Al-Azm family

Al-Azm family (Arabic: آل العظم ʾĀl al-ʿAẓm, Turkish: Azm Ailesi) is a prominent Damascene family. Their political influence in Ottoman Syria began in the 18th century when members of the family administered Maarrat al-Nu'man and Hama. A scion of the family, Ismail Pasha al-Azm, was appointed wāli of Damascus Eyalet in 1725. Between 1725 and 1783, members of the family, including As'ad Pasha al-Azm, held power in Damascus for 47 years, in addition to periodical appointments in Sidon Eyalet, Tripoli Eyalet, Hama, Aleppo Eyalet,[1] and Egypt Eyalet. The family's influence declined in the 19th century, failing to establish a true dynasty.[2]

Diwan Al-Azm in Samma
Al-Azm family
آل العظم
(ʾĀl al-ʿAẓm)
Azm Palace in Damascus
Current regionDamascus, Hama
Place of origin Syria
MembersSulayman Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm
Sa'deddin Pasha al-Azm
Muhammad Pasha al-Azm
Abdullah Pasha al-Azm
Azmzade Sadik Al Mouayad
Haqqi al-Azm
Khalid al-Azm
Sadiq Jalal al-Azm
Estate(s)Azm Palace of Damascus (nationalized)
Azm Palace of Hama (nationalized)

Origins

The origins of the Azm family are relatively obscure and evidence has been described as "contradictory and generally unsatisfactory."[3] One of the most prominent families in Ottoman Syria,[4] the Al-Azm's may have originated from the region of Konya in Anatolia;[5] hence, their roots in Turkey may shed light on recruitment and career patterns of the family members who held high positions as Ottoman officers in the Syrian provinces.[6] The Al-Azm's began to emerge as a major influence in the region when Ibrahim al-'Azm, "a rural notable possibly of Turkish stock",[4] went to Ma'arrat al-Nu'man to restore order in the mid-seventeenth century.[4] Upon his death, Ibrahim al-'Azm's sons, Ismail Pasha al-Azm and Sulayman Pasha al-Azm, completed their father's task and were rewarded by the Ottoman administration with hereditary tax farms in Homs, Hama and Ma'arrat al-Nu'man.[4]

In an article written by a member of the family, Professor Sadiq Jalal al-Azm, the introductory author, Jean-Pierre Rondas, describes Al-Azm as:

...in fact of 'Ottoman' and Turkish descent. His family belonged to the Ottoman ruling class in Damascus; its power dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries... The Turkish family al-Azm continued to stay in Damascus [...] under French mandate. A member of the family, Khalid bey al-Azm, even became prime minister. The family's political influence lasted until 1963, when the pan-Arabic nationalist Baath party seized power.[7]

In addition to the Turkish origin theory, an Arab origin is believed to be possible. In particular, the Azm family is believed to be part of "the Banu Azm tribe of the northern Hijaz, [who] served the Ottomans in the sixteenth century by protecting the Damascus-Medina caravan route, and later migrated to Anatolia, then to Ma'arra." In fact,

there is no doubt, however, that to eighteenth century local annalists and European observers the ‘Aẓms were known as a family of Arab (Bedouin) origin... It may very well be that the latter view [being of Turkish stock] is a mistaken conclusion based on the family's long residence in the province of Konya.[8]

However, "there is no proof that the Azms themselves claimed to be of bedouin origin".[9]

The controversy can be understood in light of statements made by Dr. Shamir Shimon and Dr. Abdul Karim Rafeq. Dr. Shimon Shamir states that "although none of the views is supported by definite proofs, the latter [that is, the Beduin theory] seems to be more acceptable. In the realities of Syria in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it is more likely that a Beduin family in the Ottoman service should become partly turkicized and live for a while in Anatolia than that a Turkish family should seek to derive prestige by falsely attributing its origins to a Beduin tribe."[10] On the other hand, Dr Abdul Karim Rafeq "opts for the local-origin theory without committing himself to the beduin part." In response to primary sources stating "that Sadeddin [Pasha al-Azm] was "un autre pacha arabe de nation"; and that Mehmed [Pasha al-Azm] was of an Arab family... [and] that the 'Azms were "Arabs" (awlad al-'Arab) from the Arab lands (al-bilad al-'Arabiyya)," Dr Rafeq advocates for treating these statements with great caution, especially the epithet "Arab", which he takes to mean "local" as opposed to Ottoman.[11] Finally, it is important to note that there is evidence that "Sulayman Pasha al-Azm knew not a word of Arabic whereas Mehmed was apparently thoroughly Arabized".[12]

Rise to power

Ismail Pasha, who later became wāli (governor) of Tripoli, was transferred to Damascus in 1725 at the request of the mufti, after fighting between different factions of janissaries prevented the Hajj caravan from departing on time. His brother became the wali of Tripoli, and his son became the wali of Sidon. In 1730 when Sultam Ahmed III was deposed they were all dismissed, but not for long. Sulayman Pasha al-Azm, brother of Ismail Pasha, became wali of Damascus between 1733 and 1738 and again from 1741 until his death in 1743. He was succeeded by his nephew As'ad Pasha al-Azm who reigned between 1743 and 1757, and was considered the greatest governor of Damascus in Ottoman times. As'ad Pasha overcame all his local adversaries after three years struggle. In his reign Hama and Homs were added to the province of Damascus.[13]

