The Turkish Empire, Its Growth and DecayEversley, G. Shaw-Lefevre (George Shaw-Lefevre), Baron
History
The Turkish Empire, Its Growth and Decay
Eversley, G. Shaw-Lefevre (George Shaw-Lefevre), Baron
Turkey -- History
Thenceforward Mehemet was undisputed ruler of Egypt. He had a genius
for organization and government. Though cruel and vindictive, and even
bloodthirsty, as regards his enemies and against evildoers of all
kinds, he had a keen sense of justice, and a determination to mete
it out equally, and without favour, to the people of all sects and
races. He brought about peace and order and prosperity such as Egypt
had never of late years enjoyed. He was ambitious to extend his rule.
He organized for this purpose, and for asserting himself against the
Porte, an army of a hundred thousand men raised by conscription and
armed and drilled on the model of European armies, with the aid of
French and Italian officers who had served under Napoleon. He also
built a powerful fleet with the help of French naval constructors.
He soon proved the value of his new army by putting down a revolt in
Arabia of the Wahabees. He did this, on behalf of, and in the name of
the Sultan. He also conquered the oasis of Senaar and extended the rule
of Egypt into the Sudan. It will be seen that later, in 1825 and 1826,
he sent his army and navy in support of the Sultan to the Morea for
the purpose of putting an end to the revolution in Greece, which the
Sultan had been unable to cope with. Before dealing with this, however,
it will be well to revert to Mahmoud and explain the course of events
which compelled him to call in aid Mehemet Ali’s army.
One of the earliest matters which Mahmoud had to deal with was that
of Serbia. The treaty of Bucharest had left that province in a very
unsettled and ambiguous position. The Turks, under its terms, were
permitted to garrison Belgrade and other fortresses, and were to
concede to the Serbians self-government, but there was no adequate
guarantee for this. The Serbians, who were in possession of the
fortresses, refused to give them up to the Turks until a scheme
of self-government was arranged. The Porte insisted on immediate
surrender. Subsequent proceedings showed that there was no intention to
give effective self-government to the Serbians. The Sultan in 1813 sent
an army to enforce his claims. Kara George, in most strange contrast
to his previous heroic action, lost courage on this occasion. After
burying the treasure which he had amassed as virtual ruler of Serbia,
he fled the country and sought refuge with the Austrians. In so doing
he passed out of the history of his country, save that when, some years
later, he thought he might safely return to Serbia, he was arrested and
shot as a traitor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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