Fathi Afandi al-Falaqinsi was one of Damascus wealthiest and most influential men in the second quarter of the 18th century. Thanks to his connections in Constantinople, he managed to procure the coveted position of daftardar (sort of a finance minister) in 1735-36. This assignment allowed him to control many lucrative endowments and accumulate an immense fortune a considerable of which he spent on maintaining existing landmarks and erecting new ones, including the above madrasa (Muslim religious school) in the Qaymaria neighborhood (located east of the Omayyad Mosque) as well as a hammam (public bath) in the Midan Quarter, both constructed around 1745. Fathi Afandi built a mighty network of alliances with Damascus' notables, its religious establishment, and the local Janissary Corps.
Fathi afandi's opulence rivaled that of a sultan. This was more than amply demonstrated in his daughter's wedding, the celebration of which lasted seven days each one of them allocated to a different group of guests: day one was of course reserved to Governor Sulayman Pasha al-Azm and his courtiers, day two was for the officers, the third day was for the ulama (Muslim religious scholars), the fourth for the merchants, the fifth for Christians and Jews, the sixth for peasants, and the last for the prostitutes.
After the death of Sulyaman Pasha, a struggle for power erupted between Asaad Pasha al-Azm, the new governor, and the ambitious daftardar. At the end of the day, Asaad Pasha's influence prevailed in the Ottoman capital and he was given a free hand to deal with Fathi Afandi by any means necessary. Thus empowered, the governor unleashed his armed men on Fathi's supporter who were eventually cornered in the Midan Quarter were hundreds of homes were looted and destroyed. Asaad Pasha was also able to procure a firman (decree) from the Sultan according to which the daftardar was decapitated and his head sent to Constantinople . His mutilated body was dragged in the city' alleys for three days, his possessions and those of his family were confiscated, and his supporters hunted down and eliminated. This bloody drama took place in 1746 by the end of which Asaad Pasha emerged as the undisputed master of Damascus.
Fathi afandi's opulence rivaled that of a sultan. This was more than amply demonstrated in his daughter's wedding, the celebration of which lasted seven days each one of them allocated to a different group of guests: day one was of course reserved to Governor Sulayman Pasha al-Azm and his courtiers, day two was for the officers, the third day was for the ulama (Muslim religious scholars), the fourth for the merchants, the fifth for Christians and Jews, the sixth for peasants, and the last for the prostitutes.
After the death of Sulyaman Pasha, a struggle for power erupted between Asaad Pasha al-Azm, the new governor, and the ambitious daftardar. At the end of the day, Asaad Pasha's influence prevailed in the Ottoman capital and he was given a free hand to deal with Fathi Afandi by any means necessary. Thus empowered, the governor unleashed his armed men on Fathi's supporter who were eventually cornered in the Midan Quarter were hundreds of homes were looted and destroyed. Asaad Pasha was also able to procure a firman (decree) from the Sultan according to which the daftardar was decapitated and his head sent to Constantinople . His mutilated body was dragged in the city' alleys for three days, his possessions and those of his family were confiscated, and his supporters hunted down and eliminated. This bloody drama took place in 1746 by the end of which Asaad Pasha emerged as the undisputed master of Damascus.
Gérard Degeorge
Syrie
Art, Histoire, Architecture
Hermann, éditeurs des sciences et des arts
1983
المدرسة الفتحيّة
ReplyDeleteكان فتحي أفندي الفلاقنسي أحد أغنى الدمشقييّن وأكثرهم نفوذاً في النصف الأوّل للقرن الثامن عشر وقد نجح بفضل علاقاته في القسطنطينيّة في الحصول على منصب الدفتردار (يكافىء وزير الماليّة) عام ١٧٣٥-١٧٣٦ ممّا مكّنه من التحكّم بعائدات كثير من الأوقاف الغنيّة وجمع ثروة أنفق منها على أعمال البناء والترميم ومن أشهر ما تركه المدرسة المصوّرة أعلاه في حيّ القيمريّة والحمّام الفتحي في الميدان وكلاهما بني حوالي عام ١٧٤٥. عزّز فتحي أفندي قوّته بأحلاف أجراها مع أعيان المدينة والعلماء والإنكشاريّة المحليّة أو اليرليّة وعاش حياة باذخة أشبه بحياة السلاطين تجلّت في عرس ابنته الذي دامت احتفالاته سبعة أيّام دعي في اليوم الأوّل الوالي سليمان باشا العظم وحاشيته وفي اليوم الثاني العلماء والثالث الضبّاط والرابع كبار التجّار والخامس المسيحيّون واليهود والسادس القرويّون والسابع البغايا.
جرى صراع على السلطة بين فتحي أفندي وأسعد باشا العظم بعد موت سليمان باشا وبالنتيجة تغلّب نفوذ أسعد باشا في القسطنطينيّة ممّا أطلق يديه في دمشق وهاجم أزلامه آخر معاقل الدفتردار في حيّ الميدان ونهبوا ودمّروا مئات البيوت وكان مسك الختام فرمان شاهاني أمر بموجبه أسعد باشا بالدفتردار فقطعت رأسه وأرسلت إلى العاصمة وجرى سحل جثّته لثلاثة أيّام في أزقّة المدينة ومصادرة أمواله وأموال عائلته والتنكيل بأنصاره وأعوانه. جرت هذه الأحداث الدامية عام ١٧٤٦ وأصبح أسعد باشا بنتيجتها سيّد دمشق بلا منازع.