Abdelal, Michel |
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BORN c1763, Cairo - DIED 16 Jun 1828, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône BIRTH NAME Abd al-Al Aga GRAVE LOCATION Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône: Cimetière St.-Pierre, 380 Rue Saint-Pierre (Carré 17 est, rang no 2, tombe no 17, c-p no 412) |
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Michel Abdelal was a general of Mourad Bey's cavalry. He fought against the French during their Egyptian Expedition. He was taken prisoner during the Battle of Salayeh and taken to Cairo. Napoleon Bonaparte made him swear an oath of loyalty and he was allowed to maintain his position of Aga of the Janissaries. He also appointed him Governor of Cairo, reporting to General Augustin Daniel Belliard. After Bonaparte left Egypt, he served under Kleber. After Kléber was murdered in June 1800, he left for France in July 1800 on the ship Pallas. With him was his new wife Joséphine Houa with whom he had seven children. In France he obtained French citizenship, became a Christian and adopted the first name of Michael. He settled in Marseille where he was responsible for the depot of Egyptian refugees. But his injuries from the battles in which he had fought, had damaged his health, and forced him to retire in 1803 with the rank of brigadier general. Napoleon, now First Consul, awarded him a large pension. He died in 1828 and he was buried at the Saint-Martin cemetery in Marseille. In 1871 his remains were transferred to the Saint-Pierre cemetery in that city. Family • Son: Abdelal, Louis Alexandre Désiré |
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 The grave of Michel Abdelal at the Cimetière St.-Pierre in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône. Picture by Androom (14 Nov 2024) |
Sources • Michel Abdelal (1763-1828) |
