Muhammad Ali Libya, Ottoman Levant

What if in the settlement ending the Ottoman-Egyptian Wars, Muhammad Ali got Libya as recompense for Syria and the Ottomans retained the Levant?

Egypt is independent here.
 
I can only see this working IF Egypt was truly independent. They never claimed to be, as the Ottoman Sultan was Caliph, but we accept that Ottoman power is so compromised in some way that it Egypt decides to consider itself no longer bound IN ANY WAY by Istanbul, then I can see this being a negotiated peace.

IMHO it would have to have third-party intervention - maybe Russia ties the Ottomans to it as a vassal but agrees to let Egypt go as long as the Ottomans retain the Levant. Its not GOOD for Egypt, but if there are guarantees as to the non-intervention in trade etc, they can source their timber from European nations.
 
Mehmed Ali could easily take Libya as Ottoman central authority wasn't establish there yet. But he chose for the Levant. It is worth much more and not only economically but defensive as well.
I thinking he just takes both the Levant and Libya during the first Ottoman-Egyptian war. I doubt the Europeans will care to force him to give Libya back.
 
I thinking he just takes both the Levant and Libya during the first Ottoman-Egyptian war. I doubt the Europeans will care to force him to give Libya back.

They did care enough to return Crete as well. Besides. Egypt in Libya threatens Tunisia as well for those who want it. France might reconsider its support.
 
I can only see this working IF Egypt was truly independent. They never claimed to be, as the Ottoman Sultan was Caliph, but we accept that Ottoman power is so compromised in some way that it Egypt decides to consider itself no longer bound IN ANY WAY by Istanbul, then I can see this being a negotiated peace.

IMHO it would have to have third-party intervention - maybe Russia ties the Ottomans to it as a vassal but agrees to let Egypt go as long as the Ottomans retain the Levant. Its not GOOD for Egypt, but if there are guarantees as to the non-intervention in trade etc, they can source their timber from European nations.

Making Egypt, who was supported by France, is out of question. The Ottomans might leave it in exchange for Libya but without the Levant. However, the British will not. A strong regional power with a pro French attitude is not something the UK likes in the 1830s and 1840s.

Getting Egypt independent requires a major flashpoint that forces most Great Powers, France and the UK at least, on that.
 
Libya would probably be more integrated with Egypt in this ATL than the Levant was OTL.

That's true. It had a lower population and was economically worthless. Send some Egyptians to Benghazi and Tripoli and you have Egypt all the way to Tunis. Hell if that were to happen the Egyptians might even go for Chad.
 
If you just removed that last sentence, this would be a fairly possible scenario. If the Ottomans pull off a more successful campaign against Muhammed "Prince Ali" to the point they can get the Levant back in the peace, they very well could try to placate his wounded pride at the lose and his continued vassalage, appear to make a reasonable concession to French strategic concerns, and get Tripolitania back in order by offering him the governorship of the province if he'll put down the tribals and disloyal Bey there.
 
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