Mahdi War Flashcards
Who was sent from Britain to act as the Governor-General of Egyptian administered Sudan in May 1887?
Charles Gordon
When had Charles Gordon become the Governor-General of Egyptian administered Sudan?
May 1877
What happened to Charles Gordon in May 1877?
Became the Governor-General of Egyptian administered Sudan
Between what years was Colonel Charles Gordon the Governor-General of Egyptian administered Sudan?
1877-1880
What role did Colonel Charles Gordon have between the years:
1877-1880
Governor-General of Egyptian administered Sudan
What is the definition of Mahdi?
An Islamic redeemer- regarded by Shi’ites as the Twelfth Inman (the final successor to the prophet Muhammad)
What was the term used to describe an Islamic redeemer- regarded by Shi’ites as the Twelfth Inman (the final successor to the prophet Muhammad)?
Mahdi
What happened in June 1881?
Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad proclaimed himself the Mahdi or saviour of mankind
When had Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad proclaimed himself the Mahdi or saviour of mankind?
June 1881
What happened to Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad in June 1881?
Proclaimed himself the Mahdi or saviour of mankind
How did the Mahdi impact an emerging political movement?
Turn them into a jihadist (a person fighting a holy war) army, through drawing on long term hostility towards Egyptian rule combined with recent resentment regarding Sudanese rule.
How did the Mahdi turn an emerging political movement into a jihadist army?
Through drawing on long term hostility towards Egyptian rule combined with recent resentment regarding Sudanese rule.
What did the Mahdist seek to do?
Liberate Sudan from outside rule (Egyptians and British)
What happened by 1882?
Mahdi had complete control over the area surrounding Khartoum
When had the Mahdi taken complete control over the area surrounding Khartoum?
1882
What happened by September 1883?
Joint British-Egyptian military expedition under the command of Colonel William Hicks launched a counter attack against the Mahdist
When was there a joint British-Egyptian military expedition under the command of Colonel William Hicks, who launched a counter attack against the Mahdist?
September 1883
What was the impact of the September 1883 Joint British-Egyptian military expedition under the command of Colonel William Hicks launching a counter attack against the Mahdist?
Hicks was murdered
Who commanded the September 1883 Joint British-Egyptian military expedition, who launched a counter attack against the Mahdist?
Colonel William Hicks
What did Colonel William Hicks do in September 1883?
Led the joint British-Egyptian military expedition, who launched a counter attack against the Mahdist
What was the impact of the joint British-Egyptian military expedition, under the command of Colonel William Hicks who launched a counter attack against the Mahdist in September 1883?
General Gladstone ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of both British and Egyptian troops from Khartoum in 1884
Why had Gladstone ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of both British and Egyptian troops from Khartoum in 1884?
The impact of the joint British-Egyptian military expedition, under the command of Colonel William Hicks who launched a counter attack against the Mahdist in September 1883 and its failure
What did Gladstone ask for in 1884?
Ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of both British and Egyptian troops from Khartoum
When had Gladstone ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of both British and Egyptian troops from Khartoum?
1884
What happened in January 1885?
British-Egyptian forces defending Khartoum were overrun
When were the British-Egyptian forces defending Khartoum were overrun?
January 1885
What was the impact of the British-Egyptian forces defending Khartoum being overrun in January 1885?
Entire garrison was killed
General Gordon was beheaded
What happened to General Gordon in January 1885?
Beheaded
When was General Gordon beheaded?
January 1885
What was the result of the garrison being killed and General Gordon being beheaded in January 1885?
Gladstone did not retaliate as he didn’t want to spend money or continue the loss of life
What happened in June 1899?
Sudan taken under the control of the British
When was Sudan taken under the control of the British?
June 1899
Why did Britain want to take Sudan under their rule in June 1899?
Prevent instability and anti-European sentiment spreading to Egypt
What inspired the Mahdi
Egyptian crisis
British assertion of overlordship (asserting their authority)
What did the Mahdi preach?
A holy war that would culminate in his elevation to the throne of the Turkish Sultans as the fountainhead of a purified Islam
What support did the Mahdi have?
Religious tribesmen of Sudan
What experience did Colonel William Hicks have before his work in Sudan?
Retired Indian Army officer
Why did Hicks expedition fail in September 1883?
Poorly funded
Weakened after the Urabi Pasha revolutionary movement
What happened in November 1883?
Hicks and his troops were overwhelmed and slaughtered by the Mahdist movement
When were Hicks and his troops were overwhelmed and slaughtered by the Mahdist movement?
November 1883
What was General Gordons reputation?
Very popular in Britain as he was seen as a no-nonsense sword-bearer of evangelical Christianity
What happened two days after the death of Gordon?
General Sir Garent Wolseley began a slow process up the Nile
How did Queen Victoria regard Gladstone’s government?
‘The worst I have ever had’
Who said that Gladstone’s government was ‘The worst I have ever had’?
Queen Victoria
How did Queen Victoria react to the murder of Gordon in January 1885?
Blamed Gladstone
Who did Queen Victoria blame for the death of Gordon in January 1885?
Gladstone
Despite public outrage, what happened to Gladstone in Autumn 1885?
He won the general election
What is the impact of Gladstone winning the Autumn 1885 general election?
Showed the public outrage due to the death of Khartoum in January 1885 was not that strong as he still went on to win
Why was Sudan abandoned and give to the Mahdists for 10 years (1886-1896)?
Lord Salisbury in June 1886, after the aftermath of the Irish home rule crisis
What was the aftermath of the Irish home rule crisis?
In June 1886, Lord Salisbury abandoned Sudan to the Mahdism
How was Sudan governed?
Under the Egyptian government as they had conquered it in the beginning of the 19th century
