Battle of Nezib
Near Nizip, Gaziantep Province, Turkey
What happened
The Egyptian army of Ibrahim Pasha, son of Egypt's ruler Muhammad Ali, fought an Ottoman army under Hafiz Mehmed Pasha, advised by the Prussian officer Helmuth von Moltke. Egypt was nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, but its ruler Muhammad Ali had seized Syria. When the Ottomans tried to win it back, Ibrahim outflanked their position near Nezib. In about four hours of fighting, Egyptian artillery and infantry broke the Ottoman army, which retreated.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a catastrophic defeat for the Ottoman Empire. Soon afterwards the Sultan died and the Ottoman navy went over to Egypt, until European powers stepped in.
What came next
On French advice, Ibrahim did not march on Istanbul. After British and Austrian intervention, he had to leave Syria in February 1841.
Did you know?
Helmuth von Moltke, who advised the Ottoman artillery, later became a famous Prussian commander.
Timeline
- 21 December 1832Ibrahim defeats the Ottomans at Konya.
- 24 June 1839Egypt wins at Nezib.
- 1839Sultan Mahmud II dies and the Ottoman fleet goes over to Egypt.
- February 1841Ibrahim withdraws from Syria.