Suleiman Pasha Abu Leil

Suleiman Pasha Abu Leil (1694–1762), Mameluke ruler of Iraq. At the age of 12 he was taken from Georgia to Iraq and sold to Hassan-Pasha, the ruler of Iraq. Thanks to his talent and courage, Hassan-Pasha delivered him from bondage and promoted him. Suleiman Pasha married the daughter of Hasan’s son and heir Ahmed Pasha. In 1733 he was granted the title of Mirmiran (Commander-in-Chief ) and appointed to the position of Kahia (Assistant of Pasha). In 1747 he was transferred to the rank of the governor of Adana; a year later he was appointed a Mutasalim (ruler) of Basra. In the same year, when Ahmed Pasha died, the Sultan of Turkey appointed his protégé to the post of Vali (governor) of Baghdad in order to prevent the Mamelukes from gaining power. However, Suleiman ousted him and using the support of Georgian Mamelukes, in 1749, became the first Mameluke Pasha of Iraq. Promotion of Suleiman Abu Leil to the post of the ruler of Iraq gave birth to the era of Mameluke rulers in Iraq.