History
A young prince, Narma (Menes), named Memphis as the capital of a unified Egypt 5000 years ago. It prospered under the rule of Zoser, Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mycerinus), Unas and others for the next 800 years.
In the Fifth Dynasty, about 2500 BC, the absolute power of the Pharaoh declined. It was replaced by the Sun God, Ra. At the same time, the capital was moved away from Cairo.
It wasn't until 1073 AD that Al-Muntaser revived Cairo.
The Seljuks were the next to capture Cairo. In 1168, Shirkoh, after a victory over the Crusaders, entered Cairo but died a year late.
Shirko was succeeded by his nephew, Salah-el-Din the Ayyubid, known to us as Saladin. He opened the gates and allowed Egyptian citizens to live within the city walls unlike the Fatimids who barred all but royalty.
Saladin is known for fighting Richard the Lionheart. He not only built mosques and palaces, but colleges, hospitals and a fortress, the Citadel.
In 1182, he fought the Crusaders and ousted them from the area temporarily. He died in 1183. The Ayyubid's (Saladin's House) rule came to an end in 1250. Then came the advent of the Mamelouks, slaves and former slaves who rose through the ranks of the army. A woman, Shagaret-el-Dorr )Tree of Pearls), was the first Mameluke to officially rule Egypt.
During Mamelouk's time, a major geographical change occurred in Cairo. In the 12th century a ship sank near the port causing the river course to move gradually to the west. Siltation around the sunken ship caused the formation of Elephant Island (Gezeret el-Feel) and Gezira Island.
The power of the Mameluke ended in the 15th century due to the victorious expansion of the Ottomans and also to the discovery in 1488 of the Cape of Good Hope. The Ottomans stationed their own soldiers, the Janissaries and the Azabs in Cairo. Ultimate power, however, was in the hands of the Pasha, the Turkish governor.
In 1796, burdenerd by high taxes, Cairo citizens revolted against their Ottoman rulers. Then Napoleon came along in 1797 and took CAiro. When Napoleon left in 1799 he appointed Kléber, one of his generals, as ruler. He was assassinated by Suleiman Al-Halabi.
The Ottomans still had power and appointed a new pasha, Mohamid Ali, who managed to get the support of the Mamlouks and the Egyptian citizens to oust the British who had ousted the French. Due to tensions between Mohamed Ali and the Mamelukes, he had them massacred at a banquet to which he had invited them.
Cairo prospered under Mohamed Ali's rule. The Mohamed Ali Mosques was built within the walls of the Citadel. The first railroad line was constructed between Cairo and Alexandria.
Ismail, a grandson of Mohamed Ali, commissioned the construction of the Suez Canal. He also commissioned the composition of Aida by Verdi. He was forced to abdicate in 1879.
In 1882 the British began a 70 year occupation. The British introduced electricity to Cairo in 1889. In 1922 the British declared Egypt as a sovereign country with Fouad I of the Mohamed Ali Dynasty as King.
In 1946 British troops, facing strikes and demonstrations, finally had to withdraw from Cairo.
On January 26, 1952, Cairo was set on fire by an angry crowd. In 1953, Free Officers deposed the last king, Ahmad Fouad, and declared Egypt a Republic with Mohamed Naguib as its first president. He was deposed in 1954 by Gamal Abdel-Nasser. He died in 1970 and was succeeded by Anwar El-Sadat. When he was assassinated in 1981, he was succeeded by today's ruler, Hosni Mubarak.
email me
add as friend
Comments for seagoingJLW about Cairo