[amitport]

the ruler was maybe somewhat independent, the nation was not.

Romans also considered Herolds to be a just ruler of an "free" Judea as far as they are conceres. That's how often subjugation works.

[rsynnott]

It was kind of the opposite, AIUI; the Ottomans claimed that Muhammad Ali was just a regional governor, but the country was de facto independent; the Ottomans had no ability to control it.

[amitport]

How do you know? It was not free. The people certainly were not free.