Events

Emboldened by Sa'd al-Din, members of the Intelligentsia including Rifa'a at-Tahwati and Mehmet Sabri have worked to undermine the landowning class as well as spur the Modernization Movement to action. While the landowners have attempted to remain in power despite their setbacks, with Rauf Farid campaigning the Wāli directly, it is clear the landowners have rapidly lost clout within the court of Muhammad Ali.

With their backing, Muhammad Ali has requested the resignation of his Vizier, Abdülkerim Zulficar. The intelligentsia consider his open support of slavery controversial, and harmful to a modern literate economy. "His decadence and abuse of power has no place in the court of the Wāli!" writes Rifa'a at-Tahtawi. The Modernization Movement hopes to see his hedonistic ways replaced with a more modern leader in the court.

With his Hedonism revealed, many in the landowning class quickly abandon Abdülkerim. He is forced to resign in shame, with Suleyman Bey replacing him. While not supporting the abolition of slavery, he has openly stated his support of the centralized rule of the Wāli, in defiance of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. As such, he finds himself in an unholy alliance with the Modernization Movement, as both seek to centralize power in Egypt under the Wāli.

With their success boosting their morale, the Modernization Movement can focus on the abolition of Serfdom and the formation of a modern School system. Crucially, a religious school is opposed by the group, as they believe the future of Egypt is in a secular state led by the Wāli in his own capacity, not merely a subject of the Caliph.