Kingdom of Egypt: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|State in Northeast Africa and Western Asia (1922–1953)}} |
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{{about|the 20th century state|ancient kingdoms of Egypt|Ancient Egypt|the current nation|Egypt}} |
{{about|the 20th century state|ancient kingdoms of Egypt|Ancient Egypt|the current nation|Egypt}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}} |
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{{Infobox country |
{{Infobox country |
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|native_name = {{lang|ar|المملكة المصرية}} ([[Arabic]])<br/>''{{ |
| native_name = {{lang|ar|المملكة المصرية}} ([[Arabic]])<br/>''{{transliteration|ar|Al-Mamlaka Al-Miṣreyya}}'' |
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|conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Egypt |
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Egypt |
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|common_name = Egypt |
| common_name = Egypt |
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| status = Independent Kingdom |
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|era = [[Interwar era]] / [[World War II]] / [[Cold War]] / [[Palestine War]] |
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| status_text = |
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|p1 = Sultanate of Egypt |
| p1 = Sultanate of Egypt |
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|flag_p1 = Egypt flag 1882.svg |
| flag_p1 = Egypt flag 1882.svg |
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|s1 = Republic of Egypt ( |
| s1 = Republic of Egypt (1953–1958){{!}}Republic of Egypt |
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|flag_s1 = Flag of Egypt ( |
| flag_s1 = Flag of Egypt (1922-1958).svg |
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| image_flag = Flag of Egypt 1922.svg |
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|s2 = British Military Administration (Libya) |
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| flag_alt = Green flag with a white crescent containing three five-pointed white stars. |
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|flag_s2 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
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| image_coat = File:Coat of arms of Kingdom of Egypt (blue color).svg |
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|image_flag = Flag of Egypt 1922.svg{{!}}border |
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| coat_alt = |
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|flag_alt = Green flag with a white crescent containing three five-pointed white stars. |
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| national_motto = |
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|image_coat = Coat of arms of Egypt (1922–1953).svg |
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| national_anthem = "[[Eslami ya Misr]]" (1923–1936) [[File:اسلمي يا مصر.ogg]]<br />'''Royal anthem:''' "[[Salam Affandina]]" (1936–1953)<br>[[File:Former national anthem of Egypt, 1914-1958.ogg|center]] |
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|coat_alt = |
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| image_map = Egypt in 1923.svg |
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|national_motto = |
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| image_map_alt = |
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|national_anthem = "[[Eslami ya Misr]]"<hr />'''Royal anthem'''<br />"[[Salam Affandina]]" |
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| image_map_caption = <div style="padding-left:1.0em;text-align:left;">'''Green:''' Kingdom of Egypt<br/>'''Lighter green:''' [[Condominium (international law)|Condominium]] of [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]]<br/>'''Lightest green:''' Ceded from Sudan to [[Italian Libya]] in 1934.</div> |
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|image_map = Egypt in 1923.svg |
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| capital = [[Cairo]] |
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|image_map_alt = |
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| common_languages = [[Arabic language|Arabic]] <small>(official)</small><ref name="Constitution">Article 149 of the [[1923 Constitution of Egypt|1923 Constitution]].</ref> |
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|image_map_caption = <div style="padding-left:1.0em;text-align:left;">Green: Kingdom of Egypt<br/>Lighter green: [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]] [[Condominium (international law)|condominium]]<br/>Lightest green: Ceded from the Sudan to [[Italian North Africa]] in 1919.</div> |
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| government_type = Unitary parliamentary [[constitutional monarchy]] |
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|capital = [[Cairo]] |
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| title_leader = [[King of Egypt|King]] |
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|common_languages = [[Arabic language|Arabic]] <small>(official)</small><ref name="Constitution">Article 149 of the [[1923 Constitution of Egypt|1923 Constitution]].</ref><br/> [[Egyptian Arabic]] |
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| leader1 = [[Fuad I of Egypt|Fuad I]] |
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|government_type = {{nowrap|[[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]]<br />[[constitutional monarchy]]}} |
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| year_leader1 = 1922–1936 |
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|title_leader = [[King of Egypt|King]] |
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| leader2 = [[Farouk of Egypt|Farouk I]] |
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| year_leader2 = 1936–1952 |
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| leader3 = [[Fuad II of Egypt|Fuad II]] <sup>a</sup> |
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| year_leader3 = 1952–1953 |
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| title_representative = [[List of diplomats from the United Kingdom to Egypt|British High Commissioner]] |
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|leader3 = ''[[Fuad II of Egypt|Fuad II]]'' <sup>a</sup> |
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| representative1 = [[Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby|Edmund Allenby]] |
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|year_leader3 = 1952–1953 |
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| year_representative1 = 1922–1925 |
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|title_representative = [[List of diplomats from the United Kingdom to Egypt|British High Commissioner]] |
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| representative2 = [[George Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd|George Lloyd]] |
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|representative1 = [[Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby|The 1st Viscount Allenby]] |
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| year_representative2 = 1925–1929 |
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| representative3 = [[Sir Percy Loraine, 12th Baronet|Percy Loraine]] |
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|representative2 = [[George Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd|The 1st Baron Lloyd]] |
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| year_representative3 = 1929–1933 |
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| representative4 = [[Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn|Miles Lampson]] |
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|representative3 = [[Sir Percy Loraine, 12th Baronet|Sir Percy Loraine]] |
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| year_representative4 = 1933–1936 |
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| title_deputy = [[Prime Minister of Egypt|Prime Minister]] |
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|representative4 = [[Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn|Sir Miles Lampson]] |
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| deputy1 = [[Abdel Khaliq Sarwat Pasha]] |
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|year_representative4 = 1933–1936 |
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| year_deputy1 = 1922 <small>(first)</small> |
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|title_deputy = [[Prime Minister of Egypt|Prime Minister]] |
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| deputy2 = [[Mohamed Naguib]]<sup>b</sup> |
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|deputy1 = [[Abdel Khaliq Sarwat Pasha]] |
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| year_deputy2 = 1952–1953 <small>(last)</small> |
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| legislature = [[Parliament of Egypt|Parliament]] |
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|deputy2 = [[Muhammad Naguib]]<sup>b</sup> |
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| area_km2 = 3,700,000 |
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|year_deputy2 = 1952–1953 <small>(last)</small> |
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| house1 = Senate |
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|legislature = [[Parliament of Egypt|Parliament]] |
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| house2 = Chamber of Deputies |
