. English: 'Well Done 'Condor'': The Bombardment of Alexandria The subject of the picture is an incident during the bombardment of Alexandria which occurred in 1882 as the result of an Egyptian nationalist uprising. The revolt within the Egyptian army was led by Ahmed Arabi Bey to register concern over steady loss of sovereignty. It rose against the regime of Khedive Tewfik (the younger), which was supported by an Anglo-French condominium attempting to bring stability to the bankrupt and chaotic Egyptian government and protect their interests in the Suez Canal . British strategic interest in
. English: 'Well Done 'Condor'': The Bombardment of Alexandria The subject of the picture is an incident during the bombardment of Alexandria which occurred in 1882 as the result of an Egyptian nationalist uprising. The revolt within the Egyptian army was led by Ahmed Arabi Bey to register concern over steady loss of sovereignty. It rose against the regime of Khedive Tewfik (the younger), which was supported by an Anglo-French condominium attempting to bring stability to the bankrupt and chaotic Egyptian government and protect their interests in the Suez Canal . British strategic interest in Egypt had intensified in 1869, when the French-built Canal was officially opened and the fact that it was controlled by the Khedive and the French government was initially seen as a matter of serious concern. However, British speed of action from 1875 brought Egypt more closely under Imperial control. In that year, by Disraeli's purchase of the Khedive's shares in the canal for just over £4m, the British went from being a minority partner to being the controlling shareholder. Their influence grew considerably as a result but the government of Egypt remained financially chaotic, exacerbated by war with Abyssinia, ongoing efforts by both the British and French to suppress slave dealing in the Sudan and tension between the Khedive and his nominal suzerain, the Ottoman sultan. In 1881 four thousand Egyptian soldiers under Arabi Bey successfully revolted for higher pay and, as Arabi Pasha, he subsequently became under-secretary of war until forced out by Franco-British ultimatum in May 1882, only to be reinstated in June in another political upheaval followed by outright rebellion against the Khedive's government. This involved attacks by Arabs on Europeans, some 60 being killed in Alexandria, with 20,000 more reportedly leaving the country, general ensuing anarchy and strengthening of the Alexandria forts against possible European intervention. After British and French protests, a
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Photo credit: © The Picture Art Collection / Alamy / Afripics
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