Talking of nations makes me feel that we are talking of icons drawn by these nations’ children. The most beautiful thing about these icons is their dynamism whereby they take you on a journey from early history to the present moment.
When we speak of Beautiful Egypt, we are dealing with a people that made history and imparted his special touches unto the world’s peoples. Egypt is the most ancient country. Throughout thousands of years, Egypt: the land, government, and people, has amazed thinkers, researchers, and scientists who have been trying to unravel the secret of her greatness. In fact, Shams al-Din the Damascene spoke of Egypt, saying,
If all nations are great,
Egypt has always been the greatest.
How come she cannot be proud
Of her Nile and command?
Poet Laureate, Ahmed Shawqy, wrote these memorable lines about Egypt:
The sun has never risen or set
on a kingdom greater than ours.
Hafiz Ibrahim wrote a great poem about Egypt, called “Egypt Speaks of Herself”:
All Creation have stood
Gazing at me as I build glory.
Those who built the pyramids
ages ago
Made me speechless
to behold the challenge.
I am the crown of the East
which jewels are my necklace.
My glory is in history rooted
Not a nation is equally dignified.
He continues:
Many a nation had attacked,
But it was defeated
This is how attacks are chastised.
I am free: I broke my bonds,
despite my enemies’ will,
and destroyed my chains.
Egyptians are the people who have always desired life, and did have it:
Should peoples refuse to die
Fate is sure to answer.
Darkness should die away
And bonds are sure to shatter.
The Egyptian people has never abandoned his faith and identity. Egyptians have always toiled and struggled.
Clinging to His Faith and Identity
Throughout thousands of years Egypt has gone through times of strength when she was open to the whole world. She has also gone through times of weakness when despots ruled her. Yet, she never lost her identity in either case. Despite colonialism which Egypt suffered from at many times, her children never lost their identity. Colonizers tried many times to mix with her people, but failed, leaving no trace. On the other hand, during times of prosperity, such as that of the ancient Egyptian Empire when civilization reached the peak, and Egypt was open to its neighboring countries, Egyptians never lost their identity either. In fact, all sorts of progress and development enriched Egyptians, yet never forfeited their identity.
Egyptians have always enjoyed steadfast faith, no matter what their creed was. When Cambyses, the Persian, invaded Egypt in 525 B.C., defeating Psamtic and desecrating the Egyptian religion at that time, he was totally hated and rejected by the Egyptians. Also, as we tackled in previous articles, Egyptians resisted the Romans’ attempts to make them change their creed and faith. Egyptians never abandon their faith even if this costs them their lives.
During the Roman era, martyrs in Egypt outnumbered martyrs in the rest of Empire’s provinces. Some colonizers realized this unique nature. In fact, some historians produced documents attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte in which he commands General Kléber, saying, “If you want to rule Egypt for a long time, then respect the people’s religions and privacy.”
Never Stop Struggling
Never have Egyptians ceased to give great impressions of them: be this in war or peace. At a point of time, they would resist colonizers. At another point, they would start struggling to rebuild their country. Following are some honorable instances for this great people’s struggle:
The Hiksos
Despite the fact that the Hiksos occupied Egypt for about a century, they never had a moment of peace. Egyptians constantly rebelled against them. They could not blow out the people’s patriotism. Rather, it continued to rise until Egyptians expelled them.
The Persians
The Persians never heeded the lesson of Egypt’s history. They invaded Egypt in 525 B.C. Yet, Egyptians would never accept colonialism, despite the fact that the Persian king tried to win their favor. Rebellions never stopped until king Emerti attacked and expelled the Persians from the country. In fact, he mobilized an army from the population of central Delta with which he overcame the Persians southern Memphis, after which he overcame the despotic tax collectors northern Aswan and Philae, thus, annihilating the Persian colonialism and declaring himself Pharaoh. Yet, the Persians kept trying to return to Egypt, which they did. However, they did not remain except for a few years when Alexander the Great entered the country. Then, they came back in 618 A.D. and stayed for ten years in which Egyptians resisted them by all means. Eventually, Heraclius defeated them in the Battle of Nineveh in 627. Thus, they left the country.
The Ptolemaics
Rebellions never stopped during their tenure. Though they tried to incorporate their culture and religion to the Egyptians’ minds, they failed: for Egyptians had always counted them colonizers. Freedom was a bee in their bonnet. In effect, they rebelled against the Ptolemaics who failed in overcoming them and left the country.
The Tartars
Tartars came threatening the Egyptians and trying to terrorize them. Yet, they were confronted by the Egyptians love for their country, life, and freedom. Egyptians resisted the Tartars. Sultan Qutuz sent his messengers calling for resistance: for he realized the Egyptians’ fearlessness. Everybody fought the enemy, and Egypt emerged victorious.
The French Campaign
Time passed till 1798 when the French Campaign, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, arrived in Egypt. It stayed for three years, only to end in failure and the return of the troops back to their country.
Egyptians struggled pretty hard until the campaign left in shame. We can never forget the role which Mohammed Kuraym, the governor of Alexandria, played in leading popular resistance. In fact, the Global Arabic Encyclopedia describes him as an Egyptian struggler who led the popular resistance against the French the moment they reached Alexandria, refusing to give the city up. He was arrested then released, only to join the people once more and lead their peaceful resistance when Kléber tried to invade Damahur.
Fraser Expedition
In 1807, that is, two years after Mohammed Ali became ruler of Egypt, Britain sent her first expedition to Egypt. It was led by General Fraser. But it was firmly resisted by the people of Rosetta who were led by their governor Ali al-Salenkki bey. The British advanced, finding no resistance from the population. So much so that they thought the city was about to surrender as was the case in Alexandria. They entered safely and sought rest. Yet, at that very moment, the people and Rosetta troops started shooting them. In effect, many officers and soldiers were killed. The living fled. Their casualties amounted to 185 dead, 282 injured, and 120 prisoners. Thus, the people of Rosetta failed the British attempt to occupy Egypt.
We can never forget the heroes of Egypt, such as, Mustafa Kamel and Sa’d Zaghlul who resisted the British colonizers. Indeed, resistance continued until Egypt won her independence.
The Tripartite Aggression
No sooner had Egypt won her independence, than Britain, France, and Israel attacked her in 1956, owing to the nationalization of the Suez Canal. This was followed by a ceasefire resolution to be implemented by Britain and France and a retreat on the part of the Egyptian and Israeli armies to a ten-kilometer distance from the Suez Canal banks. Yet, Egyptians realized that should they do so, they would lose control over the Suez Canal. Thus, they refused retreating. The British and French troops embarked in Port Said and the Suez Canal region, which enticed the Egyptians to struggle incessantly. The Aggression was defeated! Egyptians have always been great: they started their journey at the dawn of history and will resume it.
Here, it is worthy to end the article with Napoleon’s words about Egypt, “I spent the best of times in Egypt! In Europe your mind is too clouded to think of endeavors that change history. Yet, in Egypt, whoever rules can change history.” Thus, stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
