Death of Ali Bey

Background. Ali Bey al-Kabir served as shaykh al-balad (chief of the country) of Ottoman Egypt in 1760–1766 and 1767–1772, a title the sultan bestowed on the preeminent mamluk bey. His ambition for total power brought him into conflict with Abd al-Rahman, the Ottoman governor, and other mamluk beys. He consolidated his hold over the military and bureaucracy, moving against rival mamluk emirs, stopped the annual tribute to the Sublime Porte, and in 1769 had his name struck on local coins alongside the sultan's emblem, effectively declaring Egypt's independence from Ottoman rule.

The Insubordination of Abu al-Dhahab. Ali Bey's rule ended following the insubordination of his most trusted general, Abu al-Dhahab, which led to Ali Bey's downfall and death. A few days after a major victory over the governor of Damascus, Uthman Pasha al-Kurji, by the allied forces of Daher al-Umar and Ali Bey on 6 June 1771, Abu al-Dhahab, commander of his troops in Syria, refused to continue the fight after an Ottoman agent stirred up mistrust between him and Ali Bey, and hastily returned to Egypt.

Historiographical Disputes. The exact date of Ali Bey's loss of power is disputed. Some sources claim he held power until 1773, while others, including Al-Jabarti, suggest he gave up power in 1769. These discrepancies affect the timeline of his reign and the subsequent appointment of Ottoman governors.