-
Isma'il Pasha proclaimed Khedive (Viceroy) of Egypt
Grandson of deceased Khedive Muhammad Ali, Pasha enjoyed a more autonomous Egypt against the backdrop of a waning Ottoman Empire. As the American Civil War (1861-65) raged on, Union forces blocked the export of slave-picked cotton. Britain began to import large quantities of Egyptian cotton instead, investing in modernisation reform for Egypt. -
Suez Canal opened
After taking 10 years to construct, Ismail Pasha opened the Suez Canal. It reduced the distance from London to the Gulf of Arabia by approximately 5,000 miles. -
Disraeli buys £4 Million shares in the Suez Canal Company
Over the course of Isma'il's premiership, Egyptian national debt went from £7 million to £100 million due to the modernisation investment. 44% of the Khedive's shares were sold to Disraeli, who had obtained a private loan from the Rothschilds without obtaining parliamentary consent. This would act as a springboard for increased British influence in Egypt. -
Colonel Gordon sent to Sudan as Governor-General
The increasingly British-backed Khedivate of Egypt had ruled Sudan since the 1820s, using slave labour from the Sudanese. Disraeli sent Gordon to further westernise Sudan and end the slave trade, which immediately caused an economic crisis. -
Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II deposes Ismail, installs his son Tewfiq as Khedive
Tewfiq's reign as Khedive was approved by the British and French, who increased investment into the Egyptian economy by increasing taxation on goods and reducing the national army by two thirds. -
Muhammad Ahmed proclaims himself the Mahdi and leads jihad
Sudan's Muslim population capitalises on a Khedivate busy with suppressing the Arabi Revolt, rallying around the Mahdi. -
Arabi Revolt begins
Colonel Arabi Pasha uses nationalist sentiment and discontent amongst Egyptians at being ruled by foreigners to launch a revolt. Riots in Alexandria that resulted in the death of 50 Europeans broke out in June, whilst the British chose to navally bombard the city the following month. -
Decisive battle of Tel-Al-Kabir
The Arabi Revolt is put down by the British at Tel, prompting Tewfiq to be re-installed as Khedive. -
Evelyn Baring becomes Consul-General of Egypt
The years of the 'veiled protectorate' begin, as confirmed by the 1885 Convention of London. Baring had been a private secretary to the Indian Viceroy, and believed in British superiority. His approval of the Dufferin Report the following year established an Egyptian puppet parliament. British military occupation occurred under the formal Ottoman territory and 'The Capitualtions' protected British citizens from having to abide by Sharia Law. -
Mahdist victory in the Battle of Shaykan
Mahdist army defeats a poorly-trained Anglo-Egyptian army. Colonel Hicks is killed on the 5 November. -
Gladstone orders the evacuation of British troops from Sudan
British financial advisors judge the presence of Egyptian troops in Sudan to be too costly and order their withdrawal. Renowned for his aggression and pride, General Gordon decides to stay indefinitely and defend the city of Khartoum instead. -
Mahdists siege Khartoum, behead Gordon
Gladstone's relief expedition arrived two days too late, drawing harsh criticism domestically. -
Kitchener appointed Commander-in Chief of the Egyptian Army
Amidst competing Italian and French influence around the Nile, Kitchener used Gordon's death to support another invasion of Sudan. He Constructed the Sudan military railway of 230 miles to boost transport and telegraph communications over the Mahdists. -
Britain annexes Sudan
British victory at the Battle of Omdurman killed 11,000 Mahdist soldiers and only 50 Anglo-Egyptians. Kitchener was ordered to march to French troops at Fashoda. -
French back down in Fashoda Incident
The confrontation of the two colonial armies was resolved diplomatically, France withdrawing amidst criticism. -
Caisse de la Dette
50% of Egypt's tax revenue was paid to a consortium of European creditors, limiting British monetary power. 5,000 British troops were added to Britain's military forces, and Thomas Cook organised British tourism in Egypt. -
Mahdist agitation continues
And again in 1901 and 1904. British and British-backed troops were reported to have looted and executed wounded soldiers during and after the Battle of Omdurman. Tribes and chiefs often refused to pay taxes to the British, and the South of the country remained difficult for the British to establish a foothold for decades to come. Rebels were hanged publicly. -
Gordon Memorial College founded
Sought to give Sudanese students a higher education with a goal of raising a generation for self-government. -
Aswan Low Dam completed
The Dam provided water for irrigation, and improved the efficiency of Egyptian farming. Egyptian cotton and sugar industry productivity rose by 200% under Baring's rule. Baring viewed himself as a moral reformer but distrusted Egyptian soldiers and was hesitant to export British democratic institutions to the colonies. He monitored slavery and viewed Islamic customs as detrimental. -
Port Sudan constructed
New port city -
Denshawai Incident
In the Nile Delta, British forces clashed with Egyptian villagers over a pigeon shooting dispute. A British officer was killed, and 4 Egyptians were sentenced to death. 50 Egyptians were arrested despite it emerging that the British soldier dies of heatstroke. Baring was soon forced to resign amidst this controversy. Baring sympathised with the needs of the working class, -
Sir Eldon Gorst replaces Baring as Consul-General
Gorst increased Egyptian representation in government but tightened press censorship on nationalists. He attempted to quell rising Egyptain nationalism from Blunt and Mustafa Kamil Pasha. First World War added to this sentiment of deprivation, despite the upper class benefitting from British rule. -
Gezira Scheme begins
Attempted to improve Sudan's agricultural industry. British railway development led to some economic improvement particularly around the Nile Valley -
Egyptian protectorate formally begins
The Ottoman decision to join the Central Powers necessitated Kitchener to formally declare Egypt to be a British protectorate. He removed the Khedive and replaced him with a pro-British puppet. Britain promised to consider Egyptian self-govenment and used 1.2 million Egyptians as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary force. Some fought in Europe, and over 50,000 Egyptians are estimated to have died during WW1. -
Exile of Egyptian nationalist Saad Zaghlul
Zaghlul had led protests demanding Egyptian and Sudanese independence after Egyptian war contribution. His arrest led to strikes, demonstrations and attacks on British facilities. Zaghlul would become Egypt's first Prime Minister in 1924. -
Egypt achieves nominal independence
The Treaty of Independence was signed with Sultan Ahmad Faud I, who became King Faud I of Egypt. Foreign (British) influence was guaranteed, however, and British troops continued to occupy the country. -
Anglo-Egyptian Treaty
Britain scaled back its military occupation of Egypt, instead concentrating around the strategically important Suez Canal zone. Egypt was also afforded greater sovereignty. -
Colonel Nasser overthrows King Farouk of Egypt
Established the Republic of Egypt by the Free Officers Movment of nationalist military figures. -
West withdraws funding for Aswan High Dam project
-
Nasser announces nationalisation of the Suez Canal
IN keeping with international law, Nasser promised to compensate £28.3 million for the British 44% stake in the Canal. Nasser planned to use the revenue from the Canal to fund the Aswan High Dam, improving Egyptian irrigation and agriculture. -
Israel, France and Britain invade the Suez Canal Zone
Spurred by Eden's view of Nasser as being Hitlerite, the joint force invaded Suez. This miscalculation evaded many members of the Cabinet, drew condemnation from the US, USSR and Commonwealth, and severely damaged Britain's reputation as a power. Egypt blocked the Suez Canal.