In the later part of the nineteenth century, Egypt was a tributary of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey, the base of the empire, was a fading power, the “sick man of Europe.” Still, most European countries preferred even a weak Turkey in control of the Bosporus rather than have a strong country, especially Russia, dominate it. Therefore, whenever Turkey got into trouble (such as the occasional Balkan war, or war with Russia), the rest of Europe, and Great Britain, in particular, stepped in to maintain Turkish independence. Britain was also obliged to act in Ottoman territory if British interests were threatened, since Turkey did not have the power to do so. Because of this, Britain came to dominate Egypt.
The event that brought the British to Egypt concerned the Suez Canal. Built by a French company and completed in 1869, the canal became the most popular sailing route to the Far East, and British shipping made up 80 percent of its traffic. The khedive of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, controlled 44 percent of the canal company’s shares. Ismail wanted to improve and modernize Egypt, and he spent lavishly. He also spent handsomely on himself, with money borrowed from foreign investors, mainly British and French. Between 1862 and 1875, Egypt’s debt rose from £3 million to £100 million. When the Egyptian government could not pay, Ismail bought some time by selling his shares in the canal company to the British government for a mere £4 million.
The sale staved off his creditors for no more than a few months, and the Egyptian government was declared bankrupt in May 1876.
To recover its lost investments, the French government appointed a debt commission to take over Egypt’s finances by administering revenues and collecting taxes fairly. Rather than allow the mostly French commission to have too much authority, Britain decided to play a more active role. However, Ismail removed the foreigners from their governmental duties and replaced them with his son Tewfik, who had little success in restoring Egypt’s fortunes. In 1879, the Ottoman sultan removed Ismail as khedive and replaced him, not with someone responsible, but with Tewfik. This situation soon proved too much for the Egyptian military. Disliking Tewfik and foreigners in the government, a colonel named Arabi led a revolt that ousted Tewfik in September 1881.
The British government was not in the practice of using its military to bail out troubled businessmen in foreign countries, but this case was different. As part owner of the canal, the British could not allow any domestic disturbance that could potentially translate into restrictions on trade. At the urging of the French president, Britain agreed in early 1882 to join a Franco- British intervention to maintain both order and income. The arrival of foreign troops provoked an even more violent popular uprising. Rather than reinforce, the French parliament voted to withdraw their forces. Britain remained, and took action against Arabi. In July 1882, the Royal Navy bombarded defensive positions around the harbor at Alexandria, then followed this with an invasion in September. Arabi was quickly defeated, and the British placed Lord Cromer in the position of commissioner to restore financial stability.
The British took control on what they assumed would be a temporary basis, but it lasted until after World War II. They had hoped to place a popular liberal ruler in power, but none could be found except Arabi, who was anti- British. At first, Cromer had no official position, but with the backing of the British army, he stayed 23 years. Despite a lack of cooperation in the Egyptian government and occasional foreign-policy problems (most notably a Muslim uprising in the Sudan), Egypt benefited from Britain’s administration. The government’s finances were better handled; the Egyptian army grew larger and better trained; irrigation, school, and railroad projects were begun; and taxes were levied and collected more fairly.
Britain remained a dominant factor in Egyptian affairs until after World War II, and continued to maintain its interest in the Suez Canal. The Egyptians nationalized the canal in 1956, and an abortive attempt to overthrow the Egyptian government and retake control proved to be Britain’s last gasp in the region.
Egyptian War 1882 – Arabi’s Revolt
From “The Campaign of 1882 in Egypt” by Colonel
J.F.Maurice, “Redistribution of troops (on transfer of Sir E.Hamley’s
force to Ismailia)
First Division
First Brigade
2nd Grenadier Guards
2nd Coldstream Guards
1st Scots Guards
Naval Brigade
Second Brigade
2nd Royal Irish
1st Royal West Kent
Royal Marine Light Infantry
2nd York and Lancaster
1st Royal Irish Fusiliers
Divisional Troops
19th Hussars (2 squadrons)
2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
A-1 Royal Artillery
D-1 Royal Artillery
24th Company, Royal Engineers
12th Company, Commissariat and Transport
1/2 No.1 Bearer Company
No.3 Field Hospital
Second Division
Third Brigade
1st Royal Highlanders
1st Gordon ” ”
1st Cameron ” ”
2nd Highland Light Infantry
Indian Contingent
7-1 (Mountain Battery)
1st Manchester
1st Seaforth Highlanders
7th Bengal Infantry
20th Punjab Infantry
29th Baloochees
Medical Department, Ambualance, etc.
Transport
Commissariat
R.E. Field Park
Ordnance Department
Divisional Troops
26th Company, Royal Engineers
11th Company, Commissariat and Transport
1/2 No.2 Bearer Company
Nos. 4 and 5 Field Hospitals
No.2 Field Hospital (attached)
Cavalry Division
First Brigade
Household Cavalry (3 squadrons
4th Dragoon Guards
7th ” “
17th Company, Commissariat and Transport (part of)
1/2 No.1 Bearer Company
Second Brigade
2nd bengal Cavalry
6th Bengal Cavalry
13th bengal lancers
Divisional Troops
N-A Royal Horse Artillery
Mounted Infantry
Detachment R.E.
17th Company, Commisariat and Transport (part of)
No.6 Field Hospital
Corps Troops
Corps Artillery
G-B Royal Horse Artillery
H-1 Royal Artillery
C-3 ” “
J-3 ” “
F-1 ” ” (ammunition column)
Royal Marine Artillery
Siege Train
1st London
5th Scottish
6th ” “
Ordnance Store Department
Corps Engineers
“A” (Pontoon) Troop
“c” (Telegraph) Troop
Field Park
8th, 17th and 18th Companies.
Railway Staff
Queen’s Own sappers and Miners ( A and I Companies)
Commissariat and Transport(8, 15 and Auxiliary Companies)
1/2 No.2 Bearer Company
Nos. 1, 7 and 8 Field Hospitals
