Why the British General who conquered Jerusalem insisted on walking through its gates

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known for a volatile temper that earned him the nickname The Bull, Edmund Allenby transformed from a rigid Western Front commander into a master of desert logistics. His 1917 capture of Jerusalem was a strategic triumph, yet he famously entered the Holy City on foot to avoid the arrogance of past conquerors.

Born in 1861, Edmund Allenby initially failed to enter the Indian Civil Service before commissioning into the 6th Dragoons in 1882. His early career included service in the Second Boer War, where he earned a reputation as a strict disciplinarian. By the First World War, his commanding style on the Western Front was marked by explosive rages and a controversial reliance on continual counterattacks, which led to heavy losses at the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Arras.

In 1917, Prime Minister David Lloyd George sought a commander of the dashing type to lead the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Despite Allenby's own belief that the war would be decided in France, he arrived in Palestine in June 1917. His tenure was marked by profound personal tragedy; he lost his only child, Michael, in July 1917. Rather than succumbing to grief, Allenby channeled his energy into meticulous logistical planning, particularly regarding water supply and medical care for diseases like malaria, which he believed had thwarted Richard the Lionheart centuries earlier.

Allenby’s victory at the Third Battle of Gaza relied on elaborate deception, including fake military plans dropped by Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen to mislead Ottoman defenders. Upon capturing Jerusalem in December 1917, Allenby consciously rejected the crusader imagery promoted by the British press. He entered the city on foot to show respect for its religious significance to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and actively banned his staff from using religious terminology in official releases. He maintained that the campaign was purely strategic, aimed at defeating the Ottoman Empire rather than pursuing a religious crusade.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a British General Walked Into Jerusalem to Avoid Offending Its Holy Status
• The Australian General who mastered desert warfare and commanded history's last great cavalry charge
• Why a 1918 battle named for a biblical site became a masterclass in deception.
• How a desperate cavalry charge with bayonets secured a vital victory at Beersheba
• The general who turned a catastrophic retreat into Britain's first wartime victory
• Emilio Mola: The Architect of Terror Who Orchestrated the Spanish Civil War
• Was the commander of the British Expeditionary Force a butcher or a visionary?
• How a Pythagorean philosopher shattered the myth of Spartan military invincibility forever
• Did the 'Saviour of Paris' actually choose to spare the city from destruction?
• The most successful fighter ace in history never once lost a dogfight to enemies.
• The conquistador who searched for gold in Chile and found only a violent death
• Erich von Manstein: The Prussian Aristocrat Who Redesigned Hitler's War Strategy

More in Military leaders, personnel, and theorists · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics