Lesson 4 - The Egyptian /Ottoman Wars Flashcards
What did Muhammad Ali want in compensation for assisting the Ottoman Empire in the war against Greece and having vast losses at Navarino and in Morea?
Syria
What did the Sultan offer Muhammad Ali?
Crete
Why did Muhammad Ali refuse this?
Crete was in a permanent state of revolt and it would be expensive to rule this.
What else did Muhammad Ali refuse to do?
Muhammad Ali refused to send troops he had withdrawn from Morea in Oct. 1828 to help Ottoman army counter Russian offensive.
On what pretext did Muhammad Ali take Syria?
Using as pretexts unwillingness of authorities in Syria to send back to
Egypt 6,000 draft evaders, and refusal of Wali of Acre to make payment towards cost Egyptian expedition to Morea, land and sea forces.
Was it Muhammad Ali himself who led his troops into Syria?
No, it was Muhammad Ali’s son, Ibrahim Pasha invaded Syria in Oct. 1831.
What progress did the Egyptian army make?
Egyptian troops progressed rapidly, taking Gaza, Jaffa, Jerusalem and Haifa. Acre fell in May 1832 after six-month siege. Then, they took Aleppo, Homs, Beirut, Sidon, Tripoli, and finally Damascus in mid-June 1832.
Was the reaction of the Ottoman Empire quick?
No, Reaction of Ottomans was slow. It was only in March 1832 that Mahmud officially declared Muhammad Ali and his son rebels and ordered Ottoman army to launch campaign against
them. However, in July 1832, modern Egyptian army, in alliance with local Arab leaders, inflicted two severe defeats to Ottomans at Homs and Belen.
Why did the Ottoman Empire agree to negotiate with Muhammad Ali?
Mahmud was unwilling to settle for questions of prestige, but also because he believed he could obtain support of Great Powers, especially Britain.
Why did Britain not assist?
Yet, in London, even if Stratford Canning, the former British ambassador to Constantinople, and Foreign Secretary Palmerston were advocating intervention in order to prevent the Sultan from turning towards Russia, Cabinet was more preoccupied with elections
at home and events in Belgium and Portugal.
Why did Austria not assist?
The Sultan also approached Austria but Vienna
was aligned with Russia, who was only waiting for situation to deteriorate further in order to increase her influence in Ottoman Empire.
With further advances from the Egyptian army who did the Ottoman Empire turn to?
When news of Ottoman defeat at Konya reached Russia, Tsar Nicholas I decided to do something to prevent emergence of new powerful state in eastern Mediterranean that could
counter more effectively than Ottomans Russian ambitions in region. Since neither British nor French offered any assistance, Mahmud turned to Russia: on 25 Dec. 1832, Russian military mission arrived in Constantinople to prepare arrival of Russian troops.
Why did London and Paris sent envoys to Cairo?
To try and persuade the Ottoman Empire to give Syria to Muhammad Ali. at same time, they threatened Muhammad Ali with blockade and end of French military assistance (Egyptian army was being trained by French mission.
What threat did Muhammad Ali make to the Sultan?
To take Constantinople, if the Sultan didn’t agree to give him Syria and Cilicia.
Why did the Sultan agree to the demands?
Because Russian armies could not arrive in time to defend the Ottoman Empire.
What agreements were brought by the Convention of Kütahya?
1) Muhammad Ali was confirmed as governor of Egypt and Crete and gained governorship of Syria;
2) Ibrahim Pasha was confirmed as sheik of Mecca and governor of Jeddah, and gained right to collect taxes in province of Adana (ie Cilicia).
What was the Ottoman/Russian Treaty? Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi
Fearing that lifting of Egyptian threat reduced Russia’s leverage on Sultan, Tsar sent diplomat Prince Alexey Fyodorovich Orlov to negotiate with Sultan Ottoman-Russian Treaty.
Signed on 8 July 1833 at Russian military camp of Hünkâr İskelesi, on eastern bank of Bosphorus. Under treaty,
◦ Treaty of Adrianople, signed in 1829 was confirmed;
◦ each party agreed to help other if its territories were attacked during following eight years.
What was the secret article?
However, in secret article, Russians repudiated Ottoman help, except for promise by Sultan to close Straits to foreign vessels in time of war. Meant that British, French or any other fleet would not be able to attack Russian Black Sea coast.
What was the reaction of Britain and France to the treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi?
It generated a wave of Russophobia, with both Britain
and France determined to defend integrity of Ottoman Empire to keep Russians out. Implicitly, it also meant that London and Paris would also not hesitate to oppose any attempt by Muhammad Ali or others to undermine position of Sultan as that might provide
opportunity for Russia to pursue her expansionist ambitions.
When was the second Egyptian-Ottoman war?
1839-41
Why did the second Egyptian-Ottoman war start?
The Kutahya convention brought further humiliation to the sultan and both sides prepared for more military conflict.
What happened at the Battle of Nezib on 24th June?
The Ottoman’s had a humiliating defeat losing most of their men.
How did Mahmud die?
Of tuberculosis
What new tactic did the new sultan, Abdulmejid I take?
The new Sultan opted to carry on with offensive against Muhammad Ali but this time relied on the Ottoman navy to attack Egypt directly and cut off Egyptian troops based in Syria from their homeland.
