Mehmed Ali’s long life and self-presentation shaped his favorable historiography

Evidence

There are therefore various factors that contributed to the positive image that Mehmed Ali has received throughout the ages. Besides his usefulness to nationalist historiography where he is depicted either as a founding father, a liberal legislator, or a romantic hero, the Pasha had the good fortune to have lived till the age of eighty. His long and, as this book has tried to argue, successful career (for only if one accepts the nationalist argument would the Pasha’s efforts look thwarted and frustrated) offers numerous episodes and material that historians could chew on. In addition, and as has been shown throughout this book, the Pasha was able to manipulate his various interlocutors and successfully influenced their portrayal of him. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1673

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Mehmed Ali’s archive was selected and edited by his great-grandson to flatter the family — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 171; Historians attribute Mehmed Ali’s expansion to a long-nursed ambition for independent sovereignty — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 196