Kunj Yusuf Pasha

Kunj Yusuf Pasha (also spelled Kanj Yusuf Pasha) was an Ottoman Kurd who served as the governor of Damascus Eyalet between 1807 and 1810. As governor, Kunj Yusuf enacted discriminatory policies against religious minority groups in Damascus and was unable to secure the annual Hajj pilgrim caravan to Mecca. After his inability to defeat Wahhabi invaders in 1809, he was ousted by Sulayman Pasha al-Adil with the blessing of the Ottoman imperial authorities.

Governor of Damascus Kunj Yusuf Pasha was a "renowned horseman", according to historian Mikhail Mishaqa, and initially served under the Hama-based Kurdish agha, Mulla Isma'il. Kunj Yusuf entered the service of Damascus governor Abdullah Pasha al-Azm, and was made commander of a Kurdish battalion.

In 1808 Kunj Yusuf, backed Mulla Isma'il, launched a campaign to subdue the strongman of Tripoli, Mustafa Agha Barbar. That same year, Kunj Yusuf intervened to restore the Ismailis to their fortress stronghold of Masyaf after they had been expelled by the Alawite Raslan clan. He also launched a military campaign against the Harfush clan of the Beqaa Valley.

Sulayman Pasha and Emir Bashir II responded positively and assembled a large multi-confessional coalition to oust the Wahhabis. However, by the time the coalition reached Quneitra, Kunj Yusuf requested them to demobilize after hearing news of Muhammad Ali of Egypt's conquest of the Hejaz from the Wahhabis and the consequent Wahhabi retreat from Hauran. Sulayman Pasha refused and the Sublime Porte dismissed Kunj Yusuf as a result of his failure to lead the Hajj caravan and his attempted overtures to the Wahabbi sheikhs. After a brief battle at Judaydat Artuz outside Damascus, Kunj Yusuf's forces were defeated.

Kunj Yusuf and Abbud al-Bahri fled to Egypt to seek Muhammad Ali's protection after his defeat. The inhabitants of Damascus were reportedly relieved when Kunj Yusuf was ousted, according to Mishaqa, because it signaled an end to his eccentric policies and opened up a possibility for the resumption of the Hajj pilgrimage. The Sublime Porte issued a consent for Kunj Yusuf's self-exile and he remained there until his death.