EGYPT
Vice-kingdom
& Kingdom
Back to Egypt
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Following the French invasion of Egypt in 1798 and
Napoleon's defeat of Egyptian forces, which consisted largely of the ruling
Mamluk military caste, the Ottoman Empire dispatched troops from Rumelia (the
Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire) under the command of Muhammad Ali
Pasha to restore the Empire's authority in what had hitherto been an Ottoman
province. However, upon the French defeat and departure, Muhammad Ali seized
control of the country, and declared himself ruler of Egypt, quickly
consolidating an independent local powerbase. After repeated failed attempts
to remove and kill him, in 1805, the Porte officially recognized Muhammad Ali
as Pasha and Wāli (Governor) of Egypt. However, demonstrating his
grander ambitions, he claimed for |
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himself the
higher title of Khedive (Viceroy), as did his successors, Ibrahim Pasha, Abbas
I, and Sa'id I. This however was not granted until 1866
when Ismael Pasha was promoted to the rank of Khedive by Imperial Firman. As a result of the British interests after the opening of the Suez canal in 1869, Egypt gravitated into the British sphere of interest in the region and after 1882 the khedive was but a British puppet ruler. In 1914, at the outbreak of WW I, the British secured their position by declaring Egypt a protectorate, and promoted the Ottoman vilayet to an autonomous sultanate. In 1922 the protectorate was abolished and Egypt became a sovereign kingdom. This was overthrown by revolting generals who proclaimed a republic in 1953. |
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Underlining his military independence within the
Ottoman Empire, Muhammad Ali created a system of distinguishing flags for the
navy that was different from the Ottoman system. Probably it dates back to
the naval campaigns in the twenties of the 19th century. The flags were the
flags for the rear admial, the vice-admiral and the admiral, showing on a red
field a crescent with one, two and three six-pointed stars respectively. A
personal flag for Mohammed Ali himself showed three crescents-and-stars on a
red field and this corresponds with the rank of Grand admiral or the admiral
of the (Egyptian) fleet.
Distinguishing Flags of
the Egyptian and Ottoman Navy, 1841 ca
ð Note that the flag of Muhammad Ali
corresponds with the flag of the Grand-admiral of the Porte. It is possible that these flags were also the
distinguishing flags of the corresponding ranks of the army but nothing is
known about such flags. The flag of Muhammad Ali himself, the six-pointed
stars replaced by five-pointed ones was also flown as the personal flags of
later rulers of Egypt, bearing the title of khedive and sultan. We may assume
that in fact not these titles were symbolized, but the rank of grand-admiral
or admiral of the (Egyptian) fleet. It was only abandoned in 1922 with the
establishment of the kingdom when it was replaced by a blue flag with the
royal arms between four royal crowns in the corners. The coat of arms of the ruler of Egypt showed a
crescent and three stars from about the second half of the reign of Muhammad
Ali until 1952. The only exception of this rule are the arms of Abbas Hilmi
II (1879-1914) who introduced a coat of arms with three crescents and stars
in about 1907 and the arms of his successors, sultans of Egypt until
1922. |
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1820ca-1848 |
1854-1867 |
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1867-1907 |
1907-1923 |
1923-1952 |
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The arms of Muhammad Ali and his son Ibrahim (r.
1848) showed the crescent and stars on a red background, corresponding with
the rank of admiral (at the Morea campaign 1825-’28). Such arms, the horns of
the crescent to the sinister for difference, were also borne by the tenth son of Muhammad Ali, Said, who
was also an admiral and ruled 1854-‘63. The colours were changed by Ismael who was a son
of Ibrahim, and was born when his
father was the Commander in Chief of the Army (from July 1829). His arms were
blue, the crescent in the same position as on the arms of his predecessor.
Since then the arms of the khedives, sultans and kings of Egypt have always
been blue, probably symbolizing the rank of Field Marshal or Commander in
Chief (of the army) [1]. He
also introduced six (2 Í3) tugh’s or horse-tails as supporters of
the arms, symbolizing the rank of (a turkish) vizier which was as much as a
vice-roy or, in the Egyptian case, a khedive.
