Siege of El Arish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of El Arish
Part of the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria of the French Revolutionary Wars
Date 8-20 February 1799 Location El Arish, Egypt, Ottoman Empire 31°07′56″N 33°48′12″E / 31.1321°N 33.8034°E / 31.1321; 33.8034 Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Ottoman Empire Eyalet of Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Napoleon Bonaparte Jean Kléber Jean Reynier	Abdullah Pasha  (POW)
Strength
2,460	15,500
Casualties and losses
403 killed and wounded	1,200 killed and wounded 1,800 captured

Imagine a big battle for a strong fort! The Siege of El Arish was a fight where French soldiers, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, attacked an Ottoman fort. The French army, with commanders like Jean Baptiste Kléber and Jean Reynier, surrounded the fort for nine days. They finally captured it on February 20, 1799.

Why the French Attacked El Arish

After stopping a rebellion in Egypt, Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to keep moving forward. He planned to attack the Ottoman Empire. This would make France's control in Egypt safer.

In early 1799, a group of 2,160 French soldiers marched out. They were led by a commander named Jean Reynier. Their goal was to reach the Ottoman fort at El Arish. This fort was defended by 15,500 Ottoman soldiers. They were led by Mustafa Pasha.

First Fight at El Arish

Reynier, drawing by André Dute

On February 8, 1799, Reynier's troops arrived near a place called Masoodiah. There, French soldiers caught a messenger. He told them that El Arish was controlled by the Ottomans.

Reynier quickly sent a message to Napoleon asking for more soldiers. He then set up his troops on a sand hill near El Arish. The Ottoman forces moved into a nearby palm forest. They brought twelve cannons and other supplies. Ottoman horsemen started small fights with the French.

After about 30 minutes of cannon fire, Reynier sent his soldiers to take the village of El Arish. The Ottoman defenders in the village ran away into their fort. Their horsemen escaped towards Gaza. The French captured all twelve cannons. The French lost only 3 soldiers. The Ottomans lost 450 soldiers and 900 were captured.

The Main Siege Begins

On February 12, 1799, more French soldiers arrived. These were from Kléber's division. They began to surround the Ottoman fort. Reynier's soldiers moved into the palm forest.

On February 14, Reynier's troops attacked an Ottoman camp. They successfully captured it. The French had 23 soldiers hurt. The Ottomans lost about 500 soldiers. Another 900 Ottoman soldiers were taken as prisoners of war.

About 1,000 Ottoman soldiers were still inside the fort. They were led by Ibrahim Nizam. Reynier set up another camp to also attack the fort. Soon after, Napoleon himself arrived with the main French army.

On February 17, French commander Louis Caffarelli started building things for the attack. The French then began firing their cannons at the fort's walls. On February 20, 1799, the French launched their final attack. They successfully captured El Arish from the Ottomans. After taking the fort, the French repaired the parts that were damaged during the fight.

What Happened Next

The French army lost 200 soldiers and had 300 wounded. The Ottomans lost 900 soldiers. Another 800 Ottoman soldiers were captured.

About 300 of the captured Ottoman soldiers decided to join the French army. The rest of the prisoners were sent to cities in Egypt that the French controlled. Around 40 Ottoman soldiers managed to escape. They went to Great Britain. British military members who felt sorry for them helped them settle there.