With time he emerged as one of the most influential Mamluk commanders, sharing a de facto control of Egypt with his fellow Murad Bey.

[8][9] Hasan Pasha was fervent and thorough in his efforts and succeeded in the short term, reestablishing direct Ottoman Empire control over Egypt.

[8] Ismail Bey was appointed as new Mamluk leader and Shaykh al-Balad (civil governor and de facto ruler).

However, in 1792, only six years after their expulsion by Hasan Pasha, the duumvirate returned to Cairo from hiding in southern Egypt and took back de facto control.

[10] When the French invaded Egypt in 1798, Ibrahim fought against Napoleon's armies at the battles of the Pyramids, Salahieh (11 August 1798), and Heliopolis but was defeated on each occasion.