Which event marked the rise of Mohammed Ali to power in Egypt?
Answer Details
The Mamluk Massacre marked the rise of Mohammed Ali to power in Egypt.
During the Mamluk Massacre, which occurred in 1811, Mohammed Ali, who was an ambitious commander in the Ottoman army, ordered the killing of the Mamluk leaders in Cairo. This event allowed Mohammed Ali to eliminate the Mamluk political and military power in Egypt and consolidate his own authority.
The Mamluks were a powerful ruling class composed of Turkish and Circassian slave soldiers who had held considerable influence in Egypt for centuries. However, they were seen as a threat to Ottoman authority. Mohammed Ali, recognizing the opportunity to establish his own rule, cunningly invited the Mamluk leaders to a celebration at Egypt's Citadel and then ordered his troops to attack and kill them.
By eliminating the Mamluk leadership, Mohammed Ali effectively removed a major obstacle to his rise to power. With the support of the Ottoman Empire, he was appointed as the governor of Egypt and started a process of modernization and reforms.
In summary, the Mamluk Massacre marked the rise of Mohammed Ali to power in Egypt by removing the Mamluk ruling class and allowing him to establish his own authority. This event paved the way for his transformative rule and the modernization of Egypt.