CEZZAR AHMED PASHA



The exact date of birth of this historical Turkish soldier is not known. The soundest resources say that he is from Bosnia. Ahmed, who came to Istanbul in his youth and worked as a barber, was under the protection and service of Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha. Ali Pasha took him together with himself while going to Egypt. This comprised a turning point for Ahmed in his latter life, opening the way for him to use his intelligence. When Hekimoglu Ali Pasha left Egypt, Ahmed remained in Egypt. Ahmed, who lived among Kölemens for years, found the opportunity to learn the fighting methods and lifestyles of Kölemens. Kölemen Beys, seeing and appreciating his skills, promoted him to Castle Bey.
Cezzar name was given after the following event:

Abdullah Bey, whom he served, was taken captive by Buhayra Tribe forces during a conflict and was executed. Castle Bey Ahmed, having been informed of that, was very sorry for that. Ali Bey, one of the leading personages of Kölemens commissioned Ahmed Bey to take revenge of Abdullah Bey. It was a violent revenge which Ahmed Bey took from the tribe in question, he killed about 70 of them. Ali Bey, when he found that out, could not help him saying Cezzar, meaning Camel Butcher. Cezzar Ahmed began to ascend step by step in history as from that date.

Kölemen Beys, who rose against the state wanted to make Cezzar an instrument for their eliminating their rivals. Cezzar did not accept this proposal, because it opposed to his moral values and his stouthearted character. Cezzar, felling out with Ali Bey, one of the Kölemen Beys, had to leave Egypt.

His life between his departing from Egypt and his Sayda governorate with vizier rank in 1776 is full of struggles showing his courage and fortitude. When he was Sayda governor, he dealt with rebellious tribes and established absolute authority in Syria and Lebanon.He was appointed as the Damascus governor in 1780 because of his success.

This Turkish personage, who elapsed everyday of his life with struggles, despite his being known for his defense in Akka, had served a lot before that. His defense of Beirut against the Russian and seizure of Yafa are the leading examples. Cezzar, who wrote the destiny of Beirut, repaired the ramparts of the city in a short time, and started a big improvement activity in the city. He took measures to ensure public order at the same time. He acted justly while doing these, and so won the love of the people. Cezzar’s heroism in this defense against superior enemy forces with a few people is unforgettable.
The uneasiness and rebels rising everywhere in Ottoman state in these days took place in Yafa too. We see that Cezzar Ahmed Pasha strove to put down the rebellion in Yafa. Cezzar, capturing Yafa, established authority.

Although Napoleon Bonaparte could seize Egypt easily on 25 July 1798, he suffered great losses because of the assaults of the local forces. The number of French soldiers in Egypt was decreasing day by day. Another reason of losses was plague. Napoleon had to withdraw his forces from some regions because of that, which allowed the ex-owners of such lands to take over the same. Ottoman State, under the assault by Napoleon, started to get prepared on land and in the sea to defeat French. The land forces in whole Damascus and its environs were given under the command of Cezzar Ahmed Pasha, who was entitled as Egypt Commander.

Napoleon decided that he did not have any chance other than defeating Cezzar Ahmed Pasha in the first occasion to be able to keep his existence in Egypt. He knew that Cezzar was his hardest rival he encountered since he first arrived in Ottoman country. Therefore, he tried to make him support himself by sending letters, but he could not. Bonaparte decided on an expedition upon Syria to prevent British fleet from entering Eastern Mediterranean ports, to force Ottoman state to sign a peace agreement and accept his opinions about Egypt.

Bonaparte, leaving an adequate number of soldiers in Egypt, departed from Egypt to Syria on 10 February 1799 with a force of 18.000 soldiers. He surrounded Yafa after he seized El-Ariş, Gaza and Remle. Yafa could resist for only 5 days. The severe resistance of Yafa caused slaughter by Napoleon forces when they entered Yafa. Napoleon, marching toward Hayfa, seized it easily. Although Akka was ready for defense, it was not enough. The strongest weapon of Akka castle was people and the heartily belief of Turks and Muslims.