The Role of Governor Ali Pasha in Confronting the Wahhabi Threat to Iraqi Territories (1803–1807)

Abstract

The period of Ali Pasha's rule (1802–1807) was filled with challenges that reflected the weakness of the Ottoman Empire in dealing with internal and external crises, especially the Wahhabi threat. The relationship between the Mamluks and the Wahhabis was characterized by coldness and mutual distrust, eventually escalating into conflict and war due to several contentious issues that fueled hostility between the two sides. The Wahhabis managed to invade Iraqi cities on multiple occasions, even reaching Karbala during their raids. This increased the animosity of both Iranian and Ottoman policies, reinforcing their determination to destroy Diriyah. Despite his repeated attempts, Ali Pasha failed to eliminate the Wahhabis in Najd, confirming to the Ottomans the inability of Baghdad's governors to accomplish this task. Meanwhile, the Wahhabis took advantage of the turbulent conditions in Iraq under Mamluk rule during this period, marked by numerous internal issues, frequent tribal revolts, and the state's weak treasury, which hindered funding campaigns to defend Iraqi territories. As a result, all of Ali Pasha's campaigns against the Wahhabis ended in failure.