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|house1 = Senate |
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| event_pre = [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|Independence]] from the [[United Kingdom]] |
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|house2 = Chamber of Deputies |
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| date_pre = 28 February 1922 |
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|event_pre = [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|Independence]] recognized by the [[United Kingdom]] |
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| event_start = Sultan Fuad I becomes [[Fuad I of Egypt|King Fuad I]] |
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|date_pre = 28 February 1922 |
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| date_start = 15 March |
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|event_start = Sultan Fuad I becomes [[Fuad I of Egypt|King Fuad I]] |
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| year_start = 1922 |
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|date_start = 15 March |
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| event1 = [[Egyptian Constitution of 1923|Constitution adopted]] |
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|year_start = 1922 |
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| date_event1 = 19 April 1923 |
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|event1 = [[1923 Constitution of Egypt|Constitution adopted]] |
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| event2 = [[Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936|Anglo-Egyptian Treaty]] |
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|date_event1 = 19 April 1923 |
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| date_event2 = 27 August 1936 |
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|event2 = [[Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936|Anglo-Egyptian<br />Treaty]] |
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| event3 = [[1952 Egyptian Revolution]] |
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|date_event2 = <br />27 August 1936 |
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| date_event3 = 23 July 1952 |
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|event3 = [[United Nations Charter|Admitted to the]] [[United Nations]] |
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| event_end = [[Declaration of the Republic|Abolition of the monarchy, and declaration of the Republic]] |
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|date_event3 = 24 October 1945 |
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| date_end = 18 June |
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|event4 = [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|Palestine War]] |
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| year_end = 1953 |
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|date_event4 = {{nowrap|1948–49 {{Smaller|(May–March)}}}} |
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| stat_year1 = 1927 |
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|event5 = [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952|Revolution]] |
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| stat_pop1 = 14,218,000 |
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|date_event5 = 23 July 1952 |
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| ref_pop1 = <ref name="Bonné" /> |
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|event_end = Republic proclaimed |
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| stat_year2 = 1937 |
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|date_end = 18 June |
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| stat_area2 = 994,000 |
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|year_end = 1953 |
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| ref_area2 = <ref name="Bonné">{{cite book | last=Bonné |first=Alfred |title=The Economic Development of the Middle East: An Outline of Planned Reconstruction after the War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hMFlGd1kbZQC&pg=PA24 |access-date=2010-07-09 |series=The International Library of Sociology |year=2003 |orig-year=First published 1945 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-0-415-17525-8 |oclc=39915162 |page=24}}</ref> |
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|stat_year1 = 1927 [[Census in Egypt|census]] |
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| stat_pop2 = 15,933,000 |
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| ref_pop2 = <ref name="Bonné" /> |
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|stat_year2 = 1937 census |
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| stat_year3 = 1947 [[Census in Egypt|census]] |
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|stat_area2 = 3418400 |
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| stat_pop3 = 19,090,447 |
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|stat_pop2 = 15,933,000 |
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| ref_pop3 = <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Shousha|first=Aly Tewfik|date=1948|title=Cholera Epidemic in Egypt (1947)|journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization|volume=1|issue=2|page=371|issn=0042-9686|pmc=2553924|pmid=20603928}}</ref> |
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|stat_year3 = 1947 census |
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| currency = [[Egyptian pound]] |
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|stat_pop3 = 19,090,447 |
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| footnote_a = Under [[Regencies in Egypt#Regency during Fouad II's minority|regency]]. |
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|currency = [[Egyptian pound]] |
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| footnote_b = Became first [[President of Egypt]]. |
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|footnote_a = Under [[Regencies in Egypt#Regency during Fouad II's minority|regency]]. |
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| religion = See ''[[Religion in Egypt]]'' |
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| demonym = Egyptian |
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|footnotes = Area and density include inhabited areas only. The total area of Egypt, including deserts, is 994,000 km<sup>2</sup>.<big><ref>{{cite book |last=Bonné |first=Alfred |title=The Economic Development of the Middle East: An Outline of Planned Reconstruction after the War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hMFlGd1kbZQC&pg=PA24 |accessdate=2010-07-09 |series=The International Library of Sociology |year=2003 |origyear=First published 1945 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-0-415-17525-8 |oclc=39915162 |page=24}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmc=2553924 |title=Cholera Epidemic in Egypt: A Preliminary Report |first=Aly Tewfik |last=Shousha |year=1947 |publisher=[[National Center for Biotechnology Information]] |page=371 |pmid=20603928 |volume=1 |issue=2 |journal=Bull. World Health Organ.}}</ref></big> |
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| today = [[Egypt]] <br> [[Sudan]] <br> [[South Sudan]] <br> [[Libya]] (land ceded) |
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| largest_city = [[Cairo]] |
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| iso3166code = omit |
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{{History of Egypt}} |
{{History of Egypt}} |
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The '''Kingdom of Egypt''' ({{ |
The '''Kingdom of Egypt''' ({{langx|ar|المملكة المصرية|Al-Mamlaka Al-Miṣreyya|The Egyptian Kingdom}}) was the legal form of the [[Egypt|Egyptian state]] during the latter period of the [[Muhammad Ali dynasty]]'s reign, from the [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|United Kingdom's recognition of Egyptian independence]] in 1922 until the abolition of the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan in 1953 following the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952]]. Until the [[Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936]], the Kingdom was only nominally independent, as the [[United Kingdom]] retained control of foreign relations, communications, the military, and [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Sudan]]. Officially, Sudan was governed as a [[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] of the two states, however, in reality, true power in Sudan lay with the United Kingdom. Between 1936 and 1952, the United Kingdom continued to maintain its military presence, and its political advisers, at a reduced level. |
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The legal status of Egypt had been highly convoluted, due to its ''de facto'' breakaway from the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1805, its occupation by Britain in 1882, and |
The legal status of Egypt had been highly convoluted, due to its ''de facto'' breakaway from the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1805, its occupation by Britain in 1882, and the re-establishment of the [[Sultanate of Egypt]] (destroyed by the Ottomans in 1517) as a [[British protectorate]] in 1914. In line with the change in status from sultanate to kingdom, the title of the reigning Sultan, [[Fuad I of Egypt|Fuad I]], was changed from [[Sultan of Egypt]] to [[King of Egypt]]. Throughout the Kingdom's existence, [[Sudan]] was formally united with Egypt. However, actual Egyptian authority in Sudan was largely nominal due to United Kingdom's role as the dominant power in [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]]. As had been the case during the [[Khedivate of Egypt]], and the Sultanate of Egypt, the Egyptian monarch was styled as the sovereign of "Egypt and Sudan". |
