6o RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND BULGARIA. 



interests and the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, seriously threatened 

 by the aggressive policy in Syria of Mehemet Ali, the Viceroy of 

 Egypt. 



This able and energetic man, in return for his military services with 

 the British Forces against Bonaparte, became Viceroy of Egypt in 

 1806, and from 1811 to 1820 he waged a relentless and exterminating 

 war against the Mamelukes, whom he followed into Nubia and utterly 

 exterminated them, and the Porte jealous of his power, thought to 

 check it by sending him on an expedition against the Wahabis in 

 Arabia, and Mehemet gave the command to his son Ibrahim, who 

 returned victorious, which added to his prestige. 



He next invaded the Equatorial Provinces and conquered Kordofan, 

 adding still further to the dominions of Turkey, and opening out trade. 



From 1832 to 1839 Mehemet was in open rupture with his Suzerain, 

 for his conquests and victories had fired his ambition, and by the aid 

 of his son Ibrahim invaded Syria, defeated the Armies of the Porte, 

 took Acre, and advanced to Damascus, became master of Syria ; he 

 then proceeded into Karamonia, and routed the Turkish army under 

 Redschid Pasha, and nothing remained but a movement on Con- 

 stantinople, to dictate the terms of peace to the Sultan. 



Turkey in this supreme hour of peril, appealed to England, to 

 intervene by her fleet, and this being refused, the Sultan was obliged 

 to rely on the support of Russia, whose fleet anchored in the 

 Bosphorus, and her army occupied Scutari, which led to the Treaty 

 of Unkiar-Skelessi, by which for a period of eight years Syria was 

 surrendered to Mehemet Ali subject to his recognition of the 

 Suzerainty of the Porte, and the Emperor of Russia extended his right 

 of interference in the affairs of the Ottoman Empire, for he made the 

 Sultan his vassal, and closed the Dardanelles to Europe. 



In 1839 difficulties arose between Turkey and Mehemet Ali, 

 for he refused to pay the Tribute to the Porte, and his great 

 military preparations aroused the hostility of the Sultan Mahmoud, 

 who determined to suffer no longer the rebellious policy of his 

 Egyptian Viceroy, and War was declared against him, which led to the 

 intervention of England, in order to prevent the threatened alliance 

 of Russia with Turkey. 



Then followed the siege and capture of St. Jean d'Acre, and the 

 invasion by British forces of Syria, that routed the Egyptian army, 

 and the submission of Mehemet to the Sultan being secured, a Treaty 

 of Peace was signed 13th July, 1841, by which Syria was recovered to 

 Turkey, and Mehemet Ali was limited to the viceroyalty of Egypt, 



