Daher al-Umar

Daher al-Umar

Daher al-Umar al-Zaydani, also known as Zahir al-Umar or Dahir al-Umar, was a powerful leader in northern Palestine during the 1700s. He led the Zaydani family and became an important figure there from the 1730s until he died in 1775.

In 1730, Daher became the leader of his family. They collected taxes in the Galilee. With help from Bedouin groups, he took control of important towns like Tiberias, Safed, and Nazareth. He built strong defenses and controlled the cotton trade. He turned the small port of Acre into his main base. His efforts brought wealth and growth to areas such as Acre, Haifa, and Nazareth.

Daher's rule had some challenges, including conflicts with Ottoman governors. Despite this, he made the region stable and thriving. He welcomed Christian and Jewish families to settle in his lands, which helped the local economy. Today, Daher al-Umar is remembered as a hero by many Palestinians for his leadership.

Family and early life

See also: Zayadina

Daher al-Umar was born around 1690. His father, Umar, was a leader of the Zayadina, a family of Bedouin people who lived in the Tiberias area. His mother came from the Sardiyya tribe in Hauran.

When Daher was young, his father worked as a tax collector for the area around Safed. After his father died, Daher's brother Sa'd became the leader of the family. Daher grew up learning to hunt and defend his village. He married into important families, which helped him gain influence in the region. He had many children who later supported him in his leadership roles.

Rise and consolidation of power

Stronghold in the Galilee

Around 1730, a leader named Daher became important in his family, the Zayadina. His family helped collect taxes in the Galilee area. With help from the Saqr Bedouin tribe, Daher took over the town of Tiberias. He convinced the local leader to step down by saying he was unfair. This made Tiberias his main base, and he began building it up.

Northern and western expansion

Daher's fair rule attracted people from nearby places. He took over areas controlled by another leader named Ahmad al-Husayn with permission. He also added more towns and villages through agreements and marriages. This strengthened his control in the northern and eastern Galilee.

Capture of Nazareth and conflict with Nablus

Daher took control of Nazareth, a town with many Christian residents, by the end of 1740. The people there liked him because he was tolerant and fair. However, leaders from the Jabal Nablus area challenged him. After some battles, Daher's forces could not take a key fortress there, which limited his influence in that southern area.

Confrontations and respite with Damascus

Daher's growing power worried the leaders of Damascus. There were conflicts between him and the Damascus governors, especially over areas east of the Jordan River. At one point, a Damascus governor laid siege to Tiberias but had to stop because he died suddenly. Later, there was peace between Daher and Damascus.

Control of Acre and Haifa

Daher worked for years to take control of the port city of Acre, which was important for trade. He finally took it by force and made improvements to the city. He also took control of Haifa, another important port, to secure trade and prevent others from using it against him.

Family rebellions

As Daher grew older, some of his sons challenged his rule, wanting more power. There were conflicts within his family, but Daher kept control with help from allies and peace agreements with his sons.

Alliance with the Metawalis of Jabal Amil

Daher's control over Safed and the western Galilee brought him into contact with the Metawali clans, who lived in the Jabal Amil area. After some conflicts, Daher and the Metawalis formed an alliance. They agreed to support each other, with Daher promising to help the Metawalis with local governors and defense. This alliance increased Daher's military strength and helped secure his northern borders.

Zenith

In 1768, the Ottoman government gave Daher the title of 'Sheikh of Acre, Emir of Nazareth, Tiberias, Safed, and Sheikh of all Galilee'. This showed his high status. Daher was very powerful, with strong alliances and wealth from the cotton trade in Acre.

He lost some important allies and faced threats. During a war with Russia, Uthman Pasha wanted to remove Daher. In 1770, Uthman Pasha prepared to attack Acre, so Daher strengthened the city's defenses.

Daher joined forces with Ali Bey, a ruler from Egypt, to fight against Uthman Pasha. They captured cities like Jaffa and Sidon. But their alliance faced challenges, especially after Ali Bey left for Egypt. Despite setbacks, Daher continued to grow his influence in Palestine.

Eventually, the Ottoman government began talking with Daher. In 1774, they granted him a pardon and recognized some of his control. This marked a tentative peace between Daher and the Ottoman authorities.

