1.1.6

Control of Sudan

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Control into the Sudan 1820–1885

As Britain expanded into Egypt, Sudan too became increasingly under their influence.

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Egyptian conquest

  • Muhammad Ali Pasha's forced took control of the Sudan from 1820–1824.
    • This established Turkish Sudan (also known as the Turkiyya).
  • Muhammad Ali enslaved thousands of Sudanese people, initially to fight in his army, and later as agricultural labour.
  • Turkish Sudan lasted from 1820–1885.
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1877

  • Disraeli sent Colonel Charles Gordon to Sudan as the ‘Governor-General’ of Sudan, which was then ruled as part of Isma'il Pasha's Khedivate.
    • At this point, the Khedivate was heavily dependent on Britain economically.
  • Sudan's Muslim population had been subjected to Isma'il's attempts to Westernise Sudan, and were wary of further rule from British figures like Gordon.
  • Gordon aimed to end the slave trade in Sudan, which caused an economic crisis and angered the slave traders.
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1881

  • Muhammad Ahmed proclaimed himself ‘Mahdi’ (guided one) and proclaimed a jihad (holy war) against all foreign powers.
  • The Mahdi is a warrior figure in Islamic tradition who is prophesied to appear before the Day of Judgement.
  • The Khedivate was fighting the Arabi Revolt in Egypt, and so the Mahdist army was able to grow in power relatively unchecked.
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1883

  • In 1883, the Mahdist army defeated British and Egyptian troops at the Battle of Sheikan.
  • Gladstone’s Anglo-Egyptian counter-attack failed and Colonel William Hicks was killed.
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1884

  • Gladstone ordered the evacuation of British troops from Sudan.
  • Gordon refused to retreat, instead deciding to defend the city of Khartoum from within
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Seige of Khartoum 1885

  • On 26th January 1885, the Mahdists seiged Khartoum.
  • Gordon was beheaded and the Mahdi ordered his head to be displayed.
  • Gladstone's relief operation arrived two days later.
  • Britain did not attempt to take control of the Sudan again until 1896.

Jump to other topics

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

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