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Mint:
Birmingham
Artist:
Wyon, Leonard Charles
Artist:
Pinches, John
Ruler:
Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler:
Victoria regina et imperatrix
(With the title of)
Victorian-period Egypt was technically a dependency of the Ottoman Empire, but in fact the Khedive, Tewfik Pasha, was effectively in the hands of Britain and France, for whom control of the Suez Canal was a strategic necessity. Egypt's shaky economic situation endangering this, in 1879 Britain and France took over government in an arrangement of dual control. This foreign influence was much resented in Egypt, and especially within the army. A Colonel by the name of Ahmad Urabi (Arabi Pasha) became the spearhead of the movement, which launched a coup in 1882. After some international indecision this was suppressed by British arms, the final blow being delivered at the Battle of Tel-al-Kebir.
The weakening of Ottoman Egyptian power meanwhile led to increasing attempts to shed Egyptian dominion in the Sudan, where in 1881 Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad ibn al-Sayyid 'Abd Allah was proclaimed as Mahdi (the legendary final redeemer of Islam). He and his allies soon threatened to remove the Sudan entirely from the Khedive's control. Several serious defeats of Egyptian forces in 1884 led to a concerted British campaign in defence of Egyptian claims, but control could not be recovered. The British withdrew their forces to Egypt and to Khartoum, where General Gordon defended the city whilst awaiting a relief column that, beset by Mahdist attacks, arrived too late.
After this disaster Suakim, on the Red Sea, remained the last British bridgehead in Sudan, and was subject to a number of sieges. The Suakin Field Force, formed to defend this outpost, were repeatedly engaged by Mahdist troops without much conclusion beyond heavy casualties to either side, until the eventual complete British withdrawal in 1890.
This medal was awarded to Driver T. Caulfield of the 6th Battalion, Royal Horse Artillery, and indicates his presence at both the battle of Tel-al-Kebir and one of the heavy skirmishes in defence of Suakim. Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.
History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928
Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009
Diameter: 35.8 mm
Weight: 42.69 g
Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester
1882 CE - 1890 CE
Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left with veil
Inscription present: Sphynx on pedestal facing left
Accession number: CM.1222-2009
Primary reference Number: 141316
Watson Catalogue: 116
Ordering: M-0105
Previous object number: LW.0105
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Coins and Medals
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Egyptian Medal (1882)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141316 Accessed: 2024-12-22 09:58:13
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141316
|title=Egyptian Medal (1882)
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 09:58:13|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-141316
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center">
<figure class="figure">
<img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/cm/cm15/LW_0105_281_29.jpg"
alt="Egyptian Medal (1882)"
class="img-fluid" />
<figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Egyptian Medal (1882)</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
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