While Bonaparte was in Old Cairo, the city's population began spreading weapons around to one another and fortifying strongpoints, especially at the Al-Azhar Mosque.

A French commander, Dominique Dupuy, was killed by the revolting Egyptians, as well as Bonaparte's Aide-de-camp, Joseph Sulkowski.

Excited by the sheikhs and imams, many of the locals swore by the Prophet to exterminate all and any Frenchman they met, and all Frenchmen they encountered – at home or in the streets – were mercilessly slaughtered.

[2] The rebels soon began to be pushed back by the strength of the French forces, gradually losing control of their areas of the city.

To negate the effects of the Great Lord's firman, the French posted a proclamation in all the cities of Egypt under their control, ending in the words: Stop founding your hopes on Ibrahim and Mourad, and put your trust in he who has empires in his discretion and who creates men!