Urabi revolt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids ʻUrabi revolt
A picture from The Illustrated London News showing the revolt
Date 1879–1882 Location Egypt Result Revolt suppressed ʻUrabi exiled British intervention in Egypt
Belligerents
Khedivate of Egypt  United Kingdom  India	ʻUrabi forces
Commanders and leaders
Tewfik Pasha Garnet Wolseley Beauchamp Seymour	Ahmed ʻUrabi Mahmoud Fehmy Mahmoud el-Baroudi
Strength
36,000 (1879) 40,560 (1882)	11,300 regulars 50,000 reservists and irregular troops

The ʻUrabi revolt, also known as the ʻUrabi Revolution, was a big uprising in Egypt. It happened between 1879 and 1882. This revolt was led by a military officer named Colonel Ahmed ʻUrabi. The main goals were to remove the ruler of Egypt, Tewfik Pasha, and to stop the strong influence of Britain and France over the country. The revolt ended when Britain stepped in during the Anglo-Egyptian War. This led to Britain taking control of Egypt for many years.

Why the ʻUrabi Revolt Happened

In the 1870s, Egypt was facing many problems. The country was deeply in debt and had a lot of foreign influence. Its ruler, Ismaʻil Pasha, had borrowed huge amounts of money. European banks that held these debts started controlling Egypt's money. They did this through a group called the Caisse de la Dette Publique. When Ismaʻil Pasha tried to get Egyptians to fight this foreign control, the British removed him. They replaced him with his son, Tewfik Pasha, who was easier to control.

Many important jobs in the government, army, and businesses were held by Europeans. These Europeans were paid much more than Egyptians. There was even a separate legal system for Europeans. This made educated Egyptians in the military and government very angry. They felt that Europeans were blocking their chances to move up. Farmers also felt unfair because their taxes went to wealthy Europeans.

Egyptians were not only upset with Europeans. They also disliked the Turks, Circassians, and Albanians in Egypt who held most top jobs. These groups had come to Egypt with Muhammad Ali and were favored by the ruler, the Khedive. The Turkish language was still used in the army. Turkish officers were more likely to get promoted. In Tewfiq's government, all members were from the Turco-Circassian group.

Egypt's money problems forced the Khedive to cut the army size. In 1874, there were 94,000 soldiers. By 1879, this number dropped to 36,000. This left many army officers without jobs and very unhappy. A bad war against Ethiopia from 1875 to 1876 also made officers angry. They felt the government had sent them into a pointless fight.

During this time, Egyptians started to become more aware of their rights. More people could read, and new newspapers appeared. One important newspaper was Abu Naddara Zarqa. It was a funny magazine that made fun of the European-controlled government. It was written in Egyptian Arabic, which most people could understand. This helped its ideas reach many ordinary Egyptians.

Ahmed ʻUrabi was an Egyptian army officer. He was not from a European or Turkish family. He grew up as a peasant. Many people saw him as a true voice for the Egyptian people. He represented the farmers who were tired of high taxes and rich landlords. ʻUrabi had the support of many peasants and a large part of the Egyptian army.

ʻUrabi Takes Control

Throughout the summer of 1881, tensions grew. Both the Khedive and ʻUrabi's officers tried to gain more support. In September, the Khedive ordered ʻUrabi's army group to leave Cairo. ʻUrabi refused. Instead, he demanded that the Turco-Circassian generals be fired. He also called for a government chosen by the people.

The Khedive could not stop the revolt. So, he agreed to ʻUrabi's demands. A new government was formed. It included many of ʻUrabi's friends and supporters.

Foreign Countries Get Involved

On January 8, 1882, France and Britain sent a joint message. They said that the Khedive's power was most important. This message made the Egyptian parliament and ʻUrabi very angry. The government fell apart. A new one was created with ʻUrabi as the Minister of War. This new government threatened the jobs of Europeans. It also started firing many Turco-Circassian officers.

This plan for change was not liked by everyone. European businesses, large landowners, and the Turkish and Circassian elite were against it. Most of the richest people in society also opposed it. But most other Egyptians supported it. This included lower-level religious leaders, army officers, and local community leaders.

Copts, who are Egyptian Christians, had mixed feelings. Their close ties to Europeans sometimes made them targets. But many Copts also disliked Syrian Christians. So, some Copts joined the Egyptian rebels. The leader of the Copts, the Coptic Patriarch, supported the revolt when it was strong. Later, he said he was forced to do so. ʻUrabi tried to protect Copts from attacks by nationalist Muslims. He was not always successful.

Both sides tried to get help from the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II. Tewfiq Pasha asked the Sultan to stop the revolt. But the Sultan did not want to send troops against Muslims who were fighting foreign rule. ʻUrabi also asked the Sultan to remove Tewfiq. Again, the Sultan did not act.

British Invasion of Egypt

On June 11, 1882, the political problems turned into violence in Alexandria. Rioters attacked businesses owned by Greek, Maltese, and Italian people. Fights broke out in the streets. About 50 Europeans and 250 Egyptians were killed. No one is sure who started the riots. Both the Khedive and ʻUrabi were blamed, but there is no clear proof.

The city's army was protecting the coast. The British fleet demanded that these defenses be removed. If not, they would attack. The Egyptians ignored the warning. The British fleet, led by Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, 1st Baron Alcester, bombarded the city. The Egyptian defenses fired back. The French fleet, also in Alexandria, refused to join the attack. A large British naval force then tried to take the city. The British faced strong resistance but succeeded. They forced the Egyptians to retreat.

As revolts spread across Egypt, the British government decided to send more troops. The British army launched a small attack at the Battle of Kafr El Dawwar. They wanted to see if they could march to Cairo from Alexandria. But the British realized that the Egyptian defenses were too strong. So, in September, a British army landed in the Suez Canal area.

The reasons for the British invasion are still debated. The British were worried that ʻUrabi would not pay Egypt's huge debts. They also feared he might take control of the Suez Canal. On September 13, 1882, British forces defeated ʻUrabi's army at the Battle of Tell El Kebir. ʻUrabi was captured. He was later sent away to the British colony of Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka.

What Happened After the Revolt

The British planned for their stay in Egypt to be short. However, they ended up staying until 1956. Egypt became like a colony under British control until 1952. Both the British and the Khedive's government tried to make ʻUrabi look bad. They said he was a traitor and his revolt was just a military uprising. But among ordinary people, ʻUrabi remained a hero.

The ʻUrabi Revolt was very important. It was the first time Egyptians showed strong feelings against foreign rule. This idea of Egyptian nationalism became very important later in Egyptian history. Leaders like Gamal Abdel Nasser saw the revolt as a "glorious struggle" against foreign control. The Free Officers movement, which led the 1952 revolution, saw ʻUrabi's revolt as a step before their own. Both Nasser and Muhammad Neguib were compared to ʻUrabi.

Today, ʻUrabi is generally seen as a hero in Egypt. Many streets and a square in Cairo are named after him. This shows the respected place he holds in Egypt's history.