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During the reign of King Fuad, the monarchy struggled with the [[Wafd Party]], a broadly based nationalist political organisation strongly opposed to British influence in Egypt, and with the British themselves, who were determined to maintain their control over the [[Suez Canal]]. Other political forces emerging in this period included the [[Communist Party of Egypt|Communist Party]] (1925), and the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] (1928), which eventually became a potent political and religious force. |
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The kingdom's sovereignty was subject to severe limitations imposed by the British, who retained enormous control over Egyptian affairs, and whose military continued to occupy the country. Throughout the kingdom's existence, the [[Sudan]] was formally united with Egypt. However, actual Egyptian authority in the Sudan was largely nominal due to Britain's role as the dominant power in the [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan]]. |
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King Fuad died in 1936, and the throne passed to his 16-year-old son, [[Farouk of Egypt|Farouk]]. Rising nationalist sentiment in Egypt and Sudan, and British concern following [[Kingdom of Italy|Fascist Italy]]'s [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War|recent invasion]] of [[Ethiopia|Abyssinia]] led to the [[Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936]], which required the United Kingdom to withdraw all troops from Egypt proper (excluding Sudan), except in the [[Suez Canal Zone]] (agreed to be evacuated by 1949), but permitted the return of British military personnel in the event of war. The Kingdom was plagued by corruption, and its subjects saw it as a puppet of the British, notwithstanding the bitter enmity between King Farouk and the United Kingdom during the Second World War, as evidenced by the [[Abdeen Palace incident of 1942]]. This, coupled with the defeat in the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War|Palestine War]] of 1948–1949, led to the [[1952 Egyptian Revolution]] by the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Free Officers Movement]]. Farouk abdicated in favour of his infant son Ahmed Fuad, who became King [[Fuad II of Egypt|Fuad II]]. In 1953 the monarchy was abolished, and the [[Egypt|Republic of Egypt]]<!-- Hidden Comment: (the official title 'Arab Republic of Egypt' was only introduced in 1971. The title introduced in 1953 was 'Republic of Egypt'). Hidden Comment end--> was established. The legal status of [[Sudan]] was only resolved in 1953, when Egypt and United Kingdom agreed that it should be granted independence in 1956. |
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During the reign of King Fuad, the monarchy struggled with the [[New Delegation Party|Wafd Party]], a broadly based nationalist political organization strongly opposed to British domination, and with the British themselves, who were determined to maintain control over the [[Suez Canal]]. Other political forces emerging in this period included the [[Communist Party of Egypt|Communist Party]] (1925), and the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] (1928), which eventually became a potent political and religious force. |
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==History== |
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King Fuad died in 1936 and [[Farouk of Egypt|Farouk]] inherited the throne at the age of sixteen. Alarmed by the [[Kingdom of Italy]]'s [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War|recent invasion]] of [[Ethiopia|Abyssinia]], he signed the [[Anglo-Egyptian Treaty]], requiring Britain to withdraw all troops from Egypt, except in the [[Suez Canal Zone]] (agreed to be evacuated by 1949). |
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=== Sultanate and Kingdom === |
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The kingdom was plagued by corruption, and its citizens saw it as a puppet of the British. This, coupled with the defeat in the 1948–1949 [[1948 Arab-Israeli War|Palestine War]], led to the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952]] by the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Free Officers Movement]]. Farouk abdicated in favour of his infant son [[Fuad II of Egypt|Fuad II]]. In 1953 the monarchy was formally abolished and the [[Egypt|Republic of Egypt]]<!-- Hidden Comment: (the official title 'Arab Republic of Egypt' was only introduced in 1971. The title introduced in 1953 was 'Republic of Egypt'). Hidden Comment end--> was established. The legal status of [[Sudan]] was only resolved in 1954, when Egypt and Britain agreed that it should be granted independence in 1956. |
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==Sultanate and Kingdom== |
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{{further|Sultanate of Egypt}} |
{{further|Sultanate of Egypt}} |
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During the Ottoman period, the country was administered as the [[Egypt Eyalet]], followed by the autonomous tributary state of the [[Khedivate of Egypt]] ruled by the [[Muhammad Ali dynasty]]. |
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In 1914, [[Khedive]] [[Abbas II of Egypt|Abbas II]] sided with the [[Ottoman Empire]] and the [[Central Powers]] in the [[First World War]], and was promptly deposed by the British in favour of his uncle [[Hussein Kamel of Egypt|Hussein Kamel]]. Ottoman sovereignty over Egypt, which had been hardly more than a [[legal fiction]] since 1805, now was officially terminated, Hussein Kamel was declared [[Sultan of Egypt]], and the country became a British Protectorate. |
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In 1914, [[Khedive]] [[Abbas II of Egypt|Abbas II]] sided with the [[Ottoman Empire]] and the [[Central Powers]] in the [[World War I|First World War]], and was promptly deposed by the British in favour of his uncle [[Hussein Kamel of Egypt|Hussein Kamel]], creating the [[Sultanate of Egypt]]. Ottoman sovereignty over Egypt, which had been hardly more than a [[legal fiction]] since 1805, now was officially terminated. Hussein Kamel was declared [[Sultan of Egypt]], and the country became a [[British protectorate]]. |
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== Aftermath of World War I == |
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=== Aftermath of World War I === |
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A group known as the [[Wafd]] (meaning "Delegation") attended the [[Paris Peace Conference of 1919]] to demand Egypt's independence. Included in the group was political leader, [[Saad Zaghlul]], who would later become Prime Minister. When the group was arrested and deported to the island of [[Malta]], a huge uprising occurred in Egypt. |
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A group known as the [[Wafd Party|Wafd]] (meaning "Delegation") attended the [[Paris Peace Conference of 1919]] to demand Egypt's independence. Included in the group was political leader, [[Saad Zaghlul]], who would later become Prime Minister. When the group was arrested and deported to the island of [[Malta]], demonstrations started to occur in Egypt.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} |
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From March to April 1919, there were mass demonstrations that turned into uprisings. This is known in Egypt as the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1919|First Revolution]]. British repression of the anti-occupation riots led to the death of some 800 people. In November 1919, the [[Milner Commission]] was sent to Egypt by the British to attempt to resolve the situation. In 1920, Lord Milner submitted his report to [[Lord Curzon]], the British [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]], recommending that the protectorate should be replaced by a treaty of alliance. |
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From March to April 1919, there were mass demonstrations that turned into uprisings. These are known in Egypt as the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1919|First Revolution]]. In November 1919, the [[Milner Commission]] was sent to Egypt by the British to attempt to resolve the situation. In 1920, Lord Milner submitted his report to [[Lord Curzon]], the British [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]], recommending that the protectorate should be replaced by a treaty of alliance.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} |
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As a result, Curzon agreed to receive an Egyptian mission headed by Zaghlul and [[Adli Pasha]] to discuss the proposals. The mission arrived in London in June 1920 and the agreement was concluded in August 1920. In February 1921, the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] approved the agreement and Egypt was asked to send another mission to London with full powers to conclude a definitive treaty. Adli Pasha led this mission, which arrived in June 1921. However, the [[Dominion]] delegates at the 1921 [[Imperial Conference]] had stressed the importance of maintaining control over the Suez Canal Zone and Curzon could not persuade his Cabinet colleagues to agree to any terms that Adli Pasha was prepared to accept. The mission returned to Egypt in disgust. |
