Legal document: T-S NS J332 + T-S AS 167.35 + T-S NS J617 + T-S NS 190.13

Description

Four fragments comprising most of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: likely early 16th century, or possibly 15th century. Ashtor edited T-S NS J332 and suggested that it originated from Damascus shortly after the conquest of Syria by Selim I in 1516/17, based on the reference to a government official called al-Ghazālī, who could be Jānbirdi al-Ghazāli the first Ottoman governor of Damascus province (r. 1519–21). Given that the continuation of the letter (unknown to Ashtor) refers to the arrival of a fleet of ships at Abū Qīr, it is much more likely that the letter originated somewhere in Egypt, likely Alexandria. The dating should also be revisited; the al-Ghazālī mentioned is not necessarily Jānbirdī, and if it is him, the document could also date to his time serving under the Mamluk regime in Syria and Egypt in the early 16th century. The sender reports that he has previously sent two letters regarding "all that is happening in the city (al-madīna)." The reason he sends the present letter is to request help on behalf of his sister. She has written to him regarding "what happened with her with Moshe Navarro and the physician (al-ḥakīm). The addressee is asked to write to her son to investigate. "They" have wrongfully taken from her her houses (buyūt) and her possessions/goods (ḥawāʾij), leaving her without anything. The addressee is asked to intervene and "deliver her (or: the stolen property) from them." The sender has thought about applying to the sultan for help with this but seems to have held off for various reasons: something to do with "the people of Safed and the people of Jerusalem"; five months of arrears in something; something to do with the mint (dār al-ḍarb); and his desire for this matter to remain secret. The addressee is asked to send "your ambassador" (qāṣid) to al-Ghazālī, who will then send messengers after them (Moshe Navarro and the physician?) and punish them and restore the houses and goods. He asks for a speedy response so that he will know how to act. He reports that someone arrived from Zaytūn (Ashtor identifies this as ʿAyn al-Zaytūn near Safed) wounded and beaten (majrūḥ maḍrūb). The next several lines are broken and difficult to follow (a couple sizable fragments are still missing from this section). From l. 31 onward, it is discussing people who are negotiating to make a settlement (maṣlaḥa). There is someone under house arrest (tarsīm) and the sender does not think things will turn out well for him. Aʿwaḍ and his son are also under arrest in a sorry state. The sultan arrested them for treason and the are under the guard of four khāsakiyya (the most elite unit of the Mamluk army, serving as the sultan's retinue and bodyguards). He also reports that "the fleet" (al-qatāʾiʿ, cf. T-S 13J19.29 (PGPID 5893)) arrived in Abū Qīr but the sultan did not allow them to pass. They requested safe conduct (amān) but the sultan did not grant it. Mentions the arrival of "the consul" (of Venice?) and "the ambassador of France" (qāṣid farānsa). The addressee is asked to consult with R. Yaʿaqov Jarrāda (? גראדה) about something. The last few lines of the letter are too damaged to understand. Joins: Alan Elbaum.