A revolution, in terms of politics, is defined as changing a people’s status at the time of its outbreak into a better one.
The concept of “revolution” has to do with the elites’ leading the people to changing the political regime by force. With time, the term “revolution” has born the meaning of changing a despotic regime into one that endorses freedom and social development.
At all rates, revolutions have always demanded justice and freedom, no matter how they are conceived by different peoples, which is why we shall give a brief account of the history of the world’s most famous revolutions.
The English Revolution
The Civil War broke out in England in 1642 between King Charles I and his supporters (Royalists) and the Parliamentarians (Roundheads) due to the social, political, and religious tumult that devastated the country. The Parliamentarians emerged victorious, and the monarchy was replaced by the Commonwealth which Lord Oliver Cromwell led in 1653. After Cromwell’s death, monarchy was restored by Charles II in 1660 who conducted many reforms, including a political one. The constitution decreed that the king and parliament rule together. This was put into effect a century later!
Then England witnessed the Glorious Revolution in 1688. It was directed against the despotic monarchy: for James II was dethroned, and his daughter Mary and her husband became monarchs of England. Then the Great Charter of the Liberties (Magna Carta) was issued in 1689. It contained the dethroned king’s crimes, as well as the conditions for ruling the people justly.
The French Revolution
The goal of the French Revolution which broke out in 1789 was liberty, equality and fraternity. The Revolution lasted for ten years. It succeeded in achieving its goals, having annihilated monarchy and replaced it with the Republican regime.
The American Revolution:
It broke out due to the heavy taxes imposed by Britain on her American colonies. Americans insisted on not paying taxes except to the legislative colonial councils. In effect, all taxes were alleviated, save that on tea! In 1773, the “Boston Tea Party” took place whereby a consignment of tea was destroyed. This was followed by punitive action taken by the British Parliament, including the closure of Boston harbor and penalizing the patriots, which ignited rebellion. This was accompanied by the entrance of British soldiers in 1775 to coerce the rebels of Massachusetts. Yet, the revolution lasted till 1787 when states representatives convened, laid a constitution and George Washington was elected president.
The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
It broke out in 1917. It was led by Lenin and aimed at achieving equality and justice. The Tsar was ousted.
The Indian Revolution
This was led by Gandhi in 1930-1931 against the British colonialism in India. It was a long and successful popular movement that led to independence.
The Chinese Revolution
It was led by Mao Zedong and made China one of the economic powers, depending on workers and farmers respectively. Mao established the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Yet, recruiting students for the Red Army caused chaos which led the country to civil war. However, Mao emerged victorious in that war, preventing sedition among the people.
Egyptian Revolutions
The first revolution recorded in the Egyptian history dates back to the sixth dynasty. People rebelled against king Pepe I who ruled the country for more than ninety years! Chaos prevailed and laws were violated. Robbery increased after provinces had become independent and their rulers despotic. The people suffered from poverty and hunger, which ignited rebellion. De Pury, a historian, maintains that during Pepe’s tenure, “People were starved to death. Unable to bury the dead, they would throw them into the Nile. Undertakers flourished! The poor raided kings’ tombs and devoured pigs’ food, for nobody found anything to eat!” Egyptians went on strike to paralyze the economy so that the king might succumb to their demands.
The Revolution against the Hiksos
It was led by the seventeenth-dynasty Pharaohs, namely, Seqenenre Tao, Kamose his son, and Ahmose I. The main purpose of the revolution was to set the country free from the Hiksos who inhabited the Delta and Middle Egypt. They ruled the country for about two hundred years! That revolution gave rise to a strong army which was made fighting outward enemies its top priority.
The Revolution against Assyrians and Ethiopians
During the era of the twenty-first dynasty, a Libyan power started to appear in Egypt. Shoshenq, one of its leaders, became king. Thus, the twenty-second dynasty was Libyan. Yet, Shoshenq’s successors were so weak that the country was torn asunder, and Nubba was severed from Egypt. This allured the Ethiopians to invade Egypt from the south, and Assyrians attacked her from the north. The country was, thus, split to small provinces.
By the end of the twenty-fourth dynasty’s tenure, Egypt was ruled by the Ethiopians. But the Assyrians continued their attacks. Yet, Psamtic I united the country and led her rebellions against both the Assyrians and Ethiopians. The rebellion resulted in strengthening the army and protecting Egypt’s borders.
The Revolution against Apries
This was a different revolution: for the Egyptian rebelled against king Apries who used to recruit lots of foreigners in the army, which harmed the Egyptians. So, they rebelled against him. They were led by Amasis, a commander. The result was the reign of Ahmose II, as the Egyptians did not approve of their ruler.
The Revolution against the Persians
Egyptians rebelled many times against the Persian colonizers: for they could not stand the Persians injustice and despotism. Even worse, they called the Persian era, “the era of woes”. Despite the fact that these rebellions did not expel the enemies from the country, their leaders were able to rule side by side with the Persian twenty-seventh dynasty. This went on until king Emerti attacked the Persians and expelled them from Syria, declaring independence.
Orabi’s Revolution
Orabi’s revolution against Khedive Tewfiq and the Europeans included the people and the army. Hence, it is one of the most important revolutions of the modern age. It emanated from bad economic conditions as well as foreigners’ interference in Egypt’s affairs, in addition to the injustice with which Egyptians were treated. This revolution failed due to the interference of Britain and France.
The 1919 Revolution
It was led by Sa’d Zaghloul due to the despotism of the British colonizer, especially during World War I. The British troops confiscated farmers’ possessions: be they crops or cattle to pay the warfare fees. Farmers were compelled to plant crops that suited the wartime against scant pay. Likewise, hundreds of peasants were recruited in the Egyptian Labor Corpse in Sinai, Palestine, Iraq, France, Belgium and so on.
The 1952 Revolution
It was led by the army which the people joined in order to overthrow the corrupt monarchy. It had six principles, namely, annihilating feudalism, colonialism, and the control of capital on government, establishing a sound democratic life and a strong patriotic army as well as social justice. This revolution resulted in nationalizing the Suez Canal, signing the Evacuation Treaty, establishing the Republic and overthrowing monarchy, annihilating feudalism, and establishing scientific research centers as well as educational hospitals.
Today, as we commemorate the January 25 Revolution, we wish Egyptians many happy returns. We also wish the our police the best on the occasion of their sixty-fourth anniversary, glorifying our martyrs and hoping the injured get well soon.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
