Ismail's goals for Egypt are similar to…

Ismail's goals for Egypt are similar to those of his grandfather, Muhammad Ali.

He wants Egypt to become virtually independent of the Ottoman Empire, a political and military power in the eastern Mediterranean and an economic partner of Europe.

Ismail achieves a considerable degree of independence from the Porte (from Sublime Porte, the term for the High Gate that has come to be synonymous with the Ottoman government) by making large payments to the Ottoman treasury.

For example, in return for increasing Egypt's annual payment to the Ottoman treasury from £175,000 to £400,000, Sultan Abdul Aziz allows Ismail to change the rule of succession from the oldest surviving male heir of Muhammad Ali to direct male primogeniture in his family.

The sultan also grants Ismail the formal title of khedive, which elevates his standing to a position closer to royalty.