Mehemet Ali
See Mehemet Ali (Turkey) forTurkish foreign ministerregent
Mehemet Ali (or Muhammed Ali etc.) (1769-1849), wasviceroyEgypt,is sometimes consideredfoundermodern Egypt.
Mehemet Ali, an Albanian bornKavala, made himselfrulerEgypttreacherously massacredMameluke leaders. He introduced sweeping reformsEgypt. He built an army from Egyptian peasants through conscription,used this forcegreatly expand Egypt's borders. He built much infrastructure such as canalsroadwaysestablished Egypt as one ofworld's largest cotton producers. Ali also greatly reformed Egyptian society creating some offirst modern educational institutions. Almost allhis reforms were directed at strengthening Egypt's armed forces,which he was very successful.
While throughout his reign he wasnominal vassal ofOttoman Sultan, he acted independently. While he aidedSultanfighting inGreek WarIndepedenceput downWahhabi revoltArabiahim, latertwo fell out. Under his son Ibraihim Pasha Ali's armies seized PalestineSyriawere withinfew days marchConstantinople. European intervention led tonegotitated solution, however. Ali soon fell outhis sonmuch ofgains were lost.
Ali was succeeded by twohis sons, but both were weak rulers, and,large part becauseAli's excesses,country fell underdominationEuropeans.
