Realizing that he lacked an effective military force that would enable him to rebuff any attempt by Istanbul to dislodge him forcibly from his wealthy province, he made numerous attempts to found one, culminating in the crucial attempt to create a modern army based on conscripted fellahin in 1820–1. Once he had taken that fateful decision, not only was the efficiency of his administration and its ability to affect and touch the daily lives of the average Egyptians greatly enhanced; his relationship with the Sultan in Istanbul was also radically changed.

Builds on: "Conscription and modern state institutions created Muhammad Ali's new army."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1667