Guardian of the Blessings

Muhammad Ali Pasha is considered one of the most important rulers of Egypt in the modern era. His achievements in the military, economic, and social fields, whether on a local, regional, or global scale, left profound effects on Egyptian society, and fundamentally changed the nature of the state and the political system in Egypt.In this book, Khaled Fahmy presents a new vision of the Pasha character; a vision that traces his long career from his upbringing in the town of Qolah until his death in Cairo at the age of eighty years. Relying on unique sources rarely consulted by historians before, ranging from the pasha's richly detailed correspondence to his many orders to his subordinates, and the reports of European consuls to the writings of foreign travelers; the biography presented by Khaled Fahmy in this book sheds light on many aspects of the character of the “guardian of blessings”; the etheric titleFor Muhammad Ali, whether those related to his relations with his children, relatives and followers, or those related to his goals and ambitions, or those related to his fears and obsessions. This biography also traces the policies and actions of the pasha since he came to Egypt in the early nineteenth century, a stranger who had no money, until his death about half a century later. He established a family rule that lasted for a century.