Abu al-Dhahab

Born in the North Caucasus region of Circassia[2] or in Abkhazia[3][4] 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).

On behalf of Ali Bey, Abu Dhahab suppressed a revolt in Upper Egypt (1769), seized the Hejaz (1770) and - allied with the Palestinian emir Zahir al-Umar - conquered large parts of Ottoman Syria (1771).

Ali Bey fled to Zahir 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).

Mamluk Campaigns in Egypt and Syria during the times of Ali Bey and Abu Dhahab (1770–75)