November 29, 1798.
"It is really a freaky man cat," Napoleon thought to himself.
The scorching sun beat down on the vast desert, casting a harsh light upon the Great Sphinx of Giza. General Napoleon Bonaparte sat atop his camel. His eyes were fixed on the ancient monument, unmoving and deep in thought.
Beside him, an artist diligently worked on capturing the scene. With every stroke of the brush, he tried to immortalize the image of Napoleon against the backdrop of the Sphinx, the heat of the moment captured on canvas.
He had been in that position for almost thirty minutes, and he could feel the sweat trickling down his forehead. But he endured, as he believed that this painting would serve as a great propaganda purpose back in Egypt.
Before the expedition, Napoleon had ordered Ciela to start a newspaper company in Paris where the headlines would be about his campaign in Egypt. The newspaper company that Ciela started used a new technology that allowed for the mass production of newspapers called the steam printing press, a machine that could print 10,000 impressions per hour.
Since its inception, Ciela has produced almost a million copies, disseminating the news of Napoleon Bonaparte conquering Egypt. According to Ciela's letters, the reception back in Paris had been overwhelmingly positive. The French people were captivated by the tales of Napoleon's daring exploits in a distant land.
Ciela was the one that suggested that he commission an artist to draw him a portrait in front of the monuments. After this Great Sphinx, he would ride his camel down to the Pyramid of Giza, where he will commission another painting.
"We are almost done, General Bonaparte," the painter said, worried about Napoleon's comfort in the scorching heat.
Napoleon simply nodded and endured another thirty minutes of heat. Five minutes after the one-hour mark, the painter announced.
"I am done! General Bonaparte."
Napoleon turned his camel and faced the painter with a nod of appreciation. The artist carefully set down his brush and stepped back, allowing Napoleon to fully take in the completed portrait. The image captured him in a moment of contemplation, his gaze fixed upon the Great Sphinx.
"You have done an exceptional job, monsieur," Napoleon praised. "I'll give the payment later once we are back in the city."
"No problem, General Bonaparte."
Moments later, Napoleon was approached by his Chief-of-Staff Berthier, and his aide-de-camp, Murat.
"General Bonaparte, I have some reports to make," Berthier began.
"Go on," Napoleon prompted, his gaze shifting from the portrait to his trusted Chief-of-Staff.
Berthier cleared his throat before delivering the news. "General, I regret to inform you that the Ottoman Empire has declared war on France. They cite your invasion of Egypt as the reason for their hostilities."
"Tell me the details."
Berthier adjusted his uniform and continued, "The Ottomans have been sending reinforcements to the Mamluks garrisoned in Jaffa and Acre. It appears they are bolstering their defenses and preparing for a confrontation."
A flicker of determination sparked in Napoleon's eyes. He had anticipated resistance from the Ottoman Empire, but he was not one to shy away from a fight. The news of the Ottoman declaration of war only fueled his resolve to solidify French control in Egypt and expand French influence in the region.
What's more, making him confident that the British Empire is in no way able to help the Ottomans due to the French controlling the Mediterranean region. So, it will be a one versus one.
"Very well, I'll reorganize our troops back in Cairo to prepare for a siege on those cities. How about the votes about Egypt becoming a French colony?"
"Good news on that side, General Bonaparte," Murat chimed in. "The people of Cairo have voted to become part of the French colony. The percentage is 95 percent yeses and 5 percent noes."
Napoleon's lips curled to a smile, satisfied by the news.
"Oh…that's great news. In that case, let's inform the Directory about it, of the Egyptian wanting to become a subject of the French Republic."
"But General Bonaparte…I don't think the Ottomans would recognize our claim to Egypt. They have declared war on us, remember?" Berthier interjected.
"I am not concerned about the Ottomans' recognition of our claim to Egypt. We have already solidified our position here," Napoleon declared confidently. "Our presence and the overwhelming support from the people of Cairo demonstrate that we have established a firm foothold in this land. The Ottoman Empire's recognition or lack thereof will not hinder our progress. Send an ultimatum to the Ottoman court, informing them that if they do not recognize our occupation of Egypt, we will be compelled to expand our influence northward, potentially encroaching upon their territories in Syria and the Middle East."
***
Another month later, in Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Selim III sat in his opulent chamber, surrounded by his advisors and ministers. The atmosphere was tense as news of the French ultimatum reached their ears. The Sultan listened attentively as his Grand Vizier, Koca Yusuf Pasha, read the contents of the letter aloud.
"The French Ambassador demands that we recognize their occupation of Egypt or face the consequences," Koca Yusuf Pasha summarized. "They threaten to expand northward, threatening to take our territory of Syria and parts of the Arabian peninsula."
Selim III sighed after hearing the Grand Vizier's voice.
"Sultan Selim," the French ambassador addressed, standing alongside him was an interpreter who would translate his message into Arabic. "With your permission, I bring another message from General Napoleon Bonaparte, commander of the Army of the Orient. If you choose to recognize their claim to Egypt, there will be no need for bloodshed. General Bonaparte's sole interest lies in Egypt. Furthermore, I'm certain you are aware that the French Army of the Orient possesses a formidable weapon that even the Austrians, Russians, Prussians, and British lack. It would be in your best interest to just acknowledge the French rule in Egypt."
"Your tone and choice of words are disrespectful," Grand Vizier Koca Yusuf Pasha interrupted. "We, the Ottoman Empire, will not bow down to the demands of a foreign invader. Egypt has been an integral part of our empire for centuries, and we will not relinquish it so easily."
Sultan Selim III sat silently, his face reflecting defiance. He was well aware of the threat posed by the French Army of the Orient and their rumored formidable weapon, but he refused to let fear dictate his actions.
"The French may have achieved some victories in Egypt, but that does not give them the right to dictate terms to the Ottoman Empire," the Sultan said. "We will not recognize their occupation, and we will defend our territories with all our might."
The French ambassador exchanged a glance with his interpreter, realizing that their efforts to persuade the Sultan had fallen on deaf ears. Despite their attempts to avoid bloodshed, it seemed that war was inevitable.
"Very well, Sultan Selim," the French ambassador replied, his tone now tinged with disappointment. "If you choose the path of war, then let it be so. We shall see who prevails in this conflict."
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