Atassi

From Free net encyclopedia

Atassi is the name of a prominent political family in Syria. The name derives from an ancient Turkish title bestowed on a sixteenth century patriarch of the family by the Ottoman Sultan. The family's roots trace back to the Umayyad dynasty of Damascus and Córdoba.

Large land holdings in Homs and Damascus formed the basis of the family's wealth and influence. Further influence through education was achieved by a tradition of sending the young men of the family to be educated at the Imperial capital of Istanbul during the Ottoman administration, and then to the Sorbonne and other European centers of learning during the French Mandate.

The power and prestige of the family reached an apex at the formation of the modern Republic of Syria in 1936, when its first Head of State, Hashim al-Atassi was elected president. Two more scions, Luai al-Atassi and Nureddin al-Atassi, were in turn installed as heads of state in the 1960s. There were also several mayors, magistrates, parliamentarians and other public officials in the ranks of the family throughout Ottoman and modern times.de:Atassi