Egyptian nationalist historiography erases Ottoman rule as a foreign tyranny

Evidence

Conspicuously absent from Taymūr’s version of Egypt’s history is a long period of over three centuries of Ottoman rule. Having avoided any explicit reference to this period by name, he conflates it with Mamluk rule to which he alludes when he has the Sphinx refer to the tutelage of the “Mamluk.” Echoing a widely believed notion, Taymūr refers to this period as one of oppression and tyranny. With all her past glory and previous power behind her Egypt could not deliver herself from this oppression; she had to await a Savior, a Prince, who would appear as in an Epiphany to deliver her from her misery and restore her previous glory and prominence. This Deliverer finally appeared in the person of Mehmed Ali who, as soon as he heard Egypt’s pleas to be saved, descended literally from the sky to lift her from her misery and sorrow. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 85

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s broader interest in Ottoman-Egyptian relations and modern constructions of Egyptian national identity against Ottoman legacy.
• DEFINE: Exhibits how nationalist historiography of Mehmed Ali constructs Mamluk/Ottoman periods as unified foreign oppression awaiting his salvation.