Khedive

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Muhammad Ali Pasha
Muhammad Ali Pasha

Khedive (from Farsi for "lord"]]") was a title first used by Muhammad Ali Pasha as governor and monarch of Egypt and Sudan, and subsequently by his dynastic successors.

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[edit] Etymology

This title, known for its use by the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt and Sudan, is recorded in English since 1867, derived via the French khédive from Turkish khidiv, from Persian khidiw "prince," derivative of khuda "master, prince," from Old Farsi khvadata- "lord," from the compound khvat-data-, literally "created from oneself," from khvat- (from the Proto-IndoEuropean root swe-tos "from oneself," ablative of base s(w)e-; see idiom) + data- "created."

[edit] Egyptian History

Following the French invasion of Egypt in 1798, and Napoleon's defeat of the Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire dispatched Albanian troops under the command of Muhammad Ali to restore the Empire's authority in what had hitherto been an Ottoman province. However, upon the French defeat and departure, Muhammad Ali seized control of the country and declared himself ruler of Egypt, quickly consolidating an independent local powerbase. After repeated failed attempts to remove and kill him, in 1805, the Porte officially recognized Muhammad Ali as Pasha and Wali (Governor) of Egypt. However, demonstrating his grander ambitions, he claimed for himself the higher title of Khedive, as did his successors, Ibrahim Pasha, Abbas I, and Sa'id I.

The Muhammad Ali Dynasty’s use of the title Khedive was not sanctioned by the Ottoman Empire until 1867 when Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz officially recognized it as the title of Ismail Pasha. Moreover, the Porte accepted Ismail's alteration of the royal line of succession to go from father to son, rather than brother to brother as was the tradition in the Arab World and the Ottoman Empire. In 1879, the Great Powers forced the abdication and exile of Ismail in favor of his son Tewfik who succeeded him as Khedive.

After the nationalist Urabi Revolt of 1882, Britain invaded Egypt in support of Tewfik, and would continue to occupy and dominate the country for decades. During this period, the Muhammad Ali Dynasty under Tewfik and his son Abbas II continued to rule Egypt and Sudan using the title Khedive, whilst still nominally under Ottoman sovereignty. With the outbreak of the First World War, Abbas sided with the Ottoman Empire, which had joined the war on the side of the Central Powers, and was subsequently deposed by the British, who declared Egypt a protectorate. Abbas was replaced by his uncle Husayn who took the title Sultan, thereby ending the use of the title Khedive.

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources and References

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