The Berlin Conference and the Bombardment of Algiers

The Berlin Conference and the Mahdist War in Sudan

In this episode of The Berlin Conference series, Lucas and Luna explore the Mahdist War in Sudan (1881-1899) and its connection to the Scramble for Africa. They discuss Muhammad Ahmad, who declared himself the Mahdi in 1881 and led a successful revolt against Egyptian-Ottoman rule, culminating in the fall of Khartoum in 1885 and the death of General Charles Gordon. The episode covers the Battle of Omdurman in 1898, where the Anglo-Egyptian army under Herbert Kitchener used Maxim guns and gunboats to crush the Mahdist forces, killing some 11,000 dervishes. They delve into the controversial battle of Fashoda, where Kitchener's forces nearly clashed with the French Marchand Expedition, bringing France and Britain to the brink of war. The Niger Convention of 1898 ultimately resolved the crisis, ceding the Upper Nile and Wadai to Britain and France respectively. The episode also touches on slavery in Mahdist Sudan, the impact of the Mahdiyya on Sudanese identity, and the legacy of the war in shaping modern Sudan. #MahdistWar #MuhammadAhmad #BattleOfOmdurman #GeneralGordon #HerbertKitchener #FashodaIncident #MarchandExpedition #NigerConvention #Sudan #ScrambleForAfrica #MaximGun #Khartoum1885 #AngloEgyptianSudan #Wadai #Berber #EffectiveOccupation #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Berlin Conference and the Bombardment of Algiers 1682

Before Dey Hussein and the Fly Whisk Incident, before the British-Dutch fleet of 1816, there was the Bombardment of Algiers in 1682. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a largely forgotten chapter of Mediterranean history: the French campaign against the Barbary corsairs under Louis XIV. They delve into the strategic ambitions of the Sun King, the role of Admiral Abraham Duquesne, and the infamous use of bomb vessels—a terrifying new technology that hurled explosive shells into the city. The conversation covers the corsair economy, the Treaty of 1662 between France and Algiers, and how a diplomatic insult involving the Dey's severed hand escalated into a full-scale bombardment. They also compare this early conflict to the later bombardments of 1816 and 1830, tying it back to the broader history of European intervention in North Africa that eventually led to the Berlin Conference. Specific figures mentioned include Dey Mezzo-Morto, Admiral Duquesne, and the French king Louis XIV. The episode offers a fresh perspective on the long arc of colonialism in Algeria. #BombardmentOfAlgiers1682 #AbrahamDuquesne #LouisXIV #BarbaryCorsairs #DeyMezzoMorto #Algiers #BombVessels #FrenchNavy #MediterraneanHistory #EarlyModernWarfare #OttomanAlgiers #SiegeOfAlgiers #CorsairEconomy #ColonialOrigins #17thCentury #NavalHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Bombardment of Alexandria 1882 Britain's Invasion of Egypt

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1882 British bombardment of Alexandria and the subsequent invasion of Egypt—a pivotal yet often overlooked event in the Scramble for Africa. They discuss the rise of Egyptian nationalism under Ahmed Urabi, the financial crisis that led to Anglo-French intervention, and the devastating naval bombardment that reduced parts of Alexandria to rubble. The conversation covers Urabi's rebellion, the role of Prime Minister Gladstone, the Battle of Tel el-Kebir, and the aftermath that saw Egypt become a British protectorate in all but name. Lucas explains how the Suez Canal's strategic importance drove Britain's decision to act unilaterally, and how this invasion set a precedent for later colonial interventions. They also touch on the broader implications for the partition of Africa and the legacy of British occupation that lasted until 1956. #BombardmentOfAlexandria #AhmedUrabi #UrabiRebellion #BritishInvasionOfEgypt #SuezCanal #1882 #TelElKebir #Gladstone #KhediveTewfik #Alexandria #Egypt #ScrambleForAfrica #Imperialism #NavalHistory #Colonialism #BritishEmpire #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Kamerun: The Forgotten German Colony in Africa

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the German colony of Kamerun, one of the lesser-known pieces of the Berlin Conference partition. They delve into the brutal suppression of the Duala people, the role of the chartered company, and the indigenous resistance led by figures like King Rudolf Douala Manga Bell. The episode covers the transition from German rule to French and British mandates after World War I, and the lasting impact on modern Cameroon. #Kamerun #GermanColonialism #Duala #RudolfDoualaMangaBell #BerlinConference #ScrambleForAfrica #Cameroon #Bismarck #GustavNachtigal #ColonialAtrocities #EffectiveOccupation #CharteredCompany #Resistance #WorldWarI #Mandate #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Berlin Conference and the Bombardment of Lagos 1851

In 1851, years before the Berlin Conference carved up Africa, the British Royal Navy bombarded Lagos, a coastal city in what is now Nigeria. This episode explores the prelude to that bombardment: the slave trade's persistence after abolition, the rivalry with King Kosoko, and the politics of the Oba of Benin. We follow the diplomatic maneuvers of British consul John Beecroft, the conflict between Kosoko and his rival Akitoye, and the naval action that forced Kosoko into exile. The episode reveals how Britain used anti-slavery rhetoric to justify intervention, eventually establishing a consulate and making Lagos a crown colony in 1861. We also touch on the broader pattern of gunboat diplomacy that preceded the Scramble for Africa. Perfect for listeners who want to understand the deeper roots of European colonization in West Africa. #Lagos1851 #BombardmentOfLagos #Kosoko #Akitoye #JohnBeecroft #ObaOfBenin #RoyalNavy #BritishEmpire #SlaveTrade #GunboatDiplomacy #Nigeria #WestAfrica #Palma #Badagry #ScrambleForAfrica #AntiSlavery #Colonialism #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]