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As a result, Curzon agreed to receive an Egyptian mission headed by Zaghlul and [[Adli Pasha]] to discuss the proposals. The mission arrived in London in June 1920 and the agreement was concluded in August 1920. In February 1921, the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] approved the agreement and Egypt was asked to send another mission to London with full powers to conclude a definitive treaty. Adli Pasha led this mission, which arrived in June 1921. However, the [[Dominion]] delegates at the 1921 [[Imperial Conference]] had stressed the importance of maintaining control over the Suez Canal Zone and Curzon could not persuade his Cabinet colleagues to agree to any terms that Adli Pasha was prepared to accept. The mission returned to Egypt in disgust.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} |
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In December 1921, the British authorities in [[Cairo]] imposed martial law and once again deported Zaghlul. Demonstrations again led to violence. In deference to the growing nationalism and at the suggestion of the [[High Commissioner]], [[Lord Allenby]], the UK recognized Egyptian independence in 1922, abolishing the protectorate, and converting the [[Sultanate of Egypt]] into the Kingdom of Egypt. [[Sarwat Pasha]] became [[Prime Minister of Egypt|prime minister]]. British influence, however, continued to dominate Egypt's political life and fostered fiscal, administrative, and governmental reforms. Britain retained control of the Canal Zone, [[Sudan]], and Egypt's external protection' the police, army, the railways and communications' the protection of foreign interests, minorities and the Sudan pending a final agreement. |
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Representing the [[Wafd Party]], Zaghlul was elected Prime Minister in 1924. He demanded that Britain recognize the Egyptian sovereignty in Sudan ''and the unity of the Nile Valley''. On November 19, 1924, the British Governor-General of Sudan, Sir [[Lee Stack]], was assassinated in Cairo and pro-Egyptian riots broke out in Sudan. The British demanded that Egypt pay an apology fee and withdraw troops from Sudan. Zaghlul agreed to the first but not the second and resigned. |
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In December 1921, the British authorities in [[Cairo]] imposed martial law and once again deported Zaghlul. Demonstrations again led to violence. In deference to the growing nationalism and at the suggestion of the [[High Commissioner]], [[Lord Allenby]], the UK recognized Egyptian independence in 1922, abolishing the protectorate, and converting the [[Sultanate of Egypt]] into the Kingdom of Egypt. [[Sarwat Pasha]] became [[Prime Minister of Egypt|prime minister]]. British influence, however, continued to dominate Egypt's political life and fostered fiscal, administrative, and governmental reforms. Britain retained control of the Canal Zone, [[Sudan]] and Egypt's external protection, the police, army, the railways and communications, the protection of foreign interests, minorities and Sudan pending a final agreement.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} |
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== Recognition == |
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[[File:Kingfarouk1948.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Farouk of Egypt|[[Farouk I of Egypt|King Farouk I, 1936-1952]].]] |
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Representing the [[Wafd Party]], Zaghlul was elected Prime Minister in 1924. He demanded that Britain recognize the Egyptian sovereignty in Sudan ''and the unity of the Nile Valley''. On November 19, 1924, the British Governor-General of Sudan, Sir [[Lee Stack]], was assassinated in Cairo and pro-Egyptian riots broke out in Sudan. The British demanded that Egypt pay an apology fee and withdraw troops from Sudan. Zaghlul agreed to the first but not the second and resigned.<ref name="Michael T. Thornhill 2010">Michael T. Thornhill, "Informal Empire, Independent Egypt and the Accession of King Farouk." ''Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History'' 38#2 (2010): 279-302.</ref> |
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=== Recognition === |
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== World War II and after == |
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[[File:Kingfarouk1948.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Farouk I of Egypt|King Farouk I]], 1936–1952.]] |
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{{main|Military history of Egypt during World War II}} |
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With nationalist sentiment rising, Britain [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|formally recognized]] Egyptian independence in 1922, and Hussein Kamel's successor, [[Fuad I of Egypt|Sultan Fuad I]], substituted the title of King for Sultan.<ref name="Michael T. Thornhill 2010"/> However, the British influence in Egyptian affairs persisted. Of particular concern to Egypt was Britain's continual efforts to divest Egypt of all control in Sudan. To both the King and the nationalist movement, this was intolerable, and the Egyptian Government made a point of stressing that Fuad and his son [[Farouk I of Egypt|King Farouk I]] were "King of Egypt ''and'' Sudan".<ref name="Michael T. Thornhill 2010"/> |
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Britain used Egypt as a base for Allied operations throughout the region, especially the battles in North Africa against Italy and Germany. Its highest priorities were control of the Eastern Mediterranean, and especially keeping the Suez Canal open for merchant ships and for military connections with India and Australia.<ref>Steve Morewood, '' The British Defence of Egypt, 1935-40: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean'' (2008).</ref> |
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The government of Egypt, and the Egyptian population, played a minor role in the Second World War. When the war began in September 1939, Egypt declared martial law and broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. It did not declare war on Germany, but the Prime Minister associated Egypt with the British war effort. It broke diplomatic relations with Italy in 1940, but never declared war, even when the Italian army invaded Egypt. King Farouk took practically a neutral position, which accorded with elite opinion among the Egyptians. The Egyptian army did no fighting. It was apathetic about the war, with the leading officers looking on the British as occupiers and sometimes holding some private sympathy with the Axis.<ref>S. K. Rothwell, "Military Ally or Liability? The Egyptian Army 1936–1942." ''Army Quarterly & Defence Review'' 128#2 (1998): 180-7.</ref> In June 1940 the King dismissed Prime Minister Aly Maher, who got on poorly with British. A new coalition Government was formed with the Independent Hassan Pasha Sabri as Prime Minister.<ref>John Marlowe, ''A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800-1953'' (1954) pp. 313–15.</ref> |
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=== World War II === |
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Following a ministerial crisis in February 1942, the ambassador Sir [[Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn|Miles Lampson]], pressed Farouk to have a [[Wafd Party|Wafd]] or Wafd-coalition government replace [[Hussein Sirri Pasha|Hussein Sirri Pasha's]] government. On the night of 4 February 1942, [[Abdeen Palace Incident of 1942|British troops and tanks surrounded Abdeen Palace in Cairo and Lampson presented Farouk with an ultimatum]]. Farouk capitulated, and Nahhas formed a government shortly thereafter. However, the humiliation meted out to Farouk, and the actions of the Wafd in cooperating with the British and taking power, lost support for both the British and the Wafd among both civilians and, more importantly, the [[Military of Egypt|Egyptian military]].<ref>Marlowe, ''A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800-1953'' (1954) pp. 315–19.</ref> |
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{{main|Egypt in World War II|North African campaign}} |
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The government of Egypt was legally neutral in World War II. The army was not in combat. In practice the British made Egypt a major base of operations against Italy and Germany, and finally defeated them both. London's highest priority was control of the Eastern Mediterranean, especially keeping the Suez Canal open for merchant ships and for military connections with India and Australia.<ref>Steve Morewood, '' The British Defence of Egypt, 1935–40: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean'' (2008).</ref> Several battles of the [[North African campaign]] were fought on Egyptian soil, such as the [[Italian Invasion of Egypt]], [[Battle of Sidi Barrani]] or the [[Battle of Mersa Matruh]], [[First Battle of El Alamein|First]], [[Second Battle of El Alamein|Second Battles of El Alamein]]. |
