' Revolt in Cairo ' Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Triosson .(French 1767-1824) Oil on canvas , circa 1810. Versailles National Museum , Versailles.

In 1798, Napoleon led the French army into Egypt , swiftly conquering Alexandria and Cairo. However, on October of that year, an uprising by the people of Cairo surprised the French forces , while Bonaparte was in old Cairo , the city's population was spreading weapons around the streets and fortifying strongpoints , especially at the Great Mosque. The French commander General Dupuy , was murdered as well as Bonaparte's Aide-de-camp Joseph Sulkowski. Excited by the sheikhs and inmans, the Egyptians swore by the Prophet to exterminate all Frenchmen and any Frenchman they met - at home or in the streets. Crowds rallied at the city gates to keep out Bonaparte , who was repulsed and forced to take a detour in order to enter by the Boulaq Gate.....( see Napoleon's Egyptian campaign )