Ali Bey

Ali Bey

Ali Bey al-Kabir was a mamluk who served as shaykh al-balad of Ottoman Egypt in 1760–1766 and 1767–1772. He was effectively the strongman of Egypt and in 1769 practically pursued independence from the Ottomans, minting coins in his own name, terminating the annual tribute to Istanbul and launching conquests of the Hejaz and Syria in 1770–1771. His rule ended following the insubordination of his most trusted general, Abu al-Dahab, which led to Ali Bey's downfall and death.