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British troops were withdrawn to the Suez Canal area in 1947, but nationalist, anti-British feelings continued to grow after the War. On July 22 – July 23, 1952, the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Free Officers Movement]], led by [[Muhammad Naguib]] and [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] overthrew King Farouk, whom the military blamed for Egypt's poor performance in the 1948 war with [[Israel]], thereby launching the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952]]. |
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The government of Egypt, and the Egyptian population, played a minor role in the Second World War. When the war began in September 1939, Egypt declared martial law and broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. It did not declare war on Germany, but the Prime Minister associated Egypt with the British war effort. It broke off diplomatic relations with Italy in 1940, but never declared war, even when the Italian army invaded Egypt. King Farouk practically took a neutral position, which accorded with elite opinion among the Egyptians. The Egyptian army did no fighting. It was apathetic about the war, with the leading officers looking on the British as occupiers and sometimes holding some private sympathies toward the Axis.<ref>S. K. Rothwell, "Military Ally or Liability? The Egyptian Army 1936–1942." ''Army Quarterly & Defence Review'' 128#2 (1998): 180-7.</ref> In June 1940, the King dismissed Prime Minister Aly Maher, who got on poorly with the British. A new coalition government was formed with the Independent [[Hassan Pasha Sabri]] as Prime Minister briefly, followed by [[Hussein Sirri Pasha (1894–1960)|Hussein Sirri Pasha]].<ref>John Marlowe, ''A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800–1953'' (1954) pp. 313–15.</ref> |
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Popular expectations for immediate reforms led to the workers' riots in [[Kafr Dawar]] on 12 August 1952, which resulted in two death sentences. Following a brief experiment with civilian rule, the Free Officers abrogated the 1953 constitution and declared Egypt a republic on 18 June 1953. Nasser evolved into a charismatic leader, not only of Egypt but of the Arab World, promoting and implementing "[[Arab socialism]]". |
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Following a ministerial crisis in February 1942, the ambassador Sir [[Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn|Miles Lampson]], pressed Farouk to have a [[Wafd Party|Wafd]] or Wafd-coalition government replace Hussein Sirri Pasha's government. On the night of 4 February 1942, [[Abdeen Palace Incident of 1942|British troops and tanks surrounded Abdeen Palace in Cairo and Lampson presented Farouk with an ultimatum]]. Farouk capitulated, Nahhas formed a government shortly thereafter. However, the humiliation meted out to Farouk, and the actions of the Wafd in cooperating with the British and taking power, lost support for both the British and the Wafd among both civilians and, more importantly, the [[Military of Egypt|Egyptian military]].<ref>Marlowe, ''A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800–1953'' (1954) pp. 315–19.</ref> |
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== Dissolution == |
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=== Post-war period === |
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The reign of Farouk was characterized by ever increasing nationalist discontent over the British occupation, royal corruption and incompetence, and the disastrous [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]]. All these factors served to terminally undermine Farouk's position and paved the way for the [[1952 Revolution|Revolution of 1952]]. Farouk was forced to abdicate in favor of his infant son Ahmed-Fuad who became [[Fuad II of Egypt|King Fuad II]], while administration of the country passed to the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Free Officers Movement]] under [[Muhammad Naguib]] and [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. The infant king's reign—now a pure legal fiction—lasted less than a year and on 18 June 1953, the revolutionaries formally abolished the monarchy and declared Egypt a republic, ending a century and a half of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. |
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Most British troops were withdrawn to the Suez Canal area in 1947 (the British army maintained a military base there), but nationalist and anti-British sentiment continued to grow after the War. Anti-monarchy sentiments further increased following the disastrous performance of the Kingdom in the [[First Arab-Israeli War]]. The 1950 election saw a landslide victory of the nationalist [[Wafd Party]] and the King was forced to appoint [[Mostafa El-Nahas]] as the new Prime Minister. In 1951 Egypt unilaterally withdrew from the [[Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936]] and ordered all remaining British troops to leave the Suez Canal. |
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=== Suez Emergency === |
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According to the BBC, 'In October 1951 a tense stand-off between the British and Egyptian governments broke down over the number of UK troops stationed in the country. In response, the British government mobilised 60,000 troops in 10 days, in what was described as the biggest airlift of troops since World War Two.'<ref>{{Cite news|last=Parkes|first=Pamela|date=2016-10-23|title=The Suez Emergency: The forgotten war of the conscript soldier|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36985325|access-date=2021-08-09}}</ref> |
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As the British refused to leave their base around the Suez Canal, the Egyptian government cut off the water and refused to allow food into the Suez Canal base, announced a boycott of British goods, forbade Egyptian workers from entering the base and sponsored guerrilla attacks. The situation turned the area around the Suez Canal into a low level war zone. On 24 January 1952, Egyptian guerrillas staged an attack on the British forces around the Suez Canal, during which the Egyptian Auxiliary Police were observed helping the guerrillas. In response, on 25 January, General [[George Erskine]] sent British tanks and infantry to surround the auxiliary police station in Ismailia and gave the policemen an hour to surrender their arms in the grounds. The police were arming the guerrillas. The police commander called the Interior Minister, [[Fouad Serageddin]], Nahas's right-hand man, who was smoking cigars in his bath at the time, to ask if he should surrender or fight. Serageddin ordered the police to fight "to the last man and the last bullet". The resulting battle saw the police station levelled and 43 Egyptian policemen killed together with 3 British soldiers. The Ismailia incident outraged Egypt. The next day, 26 January 1952, was [[Cairo fire|"Black Saturday"]], as the anti-British riot was known. It saw much of downtown Cairo which the Khedive Ismail the Magnificent had rebuilt in the style of Paris, burned down. Farouk blamed the Wafd for the Black Saturday riot, and dismissed Nahas as prime minister the next day and replaced by [[Aly Maher Pasha]]. |
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=== Dissolution === |
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On 23 July 1952, the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Free Officers Movement]], led by [[Mohamed Naguib]] and [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], toppled King Farouk in a coup d'état that began the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952]]. On 26 July, Farouk abdicated in favour of his seven-month-old son, Ahmed Fuad, who became [[Fuad II of Egypt|King Fuad II]]. At 6pm the same day, the now former king departed Egypt on the royal yacht, along with other members of the royal family, including the new infant king. Following precedent for a sovereign under the age of majority, a Regency Council was formed, led by [[Prince Muhammad Abdel Moneim]]. The Regency Council, however, held only nominal authority, as real power lay with the [[Egyptian Revolutionary Command Council|Revolutionary Command Council]], led by Naguib and Nasser. |
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Popular expectations for immediate reforms led to the workers' riots in [[Kafr Dawar]] on 12 August 1952, which resulted in two death sentences. Following a brief experiment with civilian rule, the Free Officers abolished the monarchy, and declared Egypt a republic on 18 June 1953, abrogating the constitution of 1923. In addition to serving as head of the Revolutionary Command Council, and [[Prime Minister of Egypt|Prime Minister]], Naguib was proclaimed as Egypt's first [[President of Egypt|President]], while Nasser was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. |
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==Demographics== |
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Ethnic Egyptians made up the majority of the population in Egypt. However, thousands of Greeks, Jews, Italians, Maltese, Armenians and Syro-Lebanese were present in Egypt. These communities were known as the [[Mutamassirun]] (Egyptianized). Despite the fact these communities were foreigners, they took part in Egyptian society and were considered to be homogenous groups by Egyptian nationalists. The Mutammassirun community had most of its members leaving Egypt in the 1950s. After the Suez Crisis of 1956, more than 1,000 of 18,000 people who carried British or French nationality were expelled and were only allowed to take one suitcase with them and a small sum of cash.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hofstadter |first1=Dan |title=Egypt & Nasser: 1952–56 |date=1973 |isbn=9780871962034 |page=227 |publisher=Facts on File |edition=Vol. 1 Facts on File |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YjmPAAAAIAAJ |quote="Egyptian Interior Min. Zakaria Mohieddin said Dec. 9 that, of some 18,000 British and French citizens in Egypt, 1,452 had been ordered expelled from the country."}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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* [[Egypt]] |
