Muhammad Abu al-Dhahab

Muhammad Abu al-Dhahab (c. 1735–1775), whose name means father of gold, was a Circassian-born mamluk emir and chief general of Ali Bey al-Kabir, strongman of Ottoman Egypt. In 1769 he crushed a revolt in Upper Egypt, in 1770 seized the Hejaz, and with Zahir al-Umar conquered much of Syria and took Damascus.

He then turned against Ali Bey, overthrew him in 1773, and ruled Egypt as regent. In 1775 he campaigned again in Palestine but died suddenly of the plague, leaving power to his mamluks Murad Bey and Ibrahim Bey.