What the River Knows

Britain’s occupation of Egypt lasted from 1882 to 1956. In the 19th century, Egypt was a self-governing province of the Ottoman Empire, and its ruling dynasty borrowed heavily from European powers. When Egypt became unable to repay the loans, Britain and France seized control of its treasury. Britain’s desire to maintain access to the Suez Canal and to overland trade routes to India added to its financial interest in the province. Opposition to European influence in the region fueled protests and revolts. An officer named Ahmed ‘Urabi led resistance efforts by the Egyptian army in September 1881, which led to the Anglo-Egyptian War. The conflict began when British warships bombarded the city of Alexandria on July 11, 1882. Because France did not engage in the conflict, Britain’s victory in the war cemented its control over Egypt, essentially severing the province from the Ottoman Empire, and resolving “the rivalry of France and Britain for ascendancy in the country” (Marsot, Ataf. “The British Occupation and the Protectorate.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2024). Sir Evelyn Baring was appointed consul general of Egypt in 1883, a position he held until he resigned in 1907. Baring instituted a system of government known as the Veiled Protectorate in which “he ruled the rulers of Egypt, with the assistance of a group of English administrators trained in India” (Marsot, Ataf.