1952 — The July 23 Revolution

On July 23, 1952, Egypt's destiny changed hands. A secret group of young army officers, the Free Officers Movement, led by Gamal Abdel Nasser, seized power in Cairo, overthrowing King Farouk. Within days the king abdicated, and within a year the long-standing monarchy itself was formally abolished.

It was the birth of the modern Egyptian republic, and it sent shockwaves across the Arab world. Nasser's fiery Arab nationalism inspired independence movements from Algeria to South Africa, and his decision to nationalize the Suez Canal four years later made him a celebrated legend in his lifetime far beyond Egypt's own borders.