A third innovation were the national arms which
consisted of a red shield with three crescents and stars (as on the princely
flag). These were depicted horns to the sinister. In the time of the
Sultanate they were turned horns upwards. |
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Princely crown, 1854 ca -
1922 |
Egyptian Royal Crown
1923-1952 |
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From about the reign of Muhammad Said (1854-‘63)
the shield is crowned. The crown, of an adaptaed European style, consists of
a low velvet purple cap, and a diadem with five leaves and five hoops,
crested with a crescent and star. At the occasion of the procalamation of the
kingdom a new crown was designed. It consists of a diadem set with five
papyrus-flowers and five hoops, crested with a globe with a crescent-and-star
on top. |
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Order of the Crescent and Star
(Hilal Nishani) [2] |
Order of Nishani-Majidieh |
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Initially, after the death of Muhammad Ali,
pending from the arms was the medal of the Ottoman order of the Hilal Nishani
(of the Crescent and Star) founded in 1800 as a reward for services rendered
to the Sultan by non-ottoman citizens. From the reign of Said the Hilal Nishani was
replaced by the Nishan-i-Majidieh,
founded 1851 as a reward for military, civil and religious services rendered
to the Ottoman Imperial Government. This order, pending from a collar
consisting of crescents-and-stars, surrounded the princely arms until 1915
when the Order of Muhammad Ali was founded by sultan Hussein Kamil
(1914-’17). |
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Order of Muhammad Ali “Collar:
of gold comprising eight lozenges bearing the name of Muhammad Ali in green on
white enamel linked with eight medallions formed of entwined papyrus flowers
in green, white and red enamel, in the centre of which is a cabochon emerald
surrounded by diamonds. Between these elements are sixteen links of white and
red enameled papyrus flowers. The reverse of the links are either plain
(monogrammed lozenge) or chased (gem-set links). Suspended from the collar
hangs a hexagonal gold badge set with diamonds and bearing the Kufic
inscription: “Charity, Justice and Freedom from Vindictiveness are the
Strength of a Kingdom” in gold; in the centre the name Muhammad Ali in gold
on green enamel. The inscriptions are repeated on the sash badge and star.” [3] |
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From about the reign of Muhammad Said the shield
and order are surrounded by a crowned mantle. Initially with the princely
crown as shown above and after 1922 with the royal Egyptian Crown. |
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Ottoman Vilayet (Government) |
1805-1914 |
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Muhammad Ali |
*1769-†1849 Vali 1805-1848 |
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Photo
courtesy Ahmed Kamel Vault
in the Shubra Palace in Cairo, about 1820 [4]
The
emblems and names of Muhammad Ali and his son Ibrahim The vault shows
the badges of distinction of an admiral of the Egyptian Navy being red
charged with a crescent an three stars. The name of Muhammad Ali is on the
right and written on a blue background, the name of his son is written on a green background. These
colors are the colors of administrative authority and of the commander in
chief, red being the color of armed authority. Indeed Ibrahim was promoted
Chief Commander of the Army (and Grand Admiral) in July 1829. His father had
been recognized a Vali (Governor) in 1805. [5] |
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Muhammad Said |
*1822-†1863 Vali 1854-1863 |
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Courtesy Hassan Kamel
Kelisli Morali Supposed
achievement of Muhammad Said Arms: Gules, a decrescent and three
mullets two and one Argent. Crown: The Egyptian Princely Crown. Supporters: Six sceptres ensigned with a
crescent in saltire Order:
The medal of the
Order of the Crescent (1800) Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or,
lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. The Sceptre: The Ottoman Sultan Mehmet IV is depicted in European sources with such a sceptre but this is an exception. Probably the idea of the six sceptres is a west european innovation. |
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*1830-†1895 Wali 1863-1867 Khedive 1866/’73-1879 |
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The Muhammad
Ali Dynasty’s use of the title Khedive was not sanctioned by the Ottoman
Empire until 1867 when Sultan Abdülaziz confirmed
Ismail Pasha in the title of Khedive (Viceroy)
of Egypt and the Sudan, together with the style of Sa'adat Sahib al-Tal'a
al-vaiqa al-Khedivi al-Afkham wa'l-duari al-Akram, and the establishment
of male primogeniture in the direct line of the reigning Khedive as the rule
of succession by Imperial Ottoman Firman 17th May 1866 (confirmed 8th June
1873) Moreover, the Porte
