الخطر الغربي على المقاطعات اللبنانية خلال العهد المصري

Abstract EN

Muhammad Ali Pasha, Wāli of Egypt, served the Ottoman Empire admirably both in Arabia and Morea, fighting the Wahhābis and the Greek revolutionaries.

He hoped that in return, the Sultanate would reward him with another Eyalet to rule alongside Egypt, but that never happened.

Since Muhammad Ali had far-reaching political ambitions, he decided to annex the Levant due to its strategic, economic and demographic importance.

So he took advantage of the turmoil and the state of weakness that the Ottoman Empire was going through, and sent an army to the Levant, conquering it with ease, forcing the Sultan to recognize this new situation due to European Pressures, and in order to maintain peace throughout the Empire.

Muhammad Ali Pasha’s annexation of the Levant resulted in its exposure to many dangers as a result of the increase in Western interference in its internal affairs, which in return was the result of Muhammad Ali Pasha’s alliance with France, who’s influence increased consequently in the Levant under the Pasha’s rule.

This prompted the rest of the European powers to work on preserving their interests in the region, which had a long term negative effect on the Ottoman Sultanate and its subjects.