Tusun Pasha

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Tusun Pasha (Turkish: Tosun Paşa) (1794-1816) was the elder son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, wali of Egypt between 1805-1849. Not as well known as Muhammad Ali's other (and possibly adopted) son Ibrahim Pasha Tusun did nevertheless attain some historical significance having led, in 1811, the successful military campaign of the Egyptian army in the Arabian Peninsula, taken up in order to subdue unrest created in that region by Wahabbi forces.

It appears from historical records, that as the elder son Tusun was destined by Muhammad Ali to carry on his legacy. This aspiration however, was not to materialize as Tusun died in 1816 (possibly of disease) and was then duly succeeded by his brother Ibrahim in the role of chief military commander.

Years later, in 1848, Tusun's son, Abbas I, inherited the role of Pasha directly from his grandfather and served in this position for six years, before being murdered in 1854.

A famous movie has been made in Turkey about Tosun Pasa, starring Turkish film legend Kemal Sunal, which apparently features the too early departed son of Muhammed Ali. [1]