Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi (Jan 2017)
A Mamluk Rebel in Egypt: Bulutkapan Ali Bey (El-Kebîr) (1768/69-1773)
Abstract
This article aims to examine, within the framework of center-periphery relations, the rise and fall of a Mamluk leader in Egypt in the middle of the 18th century. Bulutkapan Ali Bey (el-Kabir) (D.1773)’s struggle to establish a semiautonomous government in Egypt, the Hijaz and Biladu’ş-Şam can be considered as an attemp to unsuccessful revitalization of Mamluks eliminated by the Ottoman Empire in 1517? The answer to this question requires to examine of the stiatution of Mamluk households and especially Kazdaglis gained importance in this century. Indeed as a Caucasian slave Bulutkapan Ali Bey became affiliated with Kazdaglı Household. Ali Bey began to rise after the death of his master Đbrahim Kathuda, the struggle period between Mamluk Bays. In this work also claim that the rule of Ottoman governor of Cairo actually limited by Mamluk Bays in this period. Therefore, the rise and fall of Bulutkapan Ali Bey was determined by the policies of Ottoman center and Mamluk Bays containing different ways such as alliance and conflict. Moreover because of the Ottoman-Russian wars, Ottoman center could not prevent the process of setting up his power. On the other hand Ebuzzeheb Mehmed Bay, a Mamluk just like Ali Bay, put an end to his adventure.
