In provinces like Egypt, Pashas could become extremely rich in a short time. Because of this great wealth, it was not considered wise to allow them to remain in office for too long. Egypt, especially its capital Cairo, was one of the richest and most important regions of the Ottoman Empire. It produced large revenues and controlled valuable trade routes.
For this reason, the Sultan often shortened the term of the Pasha of Egypt. Even if a governor was appointed for three years, he might be removed earlier. When he returned to the capital, the Sultan would sometimes take a large share of the wealth he had gained during his service. In this way, the central authority remained strong, and no governor was allowed to grow too powerful Customized Round Turkey Tours.
The Roman Example
The Romans had a similar opinion about the wealth and importance of Egypt. After Egypt became part of the Roman Empire, Augustus treated it with special care. He made a decree that no Roman senator or nobleman could enter Egypt without special permission from the emperor.
The Roman historian Tacitus explained the reason for this rule. Egypt was so rich and so important that a powerful man, if placed there, might use its resources to threaten Rome itself. Even a small army could defend Egypt because of its natural protection by land and sea. Therefore, Augustus kept strict control over who could govern or even visit the province.
The Ottoman rulers followed a similar logic. They understood that Egypt’s wealth could become dangerous if placed in the wrong hands.
Preventing Rivalry Among Princes
Another danger carefully avoided by the Ottomans was rivalry among princes of the royal blood during their father’s lifetime. Competition between brothers could easily lead to civil war and weaken the empire.
After the death of a Sultan, the new ruler usually acted quickly to remove any threat from his brothers. In many cases, this meant imprisonment or even execution. These harsh measures were meant to prevent rebellion and secure the throne.
A well-known example of rivalry between royal brothers can be seen in the conflict between Selim I and Bayezid II. Struggles like these showed how dangerous family competition could become.
Protecting the Stability of the Empire
The Ottoman political system was built on strong central authority. To protect this authority, the state avoided hereditary power in provinces, limited the time of governors, controlled wealth, and prevented rivalry among princes.
Although these methods were sometimes severe, they were designed to maintain stability. The rulers believed that unity under one strong Sultan was better than the risk of division and civil war. Through strict control and careful policy, the empire sought to protect itself from both internal ambition and external danger.