accepted Ismail's alteration of the royal line of succession to go from
father to son, rather than brother to brother, as was the tradition in the
Ottoman Empire, and Arab dynasties. In May 1879, the British Empire, and
France began pressuring the Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II to depose Ismail
Pasha, and this was done on June 26, 1879. The more pliable Tawfik Pasha,
Ismail's son, was made his successor as the new Khedive. Ismail Pasha left Egypt
and initially went into exile to Naples, but was eventually permitted by
Sultan Abdülhamid II to retire to his Palace of Emirgan on the Bosporus in
Constantinople. There he remained, more or less a state prisoner, until his
death. He was later buried in Cairo. |
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After his promotion to a Khedive Ismael changed the princely achievement by replacing the sceptres by the more Turkish tugh’s. The change of the color of the field from red to blue illustrates his change in style from just a Vali to a Khedive. The first version of his achievement is: Arms: Azure a decrescent and three
mullets two and one Argent. Crown: The Egyptian Princely Crown. Supporters: Six tugh’s in saltire Order:
The medal and
collar of the Order of the Crescent (1800) Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or,
lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. |
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A second
version shows the same achievement but the Order of the Crescent replaced by
the Order of Nishani-Majidieh of which Ismael had received the
special class in brilliants on 11.04.1863. [6]
Courtesy
Max Karkegi Arms: Azure a decrescent and three
mullets two and one Argent. Crown: The Egyptian Princely Crown. Supporters: Six tugh’s ensigned with a
crescent and star in saltire Order:
Star and collar
of the Order of Nishani-Majidie (1851) Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or,
lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. |
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Abbas II Hilmi |
1892-1914 |
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In the time of Abbas II Hilmi the tugh’s were omitted. His first achievement is:
Arms: Azure a decrescent and three
mullets two and one Argent. Crown: The Egyptian Princely Crown. Order:
Star and collar
of the Order of Nishani-Majidie (1851). Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or,
lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. |
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A second version of his achievement is known from about 1907. It is:
Arms: Azure, three decrescents-and-mullets
Argent, two on the dexter and one on the sinister. Crown: A crown of five leaves and five
hoops set with pearls, surmounted by a crescent-and-mullet, lined with a low
cap. Order: Nishani Majidi. (1891.03.07)
(Ottoman Empire, 1851) Supporters: Six sceptres crested with a
crescent and star in saltire Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or,
lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. |
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18.12.1914-15.03.1922 |
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With the outbreak
of the First World War, Abbas Hilmi Pasha sided with the Ottoman Empire,
which had joined the war on the side of the Central Powers, and was
subsequently deposed by the British, who declared Egypt a protectorate, which
means formally adding a territory to British sovereignty under a subordinate
ruler, while he was on a visit to Vienna. His uncle Hussein Kamel was
declared Sultan of Egypt by the British, who declared severance of the
nominal ties of Egypt and Sudan to the Ottoman Empire (at least arguably
invalid under international law, which did/does not allow acquisition of
title to territory unless the existing sovereign, i.e., the Ottoman Empire,
cedes it), and brought an end to the use of the title of Khedive. |
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Embossed achievement on a Sultanic brevet. |
In the first years of the sultanate the sceptres, memorating Ottoman rule were removed. After the Order of Muhammad Ali was founded in 1915 the arms were surrounded by the collar and badge of the order. The new achievement was: Arms: Azure, three
decrescents-and-mullets Argent, two on the dexter and one on the sinister. Order: Order of Muhammad Ali (Egypt
1915) Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or, lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. |
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15.03.1922-1953
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By
a telegram of 28 February 1922 from the British government Sultan Ahmad Fuad
was informed that the United Kingdom had terminated the Protectorate over
Egypt and that it recognised her as an independent sovereign state, with
certain reservations pertaining to territorial defence and communications. On
15 March 1922 he assumed the title of King of Egypt
and of Sudan, Sovereign of Nubia,
of Kordofan and of Darfur,
together with the style of Hazrat Sahib al-Jalala (His Majesty).