Despite As'ad Pasha's ability to ensure the security of the pilgrim caravan, the new Ottoman authorities in Istanbul deposed him in 1757 after fourteen years of governance. The Grand Vizier at the time, Raghib Pasha, denounced him as a, "peasant son of a peasant," after a deal between the two of them failed. In addition, the Kizlar Agha of Istanbul disliked al-Azm for apparently not taking good care of him when he passed through Damascus on the pilgrim caravan. The Ottoman state was also interested in confiscating the wealth al-Azm accumulated during his tenure in office. The large amounts of money collected made the state revalue its currency.[14] He was transferred to Aleppo and later dismissed and executed. This marked the end of the family's golden age. It continued to assert some influence, and many of its members served as walis later, but its great days were over.[13] The last member of the family to govern Damascus was Abdullah Pasha al-Azm who served intermittently between 1795 and 1807.[15]

Maintaining the family name

In the mid-18th century the al-Azm family reconciled itself to power centres outside the family. Consequently, two members of its family, Layla bint al-Sayyid Ibrahim al-Azm and Khadija bint Nasuh Pasha, were married to Turkish mamluks in the family's service to retain the Azm family name.[16] The lineage descending from Layla indicates that this branch of the family were concentrated around Hama, and many held government posts there.[16]

Legacy

Al-Azm's era brought a building boom to Damascus where dozens of baths, khans, schools and souqs were built, many of which still remain today. Most famous of them are the Azm Palace in Damascus, and the Azm Palace in Hama, both of which were built by As'ad Pasha al-Azm as palatial residences.[17]

Different translation of surname

Last names were not used during the Ottoman era. Family members were using the name Azmzade in the nineteenth century,[18] in reference to the Azm clan with the zade being an addition indicating nobility. The Latin inscription of the name translated from Arabic script has evolved over time and is now written in different ways. Some family members have the family name Azme, Aladem, Alazm, Aladam, Alzm or some other surnames, although they all belong to the same family. In addition, some members of the family that remained in Turkey have a variety of different last names which were selected following the promulgation of a 1934 law which made last names mandatory and banned the use to references of nobility. It is not clear whether some use the surname Kemikoğlu, literally meaning "the son the bone".

Members of the family

Buildings named after the family

Books published by family members

References
  1. Stearns and Langer, 2001, p.357.
  2. Holt, Lambton and Lewis, 1977, p.376.
  3. Douwes, 2000, p. 45.
  4. Khoury, Philip S. (2003), Urban Notables and Arab Nationalism: The Politics of Damascus 1860-1920, Cambridge University Press, p. 50, ISBN 0521533236, The most prominent family to secure significant independent political power in Damascus was the 'Azm family. Ibrahim al-'Azm, a rural notable possibly of Turkish stock, went to Ma'arrat al-Nu'man, a trading center between Aleppo and Hama catering to beduin, to restore order in the mid-seventeenth century. Although he was killed, his sons, Isma'il and Sulayman, completed their father's task and were rewarded with hereditary tax farms in Homs, Hama and Ma'arrat al-Nu'man.
  5. Douwes, Dick (2000), The Ottomans in Syria: a history of justice and oppression, I.B. Tauris, p. 69, ISBN 1-86064-031-1, The origins of the families are of interest because they shed light on recruitment and career patterns of officers in the Syrian provinces, many of whom originated from Anatolia. The Azm family may have originated from the Konya area...
  6. Douwes, 2000, p. 69.
  7. al-Azm, Sadiq Jalal (2008), "Science and Religion, an Uneasy Relationship in the History of Judeo-Christian-Muslim Heritage", Islam & Europe, Leuven University Press, p. 129, ISBN 978-9058676726
  8. Shamir, Shimon (2009), As'ad Pasha al-'Azm and Ottoman rule in Damascus (1743–58), Cambridge University Press, p. 1
  9. Barbir, Karl K. (1980), Ottoman Rule in Damascus, 1708-1758, Princeton University Press, p. 58, ISBN 1400853206
  10. Barbir, 1980, pp. 58.
  11. Rafeq, Abdul-Karim (1966), The Province of Damascus, 1723-1783, Khayats, pp. 88–89
  12. Barbir, 1980, pp. 58-61.
  13. Singh, 2000, p.162.
  14. Choueiri, 2005, p.232.
  15. Douwes, 2000, p. 57.
  16. Linda Schatkowski, Schilcher (1985), Families in politics: Damascene Factions and Estates of the 18th and 19th Centuries, F. Steiner, p. 138, ISBN 3515031464
  17. Dumper and Stanley, 2007, p.123.
  18. Minawi, Mostafa (2022). Losing Istanbul: Arab-Ottoman Imperialists and the End of Empire. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-1-5036-3316-2.

Bibliography
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