Karamanli dynasty

Qaramanli was a dynasty of Pasha, who ruled from 1711-1835 in Libya.

With the decline of Ottoman control over the Arab territories of their kingdom also won in Libya, the Janissaries and corsairs influence. 1711 seized in Tripoli, the Ottoman cavalry officer Ahmad Karamanli ( as the name implies it comes from belonging to Karaman town Ermenek ) the rule ( 1711-1745 ) and ousted the Ottoman Pasha. Although Ottoman sovereignty was formally continue to be recognized, he could govern almost independently and establish the dynasty of the Karamanli. In 1722 he took the title of Pasha. He could also extend to the Cyrenaica and Fezzan to his influence. Economically based his rule, especially on the piracy of the Corsairs and the trans-Saharan trade in Bornu in Chad area. With the extensive revenue that Ahmad Pasha Karamanli Mosque in Tripoli was built, but led the rampant piracy also to attack French warships, in which the city was destroyed in 1728.

His son Ali Karamanli (1754-1793) could consolidate the rule of the dynasty continue and revive the Trans -Saharan trade on. Instead of piracy increasingly gained the prize-money in importance with which European trading ships from attacks by the corsairs were free to buy. Nevertheless, the continued piracy under existing Yusuf Karamanli (1795-1832) to the war with the United States. Even if their fleet piracy could not prevent final, the rule of Qaramanli but was considerably weakened.

When finally broke out power struggles within the dynasty, Yusuf Karamanli thanked in 1832 in favor of his son Ali Karamanli ( 1832-1835 ). However, this could not consolidate the rule of the dynasty, since 1835, the Ottoman fleet in Libya landed and occupied the country. The Clan of the Karamanli was deported to Istanbul. In the aftermath Libya came under direct Ottoman administration.

• History ( Libya)
• Dynasty