 2011 06 04 at the Wayback Machine Archnet Digital Library Vilnay 2003 p 208 Irby 1852 p 116 Vilnay 2003 p 208 Philipp 2001 p 88 151 Kana an 2001 note 44 p 139 Clermont Ganneau p 3 also cited in Petersen 2001 p 171 Mayer et al 1950 p 32 Cited in Petersen 2001 p 172 Petersen 2001 p 172 Kana an 1998 Cited in Petersen 2001 p 16 2 Tolkowsky 1924 p 133 Cited in Petersen 2001 p 163 Petersen 2001 p 163 Petersen 2002 p 170 172 Khalidi 1992 p 114Bibliography EditClermont Ganneau C S 1896 ARP Archaeological Researches in Palestine 1873 1874 translated from the French by J McFarlane Vol 2 London Palestine Exploration Fund Cited in Petersen 2001 Irby C L Mangles J 1823 Travels in Egypt and Nubia Syria and Asia Minor during the years 1817 amp 1818 London Printed for Private Distribution by T White amp Co p 382 Irby Charles Leonard James Mangles Henrich Steffens 1852 Travels in Egypt and Nubia Syria and the Holy Land including a journey round the Dead Sea and through the country east of the Jordan Published by J Murray 150 pages p 116 Kana an Ruba 1998 Jaffa and the Waqf of Muhammad Aga Abu Nabbut 1799 1831 A Study in Urban History of an East Mediterranean City D Phil Thesis Oxford Oxford University Cited in Petersen 2001 Kana an Ruba 2001 Waqf Architecture and Political Self Fashioning The Construction of the Great Mosque of Jaffa by Muhammad Aga Abu Nabbut In Muqarnas XVIII An Annual on Islamic Art and Architecture Gulru Necipoglu ed Leiden E J Brill htlm link Khalidi W 1992 All That Remains The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948 Washington D C Institute for Palestine Studies ISBN 0 88728 224 5 Mayer L A Pinkerfeld J Yadin Y 1950 Some Principal Muslim Religious Buildings in Israel Jerusalem Ministry of religious affairs Cited in Petersen 2001 Petersen Andrew 2001 A Gazetteer of Buildings in Muslim Palestine British Academy Monographs in Archaeology Vol 1 Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 727011 0 Philipp Thomas 2001 Acre The rise and fall of a Palestinian city 1730 1830 Columbia University press Tolkowsky S 1924 The Gateway of Palestine A History of Jaffa Routledge London Cited in Petersen 2002 Vilnay Z 2003 Legends of Palestine Kessinger Publishing ISBN 9780766141285 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Muhammad Abu Nabbut amp oldid 1127000573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
