Fendi Al-Fayez
Fendi bin Abbas bin Awad Al Fayez was an Arab tribal leader and a sovereign Emir from the Al-Fayez family who was the paramount Sheikh of the Bani Sakher clan from the 1820s up until his death. He is widely regarded as the most influential figure in the Bani Sakher, dubbed the Old King east of the Jordan and one of the most powerful tribal figures in Arabia in the 19th century. Fendi's first documented tribal battle was as early as 1820 when he was just twenty years old.
By the end of his reign he expanded his tribe's territory to cover the ancient Kingdom of Moab, Ammon, and the Bashan, including Madaba, Um Al Amad, Al Jeezah, Al Qastal, Jibāl al Lafīfah, parts of Ajloun, Dhiban, and other areas in South Amman and in Ma'an. He would also collect Jizya in the Plains of Esdraelon and Tiberias and would stay there for vacation in his domain. In addition to his own vast lands, Fendi and his 4,500-strong army vassalized all of Al Karak and Al Tafilah directly and large parts of northern Palestine such as Al Galilee through Aqil Agha to become the most powerful independent ruler in the region since the Ottoman expansion of Selim I in 1517. In addition to becoming a guardian of pilgrims, he was also dubbed The Old King by locals and explorers alike in reference to his long reign.
Fendi had 14 sons: Satm, Sattam, Talal, Haza', S'fouq, Muhammad, Barjas, Nayef, Farhan, Jrooh, Hayel, Sahen, Saleh, and Jid'an. He was succeeded by his son Satm Al-Fayez, who was immediately faced with a schism in his family following Fendi's death. Satm's contested role would end with his death two years later, to be succeeded by Fendi's chosen heir and Satm's younger brother, Sattam.
Fendi's descendants would continue to lead the Al-Fayez family and the Bani Sakher.
Early life and family
Fendi was likely born southeast of Umm ar-Rasas, which was the capital of the Bani Sakher emirate prior to Fendi's moving it to Al-Jizah. Al-Jizah, often called by its ancient Roman name of Ziza or Zizya, has been on the northern end of the Al-Fayez's dominion until the subjugation and overthrow of many of the southern Balqa troops early into the 1800s where everything as far as Jerash came into the Emirate that Fendi would inherit. His grandfather Awad was the paramount Sheikh of the Bani Sakher, who likely served in that role from the 1770s till the early 19th century. Awad's eldest son, Fendi, died young and had no sons. Awad was also the paramount Sheikh and was most likely the head of the Bani Sakher forces against the Napoleonic invasion of Palestine. His second eldest, Abbas named Fendi after his late elder brother. Abbas became the paramount Sheikh after Awad, with his younger brother Sulayman as his right hand man. Abbas's only son was Fendi which placed him in a unique position to inherit much more than his first and second cousins, later helping him in the centralization of the tribe.Appearance
Fendi's appearance has been described by multiple authors and guests from Europe who entertained him. Fendi is described as an intimidating man with "an iron-beard, strongly marked features, fine and prominent nose, large liquid black eyes, and a rather surly expression of countenance". He carried with him his scimitar and pistol, both engraved with silver. Fendi also had on him a "Damascus blade that he kept with care, also a coat of mail, which probably dated from early Saracenic times," i.e. they could have originated from as early as the 8th century AD.Bani Sakher under Fendi
It's widely regarded that under Fendi, Bani Sakher experienced the fastest growth in terms of population, land, and wealth. In 1810 the Beni Sakher were able to defend against a joint attack from Sulayman Pasha of Damascus, Sheikh Hamoud Al-Saleh of the Adwan, and the Ruwala. It's unlikely that Fendi was present in this battle, however it marked the beginning of a long history of victories that led to the Beni Sakher expansion of the 19th century Fendi was a large contributor to. In the 1810s, John L. Burckhardt reported that the Beni Sakher's forces amounted to around 500 men. In 1863, Henry B. Tristram saw the Beni Sakher camped in the Ghor region, his description puts them at many times the figure that Burchkardt explained around 35 years prior. Tristram wrote:In 1877 this was estimated again to be at 4,500.
Fendi would also focus heavily on trade, he reportedly was arranging the sale of camels for the haj, and was earning £1,500 a year from selling or hiring camels.
In addition to ruling the majority of modern-day Jordan and Palestine, Fendi was also described as the chief sheikh of the Bashan Arabs in Syria, testifying to his influence in south Syria as well and contesting with the Ottoman's rule of Arab lands.