Jayyusi clan
Al-Jayyusi (Arabic: الجیوسي; also spelled Jayousi, Jayoosi or Jayyousi) is a prominent Palestinian family whose members acted as local lords, army generals and tax collectors since the 15th century. They were the traditional leaders of the Bani Sa'b subdistrict (nahiya), which included their throne villages of Kur and Kafr Sur; Jayyus, the village from which their clan name was derived; and the villages of Qalqilya, Tayibe, Jinsafut, Kafr Zibad and Kafr Jammal, among others.[1]
History
The Jayyusi family had served as the local rulers of the Bani Sa'b subdistrict (nahiya) since the 15th century, during Burji Mamluk rule in Palestine. When the area came under Ottoman rule, the clan continued to rule and was commissioned by the Ottoman authorities to protect the part of the Cairo-Damascus highway that ran between Majdal Yaba and Qaqun. As a testament to the continuing influence of the Jayyusi clan, Bani Sa'b was the only Mamluk-era subdistrict of Jabal Nablus to not be renamed.[2]
In 1766, the Nablus-based Tuqan clan under Mustafa Beik, managed to gain appointment as the chief of Bani Sa'b, temporarily sidelining the Jayyusi clan. This seizure of power was the first time an urban notable family gained direct control over a rural subdistrict and the move put the Tuqan in conflict with Jayyusi allies, the Sanur-based Jarrar clan and the autonomous ruler of Galilee, Zahir al-Umar.[3] The latter expelled the Tuqans from Bani Sa'b in 1771.[4]
According to the Palestinian historian Mustafa al-Dabbagh in his book Our Land Palestine, the Jayyusi clan took part in the Peasants' Revolt, along with most of Palestine's prominent clans, against Ibrahim Pasha, the ruler of the Levant when he imposed new taxes and conscription orders on the local population.
Throne village
The Jayyusi family built and inhabited the throne village of Kur around 500 years ago.[5] Despite the economic and social hardships caused by the Israeli occupation (i.e. one third of its inhabitants were forced out of their homes by the Israeli Army in the Six-Day War[6]) they remain to be the only inhabitants of the throne village of Kur (located in the middle of Nablus, Tulkarem and Qalqilia district triangle, which was the former administrative center of the Bani Sa'b district.)[7] Today, 29 historic buildings remain standing in the village.[8]
Notable personalities
- Yusuf al-Wakid al-Jayyusi: Palestinian lord and leader who led the successful resistance movement in Palestine along with Jezzar Pasha against Napoleon during the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria, and built the Al-Wakidi Palace.
- Abu Odeh al-Jayyusi: Palestinian lord and leader who led the successful resistance movement in Palestine against Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria in the areas of Nablus Tulkarm and north east Jaffa.[9]
- Rashid al-Jayyusi: Prominent lawyer and intellectual who was deported by the occupying British forces during Mandate Palestine for his opinions on the British Empire.[10]
- Abdallah al-Jayyusi: Lord and builder of the Qal'a (fortress) in the throne village of Kur.
- Kamal Ibrajim al-Jayyusi: Held the following positions in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Minister of Awqaf Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, a president of the Damascus courts, Mayor of Tulkarm Governorate (until 1962) and the head of Al Karak courts.
- Hashim al-Jayyousi: Held the following positions in Jordan, Minister of Trade and Commerce, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Transport, Minister of Building and Construction, Minister of Interior and a Jordanian Senator.[11]
- Shakeeb al-Jayyusi: was a High Court Judge in the State of Bahrain.
- Salma Khadra Jayyusi: Poet, translator, anthologist, analyst and instrcutor of Arabic literature[12]
- Odeh Jayyusi: Prominent academic and currently the regional director for IUCN (The World Conservation Union).[13]
- Wissam al-Jayyusi: Palestinian philanthropist who drove on his motorbike through the Middle East, Asia and Europe to fundraise money for handicapped children in Gaza[14]
- Bilal al-Jayyusi: Palestinian author,[15] philosopher and frequent social commentator.[16]Professor of Psychology at Petra University, Amman.
References
- ↑ Macalister and Masterman, 1905, p. 355
- ↑ Doumani, 1995, p. 35
- ↑ Doumani, 1995, p. 38
- ↑ Doumani, 1995, p. 95
- ↑ http://www.aqsaa.com/vb/showthread.php?t=56366
- ↑ http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/Kur_1378/index.html#Statistics
- ↑ "Kur Project" (PDF). United Nations Development Program, Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People.
- ↑ "Kur" (in Arabic). Riwaq. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06.
- ↑ http://www.aqsaa.com/vb/showthread.php?t=56366
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Dr. Salma Al Khadra Al Jayyousi, winner Cultural & Scientific Achievements Tenth Session, 2006 - 2007, Sultan Bin Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
Bibliography
- Amiry, Suad. Throne Village Architecture. ISBN 0-88728-293-8.
- Doumani, Beshara (1995). Rediscovering Palestine: Merchants and Peasants in Jabal Nablus, 1700-1900. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520203709.
- Macalister, R. A. Stewart; Masterman, E. W. G. (1905). "Occasional Papers on the Modern inhabitants of Palestine, part I & part II". Quarterly statement - Palestine Exploration Fund. 37: 343–356.
- Shahin, Mariam. Palestine A Guide. ISBN 1-905214-51-0.