Khedivate is a rarely used term to refer to a province or territory ruled by a khedive, an Egyptian viceroy. Its pronunciation is \kɛdɪvət\, with the stress on the second syllable. The "kh" sound is pronounced like the Scottish "loch". The "e" at the end of the word is unstressed and pronounced like the schwa sound. The spelling can be confusing due to the lack of common usage, but the IPA transcription can help clarify the pronunciation.
Khedivate is a noun that refers to a historical political entity in Egypt during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term specifically denotes the period when Egypt was ruled by a viceroy or khedive, under the nominal sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire.
The khedivate of Egypt was established in 1867 when Ismail Pasha, the then viceroy, gained a firman (an official edict) from the Ottoman Sultan to become the khedive, essentially granting him more autonomy and authority. Ismail Pasha embarked on a series of modernization and reform efforts, intending to bring Egypt into the realm of European powers and develop the nation's infrastructure, economy, and military.
This political system continued until 1914, when Egypt officially became a protectorate of the British Empire due to fears over the Empire's strategic interests and the ongoing debt crisis that endangered the khedivate's stability. The British appointed a high commissioner who had significant control over Egyptian affairs, although the khedive retained some semblance of authority.
The term "khedivate" reflects the unique political arrangement in Egypt during this period. It highlights the division of power between the khedive and the Ottoman Empire while acknowledging the khedive's limited autonomy. This term is primarily used in historical contexts to refer to this particular era of Egyptian political history, addressing the political structure and the governance of the khedives who ruled.
The word "khedivate" originated from the Arabic term "khidīwīyah", which refers to the function or office of a "khedive". The term "khedive" itself is derived from the Arabic word "khidīw", meaning "viceroy" or "governor". This term became prominent during the 19th century in reference to the autonomous rulers of Egypt, who were appointed by the Ottoman Empire. The term "khedivate" was coined to denote the territorial and political jurisdiction of a khedive.