Janbirdi al-Ghazali had joined the Mamluk governor…

Janbirdi al-Ghazali had joined the Mamluk governor of Aleppo in defecting to the Ottomans and severed allegiance with Mamluk sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri.

Selim I is reportedly impressed by al-Ghazali's loyalty to his superiors and in a bid to have him serve under the Ottomans, appoints him as governor of Damascus in February 1518.

At this time, Damascus Province encompasses much of the Levant, including much of central and southern Syria, the Syrian coastline, Palestine, Transjordan and Lebanon.

He pays an annual tribute of two hundred and thirty-three thousand dinars to the Ottoman sultan.