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* [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952]] |
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* [[1952 Egyptian Revolution]] |
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* [[History of modern Egypt]] |
* [[History of modern Egypt]] |
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* [[Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt]] |
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{{Commons category|Kingdom of Egypt|position=left}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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{{Commons category|Kingdom of Egypt}} |
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{{Empty section|date=February 2019}} |
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*Daly, M.W. ''The Cambridge History Of Egypt Volume 2 Modern Egypt, from 1517 to the end of the twentieth century'' (1998) [https://archive.org/download/iB_CE/02.pdf online] |
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* Botman, Selma. "The liberal age, 1923–1952." in M.W. Daly, ed. ''The Cambridge History of Egypt, Vol. 2: Modern Egypt, from 1517 to the End of the Twentieth Century'' (2008), pp 285–308. |
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==Further reading== |
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* Daly, M.W. ''The Cambridge History Of Egypt Volume 2 Modern Egypt, from 1517 to the end of the twentieth century'' (1998) [https://archive.org/download/iB_CE/02.pdf online] |
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** Botman, Selma. "The liberal age, 1923–1952." in M.W. Daly, ed. ''The Cambridge History of Egypt, Vol. 2: Modern Egypt, from 1517 to the End of the Twentieth Century'' (2008), pp 285–308. |
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* Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur. ''Biographical Dictionary of Modern Egypt'' (1999). |
* Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur. ''Biographical Dictionary of Modern Egypt'' (1999). |
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* Karakoç, Ulaş. "Industrial growth in interwar Egypt: first estimate, new insights" ''European Review of Economic History'' (2018) 22#1 53–72, [https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/hex013 online] |
* Karakoç, Ulaş. "Industrial growth in interwar Egypt: first estimate, new insights" ''European Review of Economic History'' (2018) 22#1 53–72, [https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/hex013 online] |
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* Marlowe, John. ''A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800-1953'' (1954). |
* Marlowe, John. ''A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800-1953'' (1954). |
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* Morewood, Steve. ''The British Defence of Egypt, 1935-40: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean'' (2008). |
* Morewood, Steve. ''The British Defence of Egypt, 1935-40: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean'' (2008). |
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* Rothwell, S. K. "Military Ally or Liability? The Egyptian Army 1936–1942." ''Army Quarterly & Defence Review'' 128#2 (1998): |
* Rothwell, S. K. "Military Ally or Liability? The Egyptian Army 1936–1942." ''Army Quarterly & Defence Review'' 128#2 (1998): 180–7. |
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* Royal Institute of International Affairs. ''Great Britain and Egypt, 1914-1951'' (2nd ed. 1952) |
* Royal Institute of International Affairs. ''Great Britain and Egypt, 1914-1951'' (2nd ed. 1952) [https://archive.org/details/greatbritainegyp00roya online] |
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* Thornhill, Michael T. "Informal Empire, Independent Egypt and the Accession of King Farouk." ''Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History'' 38#2 (2010): |
* Thornhill, Michael T. "Informal Empire, Independent Egypt and the Accession of King Farouk." ''Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History'' 38#2 (2010): 279–302. |
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* Tignore, Robert L. ''Egypt: A Short History'' (2011) |
* Tignore, Robert L. ''Egypt: A Short History'' (2011) |
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* Vatikiotis, Panayiotis J. ''The history of modern Egypt: from Muhammad Alì to Mubarak'' (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991). [https://archive.org/details/historyofmoderne00vati online] |
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{{Egypt topics}} |
{{Egypt topics}} |
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{{Former Monarchies}} |
{{Former Monarchies}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kingdom of Egypt 1922-1953}} |
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[[Category:Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty]] |
[[Category:Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty]] |
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[[Category:Former Arab states]] |
[[Category:Former Arab states]] |
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[[Category:Egyptian monarchy]] |
[[Category:Egyptian monarchy]] |
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[[Category:History of Egypt (1900–present)]] |
[[Category:History of Egypt (1900–present)]] |
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[[Category:Former countries in the Middle East|Egypt Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Former kingdoms|Egypt]] |
[[Category:Former kingdoms|Egypt]] |
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[[Category:Former member states of the United Nations|Egypt]] |
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[[Category:Former polities of the interwar period|Egypt]] |
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[[Category:20th century in Egypt]] |
[[Category:20th century in Egypt]] |
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[[Category:1922 establishments in Africa]] |
[[Category:1922 establishments in Africa]] |
Latest revision as of 03:16, 24 December 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2021) |
Kingdom of Egypt | |||||||||
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1922–1953 | |||||||||
Anthem: "Eslami ya Misr" (1923–1936) Royal anthem: "Salam Affandina" (1936–1953) | |||||||||
Status | Independent Kingdom | ||||||||
Capital and largest city | Cairo | ||||||||
Common languages | Arabic (official)[1] | ||||||||
Religion | See Religion in Egypt | ||||||||
Demonym(s) | Egyptian | ||||||||
Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
King | |||||||||
• 1922–1936 | Fuad I | ||||||||
• 1936–1952 | Farouk I | ||||||||
• 1952–1953 | Fuad II a | ||||||||
British High Commissioner | |||||||||
• 1922–1925 | Edmund Allenby | ||||||||
• 1925–1929 | George Lloyd | ||||||||
• 1929–1933 | Percy Loraine | ||||||||
• 1933–1936 | Miles Lampson | ||||||||
Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1922 (first) | Abdel Khaliq Sarwat Pasha | ||||||||
• 1952–1953 (last) | Mohamed Naguibb | ||||||||
Legislature | Parliament | ||||||||
Senate | |||||||||
Chamber of Deputies | |||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Independence from the United Kingdom | 28 February 1922 | ||||||||
• Sultan Fuad I becomes King Fuad I | 15 March 1922 | ||||||||
19 April 1923 | |||||||||
27 August 1936 | |||||||||
23 July 1952 | |||||||||
18 June 1953 | |||||||||
Area | |||||||||
• Total | 3,700,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
1937[2] | 994,000 km2 (384,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
Population | |||||||||
• 1927[2] | 14,218,000 | ||||||||
• 1937[2] | 15,933,000 | ||||||||
19,090,447 | |||||||||
Currency | Egyptian pound | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Today part of | Egypt Sudan South Sudan Libya (land ceded) | ||||||||
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History of Egypt |
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Egypt portal |
The Kingdom of Egypt (Arabic: المملكة المصرية, romanized: Al-Mamlaka Al-Miṣreyya, lit. 'The Egyptian Kingdom') was the legal form of the Egyptian state during the latter period of the Muhammad Ali dynasty's reign, from the United Kingdom's recognition of Egyptian independence in 1922 until the abolition of the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan in 1953 following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. Until the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936, the Kingdom was only nominally independent, as the United Kingdom retained control of foreign relations, communications, the military, and Sudan. Officially, Sudan was governed as a condominium of the two states, however, in reality, true power in Sudan lay with the United Kingdom. Between 1936 and 1952, the United Kingdom continued to maintain its military presence, and its political advisers, at a reduced level.
