The Urabi Revolt, also known as the Egyptian Revolt of 1882, was a nationalist uprising in Egypt against the rule of the Khedive Tewfik Pasha and the British occupation of the country. The revolt was led by Ahmed Urabi, a military officer who sought to end foreign influence in Egypt and establish a more independent government. The revolt began in 1881 and culminated in a series of battles between Egyptian and British forces in 1882. The British ultimately defeated the rebels and took control of Egypt, leading to the establishment of a British protectorate over the country.
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Urabi Revolt (1879-1882)
Background:
- Egypt was under the control of the Ottoman Empire and ruled by Khedive Ismail Pasha. - Ismail implemented ambitious modernization projects that led to heavy foreign debt. - Corruption and inflation worsened the economic situation, leading to widespread discontent.
Causes:
- Growing nationalism among the Egyptian people - Unfair taxation and heavy-handed rule by foreign powers (primarily France and Great Britain) - Army officers, known as ulema, resented foreign influence within the military
Leadership:
- Ahmed Urabi, a colonel in the Egyptian army, emerged as the leader of the revolt.
Events:
- In 1879, ulema soldiers staged a mutiny, demanding the removal of foreign advisors and the resignation of the Prime Minister. - Khedive Tawfiq, Ismail's successor, initially supported the revolt but later attempted to suppress it. - Urabi's forces gained control of Cairo and much of the Egyptian countryside. - Foreign powers, fearing for their interests, intervened and sent a joint Anglo-French fleet to Alexandria.
Aftermath:
- In 1882, British forces bombarded Alexandria and landed troops in Egypt. - The Egyptian army was defeated at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir. - Urabi and his followers were arrested and exiled. - British troops occupied Egypt for the next 70 years, effectively ending the Urabi Revolt.
Significance:
- The Urabi Revolt marked the rise of Egyptian nationalism and the beginning of the struggle for independence from foreign powers. - It had a significant impact on British imperial strategy in Egypt and the Middle East. - The revolt also exposed the internal political and economic tensions within Egyptian society.