Battle of Tel el-Kebir
Tell El Kebir, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt
What happened
A British army under Sir Garnet Wolseley fought the Egyptian army of Ahmed Urabi. Ahmed Urabi, an Egyptian army officer, led a movement against the khedive (ruler) and foreign influence in Egypt. Britain sent an army through the Suez Canal to defeat him. British troops marched through the desert at night and attacked Urabi's trenches at dawn, and the fighting was over within an hour.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended Urabi's revolt and began a long British occupation of Egypt. Urabi is remembered in Egypt today as a national hero.
What came next
British cavalry rode on to Cairo, and the khedive was restored. Urabi was exiled to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and returned to Egypt in 1901.
Did you know?
Urabi did not block the Suez Canal because he trusted Ferdinand de Lesseps's promise that the British would not use it; they did.
Timeline
- 1881Urabi's movement against the khedive begins.
- 13 September 1882The British win at Tel el-Kebir.
- 1882Urabi is exiled to Ceylon.
- 1901Urabi returns to Egypt.