Suleman Pasha Buyuk

Suleman Pasha Buyuk (1722-1802), Pasha of Baghdad (1780-1802) of Georgian origin. As a young man he was taken from Georgia and sold into bondage in the Ottoman Turkey. His rule is viewed as the Golden Age in the history of Iraqi Mamelukes. At a young age he was sold into captivity in Turkey. He was taken to Baghdad and was donated to Suleiman Abu Lail, ruler of Iraq, who enrolled him in the choice military detachment staffed by Abu Lail’s compatriot Mamelukes. In 1765 he was promoted to the rank of the governor of Basra. In 1780 he became the head of Iraq and ruled it for 22 years. In order to strengthen his clan, he brought great number of Georgians to Iraq, took control over scattered Mamelukes and limited the influence of Janissaries. The course of his policy was building up of Iraq, suppression of the attacks of Iranians and Arab tribes and encouragement of trade and agriculture, establishing links with Europe. He was the founder of a Georgian Qulemen dynasty in Iraq.