Mehmed Ali's position vis-à-vis the Ottoman Sultan, on the one hand, and the fellah subjects, on the other, is very similar to that of a feudal lord. Above him loomed the authority of the Sultan, an authority that resembled that of a feudal overlord above that of his vassals and an authority that Mehmed Ali could, and did, challenge. Similarly, the Pasha viewed Egypt as his own personal fief.

DEFINE: The author explains Mehmed Ali's relationship to the Sultan and fellahin through the feudal analogy, framing Egypt as a personal fief.

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1537