The Egyptian Colonel Who Trusted Britain and Lost His Country for 70 Years

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]The Egyptian colonel who trusted Britain's word lost his country for 70 years. It's 1879, Cairo, Egypt. A peasant's son has risen to military rank and foreign debt collectors rule the streets. Ahmed Urabi demands Egypt for the Egyptians. He forces the weak ruler to accept a constitution and appoint nationalist ministers. Massive crowds cheer as he promises representative government and economic freedom. For months he governs through Egypt's first nationalist parliament believing constitutional law will protect them.

[00:00:31]But Britain sees the Suez Canal slipping away and a secret plan takes shape.

[00:00:35]Riots break out in Alexandria. British warships appear offshore and bombard the city to ruins. Invasion forces land as Urabi prepares his defense at Tell El Kebir. His own political allies secretly negotiate behind his back. British cavalry charge through Egyptian lines.

[00:00:54]Urabi's army collapses and he surrenders on the battlefield. His allies hand him over in chains. The constitution burns and British occupation begins. The colonel who believed in Britain's honor was Ahmed Urabi Pasha.