On 16 March 1922 the independence of Egypt was proclaimed. With Article 17
of the Treaty of Lausanne of 14 July 1923, Turkey
formally ceded (retroactive to 5 November 1914) all remaining claims and
rights in Egypt and Sudan Shortly
afterwards a new achievement was adopted. It is: Arms: Azure, a crescent in base and
three mullets one and two Argent. Crown: The Egyptian Royal Crown. Order: The collar and jewel of the Order
of Muhammad Ali. (1915) Mantle: Purpure, fringed and tasseled Or,
lined Ermine and crowned with the crown of the arms. Adopted 10.12.1923 ð See illustration in the head of this essay. |
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Muhammad Ali’s Flag until 1848 |
Admiral and Vali of Egypt’s Flag at sea 1848-1867 [7] |
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Khedive’s and Sultan’s Flag 1867-1922 [8] |
Egyptian Royal Flag at sea 1923-1952 [9] |
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The National Arms
are known from the time of Muhammad Said (1854-’63) when they were: Arms: Gules, a decrescent and three five-pointed
stars Argent Crown: A princely crown. |
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Probably in the
time of Tawfiq the arms were changed: Arms: Gules, three decrescents-and-stars Argent Crown: A princely Crown [10] In the time of the
Sultanate (1914-’22) the arms were changed again: Arms: Gules, three crescents-and-stars Argent Crown: A princely crown
ï Sultan Ahmad Fuad on his throne, 1921. On the back
of the throne the national arms. Photo
Courtesy Mahmoud Sabet and Ahmed Kamel. |
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In the time of the
kingdom the national arms were the same as the royal arms. About the Seal On a picture dated 1877
the seal of the government shows two piramids and the sphinx of Cheops. The
legend reads: Gouvernement Egyptien and the same in arab script. No
acceptable pictures of this seal could be obtained. |
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The national flag
of Egypt was, in the time of Ottoman rule, the flag of the Government of the
Ottoman Empire consisting of a white decrescent-and-star on a red cloth. This
was the official flag until 1914/1923. It was replaced in
1914 by the flag of the Commander of the Fleet of Egypt, consisting of three
white decrescents-and-stars on a red cloth. In 1923 this flag
was replaced by a white decrescent-and-three stars on a green field. ! Usually the Muslim flags were flowing to
the left (like arab and hebrew script is written from the right to the left)
and, as the crescents turn their horns to the left also, they have to be
called crescents increscents. In most European sources however, the flags are
usually drawn flowing from left to right (the mast end at the left) and so, in
that case, the crescents have to be called decrescents. ! |
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The army of Muhammad Ali initially was a part of the Ottoman Armed Forces but by and by he and his successors gained a considerable autonomy. After the opening of the Suez canal in 1869 Egypt was of great stategic importance and from 1881 became a de facto, if not de jure British protectorate. This was effectuated in 1914 when the British proclaimed a sultanate under British protection. The achievements of the Egyptian armed forces illustrate this development. |
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Egyptian Barracks
(quarters) at Abbassiez (Cairo), early 19th century. Above the entrance is an achievement Ottoman style consisting of a composition of arms and banners. |
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Courtesy
of. Ahmed Kamel. Photo Rania El-Sayed. Armed forces achievement
in the Shubry Palace, Cairo. The arms of Muhammad Ali, crested by a sword and a fez and supported by some armature and two tugh’s. Probably this is the achievement of the guard or the police (indicated by the pistols) as Muhammad Ali himself was promoted a pasha of three horse tails on 9 July 1805. |
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Armed forces achievement
on a military document. On the arms a crescent and three stars, the shield surrounded by the star and ribbon of the order of Nishani Majidi (founded 1851). Probably from the time of Abbas Hilmi I who received the order in 1853. The letter head seems to have been used until well into the reign of Ismael. |
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Armed forces achievement 1863 +. |
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The
crescent made a decrescent on a red field, the arms supported by army
standards showing three crescents-and-stars on a red cloth. Probably
from the time of Ismael who, in some other instances, decorated his cypher
with several European Orders. He
received: -
The Orders of Glory (Atiq Nishan-i-Iftikhar), of the Osmans
(Nishan-i-Osmanieh) special class in brilliants, and Nobility (Nishan-i-Majidieh)
special class in brilliants (11.4.1863) of Turkey, Knt. of the Orders of the
Anunziata of Italy, and Black Eagle of Prussia (30.12.1868), GC of the Orders
of SS Maurice & Lazarus, and the Crown of Italy (25.5.1869), Leopold of
Belgium (1862), Sword of Sweden (27.7.1866), the Netherlands Lion
(27.10.1866), Legion of Honour of France (1867), Red Eagle of Prussia
(30.12.1868), Redeemer of Greece (29.5.1869), and Leopold of Austria
(29.5.1869), the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar 1st class (1875). [11] |
Standard of Egypt, 1850 |
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Armed forces achievement as on the Khedives Sudan Medal, 1895-1908 [12] The
crescent-and-stars from the standard turned horns upwards which makes the
arms different from the national arms. Such an arrangement was the model for
the national arms of the sultanate of 1914. |
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© Hubert de Vries 2011-12-22
Heraldry of the World