Page 245 - Features of an Era
P. 245
rces, it was discovered that he was the first interior minister in Egypt’s history;
however, he occupied that post for only two months: from Rajab 1st, 1273 AH to
Ramadan 1st, 1273 AH.(12)
The reason behind his short-term service was soon known from other sources that
stated that he drowned in a mysterious, tragic accident. According to the order of
succession, Ahmed Rifaat was the heir of the Wali of Egypt Muhammad Said Pasha,
as he was the senior family member, but his mysterious death put an end to his
ascension to the throne.
Some historians assumed that Ahmed Rifaat’s death could be an assassination,
and some even thought that his brother Isma’il, later Khedive Isma’il, probably had
a hand in his death, founded on that Isma’il was the sole beneficiary; he became the
heir to the throne after the departure of his elder brother. However, others saw that
Muhammad Said was likely involved in the accident due to his disagreement with
Ahmed Rifaat and his preference for Isma’il.
One of the most important historians who referred to the assassination of Ahmed
Rifaat was the Egyptian historian Mikhail
Sharubim Bey (1918-1861), President of
the Public Prosecution in the Mansoura
National Court and inspector at the
Ministry of Finance during the last quarter
of the nineteenth century.
Sharubim recounted the events of the Prince Muhammad Abdel Halim, son of Muhammad
death of Ahmed Rifaat: «In the reign of Ali Pasha, oil on canvas, 100 x 142 cm
Muhammad Said Pasha, Prince Ahmed
Rifaat, the eldest son of Ibrahim Pasha,
son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, drowned
in the Nile between Kafr El-Zayyat and
Kafr El-Aiss in Al-Gharbiya on the day
of Eid El-Adha feast. The iron bridge of
Kafr El-Zayyat crossing to the railway
line between Alexandria and Cairo was
not erected until then. For transportation
of the train carriages, wagons and
locomotives, a movable bridge on the
deck of railway float in the Nile was
used. When the passengers coming from
Alexandria reach Kafr El-Aiss, the train
stops there, and then the movable bridge
stretches over the Nile. The wheels of
the carriages are bound with iron chains
(12) Samy, Amin: The Nile Calendar, Dar Al-Kotob (presently the National Library and Archives of Egypt),
Vol. 1, part III, p. 180, 1936.
245
however, he occupied that post for only two months: from Rajab 1st, 1273 AH to
Ramadan 1st, 1273 AH.(12)
The reason behind his short-term service was soon known from other sources that
stated that he drowned in a mysterious, tragic accident. According to the order of
succession, Ahmed Rifaat was the heir of the Wali of Egypt Muhammad Said Pasha,
as he was the senior family member, but his mysterious death put an end to his
ascension to the throne.
Some historians assumed that Ahmed Rifaat’s death could be an assassination,
and some even thought that his brother Isma’il, later Khedive Isma’il, probably had
a hand in his death, founded on that Isma’il was the sole beneficiary; he became the
heir to the throne after the departure of his elder brother. However, others saw that
Muhammad Said was likely involved in the accident due to his disagreement with
Ahmed Rifaat and his preference for Isma’il.
One of the most important historians who referred to the assassination of Ahmed
Rifaat was the Egyptian historian Mikhail
Sharubim Bey (1918-1861), President of
the Public Prosecution in the Mansoura
National Court and inspector at the
Ministry of Finance during the last quarter
of the nineteenth century.
Sharubim recounted the events of the Prince Muhammad Abdel Halim, son of Muhammad
death of Ahmed Rifaat: «In the reign of Ali Pasha, oil on canvas, 100 x 142 cm
Muhammad Said Pasha, Prince Ahmed
Rifaat, the eldest son of Ibrahim Pasha,
son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, drowned
in the Nile between Kafr El-Zayyat and
Kafr El-Aiss in Al-Gharbiya on the day
of Eid El-Adha feast. The iron bridge of
Kafr El-Zayyat crossing to the railway
line between Alexandria and Cairo was
not erected until then. For transportation
of the train carriages, wagons and
locomotives, a movable bridge on the
deck of railway float in the Nile was
used. When the passengers coming from
Alexandria reach Kafr El-Aiss, the train
stops there, and then the movable bridge
stretches over the Nile. The wheels of
the carriages are bound with iron chains
(12) Samy, Amin: The Nile Calendar, Dar Al-Kotob (presently the National Library and Archives of Egypt),
Vol. 1, part III, p. 180, 1936.
245
