Mehmed Ali told visitors he rose from Albanian obscurity without ever having a master
Evidence
“I was born in a village in Albania and my father had ten children besides me, who are all dead; but, while living, not one of them ever contradicted me. Although I left my native mountains before I attained to manhood, the principal people in the place never took any step in the business of the commune, without previously inquiring what was my pleasure. I came to this country an obscure adventurer, and when I was yet a Bimbashi (captain), it happened one day that the commissary had to give each of the Bimbashis a tent. They were all my seniors, and naturally pretended to a preference over me; but the officer said, – “Stand ye all by; this youth, Mohammed Ali, shall be served first” and I advanced step by step, as it pleased God to ordain; and now here I am” – (rising a little on his seat, [Barker comments] and looking out of the window which was at his elbow, and commanded a view of the Lake Mareotis [to the south of Alexandria]) – “and now here I am. I never had a master,” – (glancing his eye on the roll containing the Imperial firman). — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 43
Categorization
Category: Factual Claims
- XREF: Mehmed Ali’s Albanian origin is core background to his self-made ruler narrative.