1840

July 15

*The Convention of London was finalized.  Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia, and France forced Muhammad 'Ali to return to Egypt.  Muhammad 'Ali was made hereditary pasha of Egypt.

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The Convention of London of 1840 was a treaty with the title of Convention for the Pacification of the Levant, signed on July 15, 1840 between the Great Powers of United Kingdom, Austria, Prussia, and Russia on the one hand, and the Ottoman Empire on the other.

The treaty summarized recent agreements concerning the Ottoman Empire and its second war with Muhammad 'Ali's Egypt. It was brought about by the Great Powers' fear of the destabilizing effect an Ottoman collapse would have on Europe. The signatories offered to Muhammad Ali and his heirs permanent control over Egypt and the Eyalet of Acre, provided that these territories would remain part of the Ottoman Empire. If he did not accept withdrawal of his forces within ten days he would lose the offer in southern Syria; if he delayed acceptance more than 20 days, he should forfeit everything offered.  Muhammad 'Ali also had to return, to Sultan Abdulmecid I, the Ottoman fleet which had defected to Alexandria.  Muhammad 'Ali was also to immediately withdraw its forces from Arabia, the Holy Cities, Crete, and the district of Adana, all within the Ottoman Empire.

The European powers agreed to use all possible means of persuasion to effect this agreement, but Muhammad 'Ali, backed by France, refused to accept its terms in the time given. This led to the Oriental Crisis of 1840 during which British and Austrian forces attacked Acre, defeating his troops late in 1840. Muhammad 'Ali's forces faced increasing military pressure from Europe and the Ottoman Empire, fought a losing battle against insurgents in its captured territories, and saw the general deterioration of its military from the strain of the recent wars.

Muhammad 'Ali finally accepted the terms of the Convention and the firmans subsequently issued by the sultan, confirming his rule over Egypt and the Sudan. He withdrew from Syria and Crete and sent back the Ottoman fleet. The London Convention and the firmans were the legal basis for Egypt's status as a privileged Ottoman province.  Later Egyptian nationalists cited them to discredit claims for the British occupation.