The 1811 massacre targeted only household leaders, not all mamluks.

Evidence

Although all mamluks were technically slaves, there were sharp differences among them. The leaders of the households are referred to as “Mamluks,” and it was these who were the target of the massacre of 1811. Their followers who later joined Mehmed Ali’s service as well as other white slaves who were bought by him and by other dignitaries are referred to as “mamluks.” — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 548

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the crucial distinction between capital-M Mamluks (household leaders massacred in 1811) and lower-case mamluks (their followers, later recruited into Mehmed Ali’s army).