Siege of Jerusalem (1834)

1834 Siege of Jerusalem

Part of Peasants' Revolt of 1834 (Palestine)

Date

21 May – 7 June 1834

Location

Jerusalem, Egyptian-controlled southern Syria (Palestine)

Result

Rebels repelled

On June 7, Ibrahim Pasha approached the city with Egyptian reinforcements
On June 9, rebel reinforcements from Nablus were defeated, before approaching the city

Belligerents

Egypt Eyalet

Rebel clans of Palestine

Commanders and leaders

Ibrahim Pasha
Rashad Bey

Strength

~12,000

~20,000

Casualties and losses

Hundreds killed

Unknown

Rebels repelled

The 1834 Siege of Jerusalem took place during the Peasants' revolt in Palestine, which erupted following the entry of Egyptian general Ibrahim Pasha into Ottoman Syria and his subsequent military conscription demand upon the Arab villagers of the region. The siege was engaged by local Arab peasant rebels upon an Egyptian garrison of about 2,000 soldiers, beginning from May 21 until the arrival of Ibrahim Pasha's main force on June 7. The crushing defeat of rebel reinforcements took place on June 9, led by Ibrahim Pasha.

During the spring of 1834 discontent in Hebron and Nablus had begun to mount over Ibrahim Pasha's plans to conscript local men into his army. On 18 May, fighting broke out in Hebron and on 21 May a large rebel force dispatched on Jerusalem.

Nearly 6-7,000 rebels marched on Jerusalem from Hebron, aiming to capture it from the Egyptians. At the time, the city had a garrison of some 2,000 men, while Ibrahim Pasha was based with the main forces at his headquarters in Jaffa. Pasha's troops in Jerusalem closed the city gates, and stationed 500-600 soldiers at the Jaffa Gate, where the first attack was expected.

On 22 May 1,000 troops marched out of the city hoping to engage the rebels in the open, but failed to make contact with them. They returned to the city after sacking the village of Lifta. That night there was much shooting from outside the walls. On 26 May, the siege commenced with no food or water getting into the city. The defenders had two cannons, which they moved around the walls to disperse attacks. They could not rely on the loyalty of the city's Muslims and had to remain on duty day and night.

In the early afternoon of 26 May, the area was shaken by two earthquakes with after-shocks and further strong quakes occurring until after midnight. Due to the quake, part of outer enclosure of the al-Aqsa Mosque collapsed as well as several houses and the tops of some minarets. The rebels however continued firing throughout. The following day there were further tremors.

On 28 May, the rebels launched a strong attack but were repelled. Food and fuel shortages were beginning to be felt in the besieged city. Four days later, after midnight 1 June, the Egyptian garrison suddenly retreated into the castle. The following night, the troops briefly counter-attacked but returned into the castle, while the rebels entered the city looting shops. By 4 June the city, except for the castle, was under the control of the rebels. Two days later they retreated and the soldiers emerged from the castle, apparently looking for food.

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Wikipedia