Mehmed Ali’s ambivalence stemmed from rebellion against the Sultan while seeking his forgiveness

Evidence

Still, it was only in 1838 that Mehmed Ali decided to get rid of the Ottoman suzerainty altogether and to ask for independence. For the seven-year period from the inauguration of hostilities and up to that time the Pasha was only claiming to be after reforming the Ottoman Empire. This does not seem to have been a mere pretext on the part of the Pasha. He might not have believed in it entirely himself, but at the same time he could not think of himself as an outcast vali rebelling against the Ottoman Sultan; he needed to think of himself as doing something from within the Ottoman Empire and not against it. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 261 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Mehmed Ali’s wars against the Sultan were dynastic, not national; Mehmed Ali governed Egypt as a personal fief under a feudal overlord relationship — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1550; Mehmed Ali’s rule over Egypt resembled feudal lordship between Sultan and subjects. (+7 more)

Related

• Mehmed Ali’s ambivalence toward the Sultan stemmed from his imperial ambitions (similarity 0.89)
• Mehmed Ali framed his conquests as Ottoman reform, not rebellion, until 1838 (similarity 0.87)
• Ottoman sultans distrusted Mehmed Ali from his earliest years in power (similarity 0.86)
• Mehmed Ali’s rule over Egypt resembled feudal lordship between Sultan and subjects. (similarity 0.86)
• Mehmed Ali hoped to gain Syria while remaining a pardoned Ottoman vassal (similarity 0.85)
• Mehmed Ali’s wars against the Sultan were dynastic, not national (similarity 0.85)
• Growing ambition clashed with Mehmed Ali’s Ottoman identity and religious scruples (similarity 0.84)
• Mehmed Ali did not seek independence from the Ottomans until 1838 (similarity 0.84)
• Muhammad Ali sought independent empire, exceeding prior Ottoman governors’ ambitions. (similarity 0.84)
• Mehmed Ali sought a personal empire, not Egyptian independence. (similarity 0.84)
• The Sultan’s denial of Syria turned Mehmed Ali toward outright defiance (similarity 0.84)
• Mehmed Ali and his officials thought of themselves as Ottomans, not Egyptians. (similarity 0.83)
• Muhammad Ali sought Egyptian independence from the Ottomans rather than mere provincial expansion (similarity 0.83)
• Mehmed Ali governed Egypt as a personal fief under a feudal overlord relationship (similarity 0.83)
• Mehmed Ali secured hereditary rule for his dynasty despite British opposition (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Mehmed Ali sought Syria and a Sultan’s pardon simultaneously #corroborates (0.90)
• Mehmed Ali hoped to gain Syria while remaining a pardoned Ottoman vassal #corroborates (0.90)
• Mehmed Ali framed his conquests as Ottoman reform, not rebellion, until 1838 #expands (0.70) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 261
• The Sultan’s denial of Syria turned Mehmed Ali toward outright defiance #complicates (0.50)