The legal status of Egypt had been highly convoluted, due to its de facto breakaway from the Ottoman Empire in 1805, its occupation by Britain in 1882, and the re-establishment of the Sultanate of Egypt (destroyed by the Ottomans in 1517) as a British protectorate in 1914. In line with the change in status from sultanate to kingdom, the title of the reigning Sultan, Fuad I, was changed from Sultan of Egypt to King of Egypt. Throughout the Kingdom's existence, Sudan was formally united with Egypt. However, actual Egyptian authority in Sudan was largely nominal due to United Kingdom's role as the dominant power in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. As had been the case during the Khedivate of Egypt, and the Sultanate of Egypt, the Egyptian monarch was styled as the sovereign of "Egypt and Sudan".
During the reign of King Fuad, the monarchy struggled with the Wafd Party, a broadly based nationalist political organisation strongly opposed to British influence in Egypt, and with the British themselves, who were determined to maintain their control over the Suez Canal. Other political forces emerging in this period included the Communist Party (1925), and the Muslim Brotherhood (1928), which eventually became a potent political and religious force.
King Fuad died in 1936, and the throne passed to his 16-year-old son, Farouk. Rising nationalist sentiment in Egypt and Sudan, and British concern following Fascist Italy's recent invasion of Abyssinia led to the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936, which required the United Kingdom to withdraw all troops from Egypt proper (excluding Sudan), except in the Suez Canal Zone (agreed to be evacuated by 1949), but permitted the return of British military personnel in the event of war. The Kingdom was plagued by corruption, and its subjects saw it as a puppet of the British, notwithstanding the bitter enmity between King Farouk and the United Kingdom during the Second World War, as evidenced by the Abdeen Palace incident of 1942. This, coupled with the defeat in the Palestine War of 1948–1949, led to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution by the Free Officers Movement. Farouk abdicated in favour of his infant son Ahmed Fuad, who became King Fuad II. In 1953 the monarchy was abolished, and the Republic of Egypt was established. The legal status of Sudan was only resolved in 1953, when Egypt and United Kingdom agreed that it should be granted independence in 1956.
History
[edit]Sultanate and Kingdom
[edit]During the Ottoman period, the country was administered as the Egypt Eyalet, followed by the autonomous tributary state of the Khedivate of Egypt ruled by the Muhammad Ali dynasty.
In 1914, Khedive Abbas II sided with the Ottoman Empire and the Central Powers in the First World War, and was promptly deposed by the British in favour of his uncle Hussein Kamel, creating the Sultanate of Egypt. Ottoman sovereignty over Egypt, which had been hardly more than a legal fiction since 1805, now was officially terminated. Hussein Kamel was declared Sultan of Egypt, and the country became a British protectorate.
Aftermath of World War I
[edit]A group known as the Wafd (meaning "Delegation") attended the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 to demand Egypt's independence. Included in the group was political leader, Saad Zaghlul, who would later become Prime Minister. When the group was arrested and deported to the island of Malta, demonstrations started to occur in Egypt.[citation needed]
From March to April 1919, there were mass demonstrations that turned into uprisings. These are known in Egypt as the First Revolution. In November 1919, the Milner Commission was sent to Egypt by the British to attempt to resolve the situation. In 1920, Lord Milner submitted his report to Lord Curzon, the British Foreign Secretary, recommending that the protectorate should be replaced by a treaty of alliance.[citation needed]
As a result, Curzon agreed to receive an Egyptian mission headed by Zaghlul and Adli Pasha to discuss the proposals. The mission arrived in London in June 1920 and the agreement was concluded in August 1920. In February 1921, the British Parliament approved the agreement and Egypt was asked to send another mission to London with full powers to conclude a definitive treaty. Adli Pasha led this mission, which arrived in June 1921. However, the Dominion delegates at the 1921 Imperial Conference had stressed the importance of maintaining control over the Suez Canal Zone and Curzon could not persuade his Cabinet colleagues to agree to any terms that Adli Pasha was prepared to accept. The mission returned to Egypt in disgust.[citation needed]
In December 1921, the British authorities in Cairo imposed martial law and once again deported Zaghlul. Demonstrations again led to violence. In deference to the growing nationalism and at the suggestion of the High Commissioner, Lord Allenby, the UK recognized Egyptian independence in 1922, abolishing the protectorate, and converting the Sultanate of Egypt into the Kingdom of Egypt. Sarwat Pasha became prime minister. British influence, however, continued to dominate Egypt's political life and fostered fiscal, administrative, and governmental reforms. Britain retained control of the Canal Zone, Sudan and Egypt's external protection, the police, army, the railways and communications, the protection of foreign interests, minorities and Sudan pending a final agreement.[citation needed]
Representing the Wafd Party, Zaghlul was elected Prime Minister in 1924. He demanded that Britain recognize the Egyptian sovereignty in Sudan and the unity of the Nile Valley. On November 19, 1924, the British Governor-General of Sudan, Sir Lee Stack, was assassinated in Cairo and pro-Egyptian riots broke out in Sudan. The British demanded that Egypt pay an apology fee and withdraw troops from Sudan. Zaghlul agreed to the first but not the second and resigned.[4]
Recognition
[edit]With nationalist sentiment rising, Britain formally recognized Egyptian independence in 1922, and Hussein Kamel's successor, Sultan Fuad I, substituted the title of King for Sultan.[4] However, the British influence in Egyptian affairs persisted. Of particular concern to Egypt was Britain's continual efforts to divest Egypt of all control in Sudan. To both the King and the nationalist movement, this was intolerable, and the Egyptian Government made a point of stressing that Fuad and his son King Farouk I were "King of Egypt and Sudan".[4]
World War II
[edit]The government of Egypt was legally neutral in World War II. The army was not in combat. In practice the British made Egypt a major base of operations against Italy and Germany, and finally defeated them both. London's highest priority was control of the Eastern Mediterranean, especially keeping the Suez Canal open for merchant ships and for military connections with India and Australia.[5] Several battles of the North African campaign were fought on Egyptian soil, such as the Italian Invasion of Egypt, Battle of Sidi Barrani or the Battle of Mersa Matruh, First, Second Battles of El Alamein.
The government of Egypt, and the Egyptian population, played a minor role in the Second World War. When the war began in September 1939, Egypt declared martial law and broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. It did not declare war on Germany, but the Prime Minister associated Egypt with the British war effort. It broke off diplomatic relations with Italy in 1940, but never declared war, even when the Italian army invaded Egypt. King Farouk practically took a neutral position, which accorded with elite opinion among the Egyptians. The Egyptian army did no fighting. It was apathetic about the war, with the leading officers looking on the British as occupiers and sometimes holding some private sympathies toward the Axis.[6] In June 1940, the King dismissed Prime Minister Aly Maher, who got on poorly with the British. A new coalition government was formed with the Independent Hassan Pasha Sabri as Prime Minister briefly, followed by Hussein Sirri Pasha.[7]
Following a ministerial crisis in February 1942, the ambassador Sir Miles Lampson, pressed Farouk to have a Wafd or Wafd-coalition government replace Hussein Sirri Pasha's government. On the night of 4 February 1942, British troops and tanks surrounded Abdeen Palace in Cairo and Lampson presented Farouk with an ultimatum. Farouk capitulated, Nahhas formed a government shortly thereafter. However, the humiliation meted out to Farouk, and the actions of the Wafd in cooperating with the British and taking power, lost support for both the British and the Wafd among both civilians and, more importantly, the Egyptian military.[8]
Post-war period
[edit]Most British troops were withdrawn to the Suez Canal area in 1947 (the British army maintained a military base there), but nationalist and anti-British sentiment continued to grow after the War. Anti-monarchy sentiments further increased following the disastrous performance of the Kingdom in the First Arab-Israeli War. The 1950 election saw a landslide victory of the nationalist Wafd Party and the King was forced to appoint Mostafa El-Nahas as the new Prime Minister. In 1951 Egypt unilaterally withdrew from the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936 and ordered all remaining British troops to leave the Suez Canal.
