Muhammad Ali sought Egyptian independence from the Ottomans rather than mere provincial expansion

Evidence

It would be erroneous therefore to argue that when the Pasha decided to officially ask for independence from the Ottoman Empire in May 1838 he was acting on behalf of the Egyptian population and expressing their sentiments, sentiments that made them see themselves as different and distinct from other subjects of the Ottoman Sultan. What prompted the Pasha to make this bold move, rather, was his desire to secure his efforts in Egypt to his family and his sons after him. As John Campbell, the British Consul-General in 1838, said “he cannot… ever permit all [the] establishments [that he founded in Egypt over thirty years] to revert to the Porte and be lost at his death, and that he should have the pang of feeling that all his labours should merely have been for the Porte which would allow them to go to ruin, whilst his own family and children would be exposed to want and perhaps even to be put to death.” These were the reasons he put to the British government for his asking for independence from the Ottoman Empire. There is nothing here or elsewhere in the contemporary documents to show that he had any illusions about the nature of his struggle with the Sultan. That struggle was a dynastic one and it was conceived of as such by him and his contemporaries. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1551 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Muhammad Ali sought independent empire, exceeding prior Ottoman governors’ ambitions.; Mehmed Ali sought a personal empire, not Egyptian independence. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1551; Mehmed Ali did not seek independence from the Ottomans until 1838 — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 257 (+4 more)

Related

• Muhammad Ali sought independent empire, exceeding prior Ottoman governors’ ambitions. (similarity 0.97)
• Mehmed Ali sought a personal empire, not Egyptian independence. (similarity 0.93)
• Mehmed Ali’s quest for independence was a dynastic struggle, not nationalist. (similarity 0.92)
• Egyptian historians narrate Mehmed Ali’s career as a teleological quest for independence (similarity 0.91)
• Historians portray Mehmed Ali’s reforms as a master-planned modernization with independence aims (similarity 0.89)
• Mehmed Ali’s wars against the Sultan were dynastic, not national (similarity 0.88)
• Mehmed Ali and his officials thought of themselves as Ottomans, not Egyptians. (similarity 0.87)
• Mehmed Ali did not seek independence from the Ottomans until 1838 (similarity 0.86)
• Mehmed Ali’s 1838 bid for independence served his family, not the Egyptian nation (similarity 0.86)
• Mehmed Ali sought independence to secure Egypt for his family line (similarity 0.85)
• Mehmed Ali’s rule over Egypt resembled feudal lordship between Sultan and subjects. (similarity 0.85)
• Muhammad Ali sought secession from the Ottoman Empire and an independent Egyptian empire (similarity 0.84)
• Historians presume Mehmed Ali always sought to expand beyond Egypt (similarity 0.84)
• The peace of Kütahia conceded territories but denied Mehmed Ali independence. (similarity 0.84)
• Mehmed Ali’s army was a personal, dynastic force rather than a national one. (similarity 0.84)

Broader Connections

• Mehmed Ali sought a personal empire, not Egyptian independence. #contradicts (0.80) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1551
• Mehmed Ali hoped to gain Syria while remaining a pardoned Ottoman vassal #qualifies (0.70)
• Mehmed Ali’s quest for independence was a dynastic struggle, not nationalist. #qualifies (0.65)
• Mehmed Ali did not seek independence from the Ottomans until 1838 #qualifies (0.60) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 257
• Egyptian historians narrate Mehmed Ali’s career as a teleological quest for independence #contradicts (0.50)
• Historians portray Mehmed Ali’s reforms as a master-planned modernization with independence aims #contradicts (0.50)