History UsefulNotes / GrandVizierJafar

** Meanwhile, the BigBad is an evil vizier named Ad Avis who is more inline with how the character is usually portrayed, hypnotizing the protagonist with eye based magic and forcing him into a cave to find a sealed genie.

Ja'far ibn Yahya al-Barmaki, Grand Vizier of Caliph [[ArabianNightsDays Harun al-Rashid]], 767-803 AD. He sponsored the academy which was translating Greek works (including Creator/{{Aristotle}}) into Arabic, and convinced the Caliph to open the first paper mill in Baghdad (Chinese prisoners from the Battle of Talas in 751 had taught the Caliphate papermaking). He was beheaded in 803, allegedly for an affair with the Caliph's sister Abbasa -- but probably because the Caliph feared that his family, the Barmakids, were becoming too influential. (His family was executed along with him, supporting the latter theory).

* ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1940'' is the first 20th century work in which Grand Vizier Jaffar (played by Creator/ConradVeidt) is the villain. Oddly, however, the main character, Ahmad, is referred to as Harun al-Rashid's grandson. It's unclear whether this Jaffar is meant to be the original one or not however given the original's execution during Harun's reign it is unlikely.

* An unusual version of Jafar appears in the Danish comic book ''Zainab'', where he is the goofy, underachieving son of Yahya al-Barmaki, Harun al-Rashid's Grand Vizier. The Caliph likes to keep him around as a kind of court jester, and marries him off to his favorite sister Abassah, so he can enjoy her beauty and Jafar's company simultaneously without violating Islamic law. He orders them to stay apart when he is not present, [[GenreBlind and that goes about as well as you would expect]]:

** Meanwhile, the is an evil vizier named Ad Avis who is more inline with how the character is usually portrayed, hypnotizing the protagonist with eye based magic and forcing him into a cave to find a sealed genie.

** Meanwhile, the is an evil vizier named Ad Avis who is more inline with how the character is usually portrayed.

--> '''Grand Vizier Yahya''': You big nincompoop! Do you realize what you have done? You have grossly abused the Caliph's trust with your nightly dalliances with Princess Abassah! You are a disgrace to our House ...

* An unusual version of Jafar appears in the Danish comic book ''Zainab'', where he is the goofy, underachieving son of Harun al-Rashid's Grand Vizier. al-Rashid likes to keep him around as a kind of court jester, and marries him off to his favorite sister Abassah, so he can enjoy her beauty and Jafar's company simultaneously without violating Islamic law. He orders them to stay apart when he is not present, but ...
--> '''Grand Vizier''': You big nincompoop! Do you realize what you have done? You have grossly abused the Caliph's trust with your nightly dalliances with Princess Abassah! You are a disgrace to our House ...

--> '''Grand Vizier''': ...and now she's pregnant! Did you know that??

--> '''Grand Vizier''': HAHAHRRRAAANGGG! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU SON OF A DOG!!!

* An unusual version of Jafar appears in the Danish comic book ''Zainab'', where he is the goofy, underachieving son of Harun al-Rashid's Grand Vizier. The Caliph likes to keep him around as a kind of court jester, and marries him off to his favourite sister Abassah, so he can be in the company of both without violating Islamic law. He orders them to stay apart when he is not present, but ...

* [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney's]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}''. EvilChancellor, wicked sorceror, the first and most serious BigBad of the franchise, and far and away the most famous fictional portrayal of Jafar. It's also this version who appears in ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland.'' Basically... [[DontAskJustRun run]].

* [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney's]] ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''. EvilChancellor, wicked sorceror, the first and most serious BigBad of the franchise, and far and away the most famous fictional portrayal of Jafar. It's also this version who appears in ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland.'' Basically... [[DontAskJustRun run]].

Note that Jafar did not appear in the ''Arabian Nights'' version of "Literature/{{Aladdin}}" -- the story was set in China, and had two villains where [[{{Disney/Aladdin}} the Disney version]] has [[CompositeCharacter one]]. The Grand Vizier is hostile to Aladdin at first, but then [[TheCassandra he has a point]]; the real villain is a magician from North Africa. ([[CultureChopSuey A Moorish magician in a Middle Eastern story set in China...]])

* ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1940'' is the first 20th century work in which Grand Vizier Jaffar (played by Creator/ConradVeidt) is the villain. Oddly, however, the main character, Ahmad, is referred to as Harun al-Rashid's grandson. It's unclear whether this Jaffar is meant to be the original one or not.

* ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad'' is the first 20th century work in which Grand Vizier Jaffar (played by Creator/ConradVeidt) is the villain. Oddly, however, the main character, Ahmad, is referred to as Harun al-Rashid's grandson. It's unclear whether this Jaffar is meant to be the original one or not.

* [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney's]] ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''. EvilChancellor, wicked sorceror, and the first and most serious BigBad of the franchise. It's also this version who appears in ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland.'' Basically... [[DontAskJustRun run]].

* He appears as one of the main villains in ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland'', though while all the characters are meant to be based on their [[AllMythsAreTrue original story]] he is clearly based more on the character from Disney's Aladdin.

%% * ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia'' and ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia: The Sands Of Time''.

* Literature/SinbadTheSailor needs to fight "Jaffar" in ''SinbadOfTheSevenSeas'', a rather obscure 1989 film starring Lou Ferrigno.

Ja'far ibn Yahya al-Barmaki, Grand Vizier of Caliph [[ArabianNightsDays Harun al-Rashid]], 767-803 AD. He sponsored the academy which was translating Greek works (including Creator/{{Aristotle}}) into Arabic, and convinced the Caliph to open the first paper mill in Baghdad (Chinese prisoners from the Battle of Talas in 751 had taught the Caliphate papermaking). He was beheaded in 803, allegedly for an affair with the Caliph's sister Abbasa -- but probably because the Caliph feared that his family, the Barmakids, were becoming too influential. (His family was executed along with him, supporting the latter theory.)

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]

[[AC:Comic Books]]

[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]