Downfall

Abu al-Dhahab's campaign

Main article: Siege of Jaffa (1775)

Conflict began in 1774 between Daher and his sons over land. Ali wanted more villages, while Ahmad and Sa'id took control of other areas. Daher attacked Ali but was pushed back. Abu al-Dhahab used this chance to attack Daher with Ali's help. In 1775, Abu al-Dhahab started his campaign in Palestine. Gaza and Ramla surrendered, but Jaffa held out until May, when it was captured after a siege.

News of Jaffa caused fear in Acre, and people fled. Daher left for Sidon and felt weaker when Ali abandoned him. Ali took over Acre but then left for Safed. A small force took Acre, and Abu al-Dhahab made Murad Bey its leader. His forces took Safed, Sidon, and Beirut, forcing Daher to hide.

Siege of Acre and death

The Ottomans still wanted to deal with Daher after Abu al-Dhahab died. In August, a flotilla led by Hasan Pasha al-Jaza'iri arrived at Haifa, and the town surrendered. Hasan Pasha was sent to collect taxes from Daher and could remove him if needed. A land army moved slowly to see what would happen.

Daher was in Acre when Hasan Pasha's ships appeared. Talks about taxes began but failed. Hasan Pasha attacked Acre, and fighting happened. The next day, Hasan Pasha's ships attacked again but faced no resistance, possibly because of betrayal.

Realizing the betrayal, Daher tried to leave Acre on August 22. As he left, he was shot by his own troops and fell from his horse. A soldier then killed him and took his head to Hasan Pasha, who brought it to Constantinople.

Aftermath

See also: Ali al-Daher § Rebellion against al-Jazzar

One of Daher's advisers, Sabbagh, fled but was later captured and executed. Another adviser, Dinkizli, was given a position but died or was killed on the way. Control of Acre was given to Jazzar, who became governor of Sidon later that year.

Daher's sons stayed in the Galilee and were a challenge to Jazzar's rule. One son, Uthman, joined Jazzar and kept control of Shefa-Amr, while another son, Ali, continued to resist with his brothers. After several battles, Ali was killed in 1776, ending the Zaydani family's power.

Economic policies and development

Monopolization of cotton trade

European demand for Palestinian cotton grew a lot in the early 1700s. Daher used this to build his power. He made deals with French merchants to get money and supplies. In return, he controlled the cotton trade. This helped him build a strong army and keep control over his land.

Daher worked hard to help farmers grow their crops and get support when they needed it. He also made sure prices were fair so farmers were treated well.

Urban renewal

Daher used his wealth to build up towns like Tiberias, Nazareth, Acre, and Haifa. He built walls, forts, and buildings to help people live safer and more comfortably. He welcomed people of different religions, which helped the towns grow and become important for trade.

Tiberias

Tiberias was just a small ruin before Daher made it important. He built walls around it and helped Jewish families move there. He also built a mosque and made sure the town had what it needed to grow.

Nazareth

Daher made Nazareth a safe and important place. He built churches and welcomed Christian families, which helped the town become a center for different groups of people.

Acre

Daher rebuilt Acre, making it a busy port city. He built walls, markets, and places for people to worship. His changes made Acre a thriving place where people from many places came to trade.

Haifa

Daher also rebuilt Haifa, making it a safer port. He built walls and buildings to help the town grow, even though it stayed smaller than Acre.

Villages

Daher built walls and forts in many small villages to keep them safe. These buildings helped protect the people and make the villages stronger.

Governance

Daher al-Umar ruled his lands by letting local leaders stay in charge if they helped him. He also married his sons into important families to keep control.

He made sure his lands were safe. Before his rule, bandits and attacks made life hard for people. He worked with local tribes to protect roads and towns. Because of his efforts, people felt safer and trade improved. Many admired him for bringing peace and fairness to the area.

Legacy

After Daher passed away, the area he controlled kept growing cotton. For many years, the region did well. But things changed when cotton farming grew in the southern United States. This made European buyers buy less cotton from Palestine, causing big economic problems. Many people stopped farming cotton and grew food only for themselves instead.

Some historians did not focus much on Daher, but others see him as an important early figure for Palestinian identity. Some say he helped lay the groundwork for a feeling of Palestinian unity. Today, many people in northern Israel still respect him and see him as a hero who stood up for his people against foreign rulers. His family name lives on in some places, and his story is remembered as a time when his area had more independence.