Sultan Pasha al-Atrash came from a prominent political family that had ruled in Syria since the 1870s. During World War I, al-Atrash was sent to fight for the Ottoman Turks in the Balkans. Returning to Syria, he participated in the Arab Revolt of 1916-18, when various Arabic groups were trying to get free of the centuries-long rule of the Ottoman Empire.
That revolt failed and the French took control of Syria in 1920, as part of their booty for being on the winning side in WWI. Al-Atrash continued revolting, and had to flee to avoid execution. This photograph was taken when he was in exile in the desert.
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Sultan Pasha al-Atrash came
Sultan Pasha al-Atrash came from a prominent political family that had ruled in Syria since the 1870s. During World War I, al-Atrash was sent to fight for the Ottoman Turks in the Balkans. Returning to Syria, he participated in the Arab Revolt of 1916-18, when various Arabic groups were trying to get free of the centuries-long rule of the Ottoman Empire.
That revolt failed and the French took control of Syria in 1920, as part of their booty for being on the winning side in WWI. Al-Atrash continued revolting, and had to flee to avoid execution. This photograph was taken when he was in exile in the desert.
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