TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Revolt · 1768
Ali Bey, a Mamluk bey who wanted to found an independent state in Egypt, deposed the Ottoman governor while the empire was occupied with the Russian war of 1768. In June 1770 he sent Abu al-Dhahab Muhammad Bey to the Hejaz, took Mecca and received the title of “sultan” from the sharif; he sought help from Venice and from Orlov, commander of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean. After taking Damascus, Abu al-Dhahab returned to Egypt and turned against Ali Bey, who fled to Syria in April 1772. With the help of his friend Zahir al-Umar of Acre and the Russians he re-entered Egypt, but on 8 May 1773 he was defeated and wounded at Salihiyya and died soon after.
| Date | 1768 – 8 May 1773 |
|---|---|
| Location | Egypt, Hejaz, Syria |
| Result | Defeated and wounded by Abu al-Dhahab Muhammad Bey at Salihiyya (8 May 1773); he died shortly afterwards |
| Belligerents | Ottoman Empire (Mustafa III) Abu al-Dhahab Muhammad Bey | Ali Bey Zahir al-Umar (ally) Russian fleet (supporter) |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Abu al-Dhahab Muhammad Bey | Ali Bey al-Kabir |
Took place during the reign of Mustafa III (1757–1774). Mustafa III
Open the reign of Mustafa III on the mapBy the atlas's calculation the Ottoman lands covered about 4,753,000 km² in 1768; at the start of Mustafa III's reign they measured 4,753,000 km², at its end 4,612,000 km².
During Mustafa III (1757–1774) the atlas records 0 regions gained and 2 regions lost.
Regions lost: Crimean Khanate (Crimea and the Nogai steppe) (1771), Azov–Kuban (1771).
The sultan who seriously restarted military reform. But the war with Russia he entered in 1768 became the empire's heaviest defeat; he died before the peace was signed, and his brother paid the price.
Areas are land area computed from the atlas's region data; see Method and sources.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, “Ali Bey, Bulutkapan” (Turkish); text written for the atlas.