BEGS, or BEGHS, of Egypt, denote twelve generals, who had the command of the militia or standing forces of the kingdom; and were to secure the country from the insults of Arabs, as well as to protect the pilgrims in their annual expeditions to Mecca. They were formerly very rich and powerful; but the Turkish Pasha Ali, who has raised himself to independence in Egypt since the expulsion of the French, has annihilated the power of this class of officers.