Soldiers stationed abroad frequently attacked and robbed the civilian populations

Evidence

Problems arising from the uncontrolled encounter with the civilian population were paramount when the army was on the march or when residing in conquered territories. For example, some of the problems the authorities had with the early army that was sent to Arabia arose out of the soldiers’ mingling with the local population and the ensuing complaints that they were attacking the pilgrims and stealing their animals. After the creation of the new army this disruptive mingling with the local population continued to be a problem especially when the army was outside Egypt, notably in Crete, Cyprus and Syria, and the records abound with complaints by civilians against the unruly, impetuous behavior of the soldiers. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 659

Categorization

• XREF: Directly relevant to the reader’s interest in the performance of the Egyptian army in its conquests; the army’s behavior toward civilians in Syria, Crete, and Cyprus shaped its reputation.