The British occupation of Egypt in 1882: a deliberate action or the result of a series of random events?

Introduction. The era of colonialism, which peaked in the 19th century, began to fade only about a century ago, and many states that had previously been under the rule of the metropolises gained independence only after the Second World War. In this regard, the phenomenon of colonialism continues to arouse genuine interest among researchers, because not all the manifestations and consequences of colonial policy have been fully studied. This work is devoted to the issue of the British occupation of Egypt in 1882 and its motives.

Materials and Methods. The study is based on the analysis of the points of view of modern Russian historians in relation to the nature of the British occupation of Egypt in 1882, among which special attention is paid to the positions of E.V. Morozov, A.A. Ayvazyan and M.S. Buryan. It is noted that the opinions of these historians regarding the British approach to the idea of the occupation of Egypt vary. The study provides the arguments on which the points of view of these authors are based. When forming the author’s position on the issue under consideration, the texts of British historians were used, as well as some documents that make it possible to trace the sentiments prevailing in the British government during this period.

Analysis. The paper provides a brief description of the Turkish-Egyptian wars of 1831-1833 and 1839-1841 in the context of the beginning of the Anglo-French confrontation in Egypt. The reasons for the increased interest in Egypt on the part of the great powers in the 19th century are substantiated. The internal and external situation of Egypt in the 1870s and early 1880s is considered. The uprising of Orabi Pasha is characterized as one of the catalysts of the British occupation of the region in 1882. The statements of British statesmen regarding the occupation of Egypt are analyzed, as well as the actions of the British administration in the region after the British troops entered Egypt.

Results. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the British occupation of Egypt in 1882 became a natural result of London’s purposeful desire to strengthen its presence in Egypt in the second half of the 19th century, which is confirmed both by the statements of British statesmen of this period and by the fact that British troops finally left Egypt and the Suez Canal only in 1956.

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