Egypt: 1798 - 1966

1798 – Napoleon Invades Egypt; 1801 – The British drive the French out of Egypt 1805 – Ottoman Albanian commander Muhammad Ali establishes a dynasty that goes on to reign until 1953, although nominally part of the Ottoman Empire. 1859-69 – Suez Canal built, but it and other infrastructure projects nearly bankrupt Egypt. Suez opens in 1969. 1863 – The accession of the Khedive Isma‘il in Egypt (Khedive was the viceroy of Egypt under Ottoman rule from 1867–1914) 1875 – The Khedive has amassed great debt; Britain buys the Khedive’s shares of the Suez Canal to alleviate this debt leading to a gradual British takeover. 1879 – The Khedive Isma‘il is deposed; his son, Tawfiq succeeds him. 1882 – British troops defeat Egyptian army and take control of country. 1914 – Egypt formally becomes a British protectorate. 1922 – Fuad I becomes king and Egypt “officially” gains independence, although in reality British influence remains significant until the 1950s. 1948 – Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Syria attack the new state of Israel. Egyptian army's poor performance increases unpopularity of King Farouk. 1949 –Military coup overthrows the monarchy in Egypt and declares a republic. 1954 – Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes prime minister and in 1956 president, ruling until 1970. 1954 – British forces, who began a gradual withdrawal under a 1936 treaty, finally leave Egypt. 1956 July – Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal to fund the Aswan High Dam, after Britain and US withdraw financing. October-November – “Tripartite Aggression” or “Suez Crisis”: Israel, Britain and France invade Egypt over the nationalization of the Suez Canal. Nasser's stand against foreign intervention increases his standing in Egypt and across the Arab world. 1958 – Nasser steps up a campaign to promote pan-Arab unity (“Panarabism”), most visibly in a short- lived United Arab Republic including Syria (1958-61). 1961-66 – President Nasser adopts socialist policies, including nationalization of industry and an ambitious welfare program, combined with repression of the Muslim Brotherhood and leftist opponents, attempting to boost the economy and his government’s popularity.