Suez Emergency
[edit]According to the BBC, 'In October 1951 a tense stand-off between the British and Egyptian governments broke down over the number of UK troops stationed in the country. In response, the British government mobilised 60,000 troops in 10 days, in what was described as the biggest airlift of troops since World War Two.'[9]
As the British refused to leave their base around the Suez Canal, the Egyptian government cut off the water and refused to allow food into the Suez Canal base, announced a boycott of British goods, forbade Egyptian workers from entering the base and sponsored guerrilla attacks. The situation turned the area around the Suez Canal into a low level war zone. On 24 January 1952, Egyptian guerrillas staged an attack on the British forces around the Suez Canal, during which the Egyptian Auxiliary Police were observed helping the guerrillas. In response, on 25 January, General George Erskine sent British tanks and infantry to surround the auxiliary police station in Ismailia and gave the policemen an hour to surrender their arms in the grounds. The police were arming the guerrillas. The police commander called the Interior Minister, Fouad Serageddin, Nahas's right-hand man, who was smoking cigars in his bath at the time, to ask if he should surrender or fight. Serageddin ordered the police to fight "to the last man and the last bullet". The resulting battle saw the police station levelled and 43 Egyptian policemen killed together with 3 British soldiers. The Ismailia incident outraged Egypt. The next day, 26 January 1952, was "Black Saturday", as the anti-British riot was known. It saw much of downtown Cairo which the Khedive Ismail the Magnificent had rebuilt in the style of Paris, burned down. Farouk blamed the Wafd for the Black Saturday riot, and dismissed Nahas as prime minister the next day and replaced by Aly Maher Pasha.
Dissolution
[edit]On 23 July 1952, the Free Officers Movement, led by Mohamed Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser, toppled King Farouk in a coup d'état that began the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. On 26 July, Farouk abdicated in favour of his seven-month-old son, Ahmed Fuad, who became King Fuad II. At 6pm the same day, the now former king departed Egypt on the royal yacht, along with other members of the royal family, including the new infant king. Following precedent for a sovereign under the age of majority, a Regency Council was formed, led by Prince Muhammad Abdel Moneim. The Regency Council, however, held only nominal authority, as real power lay with the Revolutionary Command Council, led by Naguib and Nasser.
Popular expectations for immediate reforms led to the workers' riots in Kafr Dawar on 12 August 1952, which resulted in two death sentences. Following a brief experiment with civilian rule, the Free Officers abolished the monarchy, and declared Egypt a republic on 18 June 1953, abrogating the constitution of 1923. In addition to serving as head of the Revolutionary Command Council, and Prime Minister, Naguib was proclaimed as Egypt's first President, while Nasser was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister.
Demographics
[edit]Ethnic Egyptians made up the majority of the population in Egypt. However, thousands of Greeks, Jews, Italians, Maltese, Armenians and Syro-Lebanese were present in Egypt. These communities were known as the Mutamassirun (Egyptianized). Despite the fact these communities were foreigners, they took part in Egyptian society and were considered to be homogenous groups by Egyptian nationalists. The Mutammassirun community had most of its members leaving Egypt in the 1950s. After the Suez Crisis of 1956, more than 1,000 of 18,000 people who carried British or French nationality were expelled and were only allowed to take one suitcase with them and a small sum of cash.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Article 149 of the 1923 Constitution.
- ^ a b c Bonné, Alfred (2003) [First published 1945]. The Economic Development of the Middle East: An Outline of Planned Reconstruction after the War. The International Library of Sociology. London: Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-415-17525-8. OCLC 39915162. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ^ Shousha, Aly Tewfik (1948). "Cholera Epidemic in Egypt (1947)". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 1 (2): 371. ISSN 0042-9686. PMC 2553924. PMID 20603928.
- ^ a b c Michael T. Thornhill, "Informal Empire, Independent Egypt and the Accession of King Farouk." Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 38#2 (2010): 279-302.
- ^ Steve Morewood, The British Defence of Egypt, 1935–40: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean (2008).
- ^ S. K. Rothwell, "Military Ally or Liability? The Egyptian Army 1936–1942." Army Quarterly & Defence Review 128#2 (1998): 180-7.
- ^ John Marlowe, A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800–1953 (1954) pp. 313–15.
- ^ Marlowe, A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800–1953 (1954) pp. 315–19.
- ^ Parkes, Pamela (2016-10-23). "The Suez Emergency: The forgotten war of the conscript soldier". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ^ Hofstadter, Dan (1973). Egypt & Nasser: 1952–56 (Vol. 1 Facts on File ed.). Facts on File. p. 227. ISBN 9780871962034.
Egyptian Interior Min. Zakaria Mohieddin said Dec. 9 that, of some 18,000 British and French citizens in Egypt, 1,452 had been ordered expelled from the country.
Further reading
[edit]- Daly, M.W. The Cambridge History Of Egypt Volume 2 Modern Egypt, from 1517 to the end of the twentieth century (1998) online
- Botman, Selma. "The liberal age, 1923–1952." in M.W. Daly, ed. The Cambridge History of Egypt, Vol. 2: Modern Egypt, from 1517 to the End of the Twentieth Century (2008), pp 285–308.
- Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur. Biographical Dictionary of Modern Egypt (1999).
- Karakoç, Ulaş. "Industrial growth in interwar Egypt: first estimate, new insights" European Review of Economic History (2018) 22#1 53–72, online
- Marlowe, John. A History of Modern Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1800-1953 (1954).
- Morewood, Steve. The British Defence of Egypt, 1935-40: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean (2008).
- Rothwell, S. K. "Military Ally or Liability? The Egyptian Army 1936–1942." Army Quarterly & Defence Review 128#2 (1998): 180–7.
- Royal Institute of International Affairs. Great Britain and Egypt, 1914-1951 (2nd ed. 1952) online
- Thornhill, Michael T. "Informal Empire, Independent Egypt and the Accession of King Farouk." Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 38#2 (2010): 279–302.
- Tignore, Robert L. Egypt: A Short History (2011)
- Vatikiotis, Panayiotis J. The history of modern Egypt: from Muhammad Alì to Mubarak (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991). online
- Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty
- Former Arab states
- Egyptian monarchy
- History of Egypt (1900–present)
- Former kingdoms
- 20th century in Egypt
- 1922 establishments in Africa
- 1953 disestablishments in Egypt
- 1920s establishments in Egypt
- States and territories established in 1922
- States and territories disestablished in 1953