Mahdist Revolt and Gordon

Question 1

Who was the Mahdi and what did his followers want?

Answer 1

• The Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad opposed the British administrators.
  -> He self-proclaimed himself the Mahdi (saviour of mankind).
• Drawing on long-term hostility towards Egyptian rule, combined with recent resentment of British influence, Mahdi transformed an emerging political movement into a jihadist army.
• sought to liberate Sudan from outside rule and by 1882, they had taken control over the area surrounding Khartoum.

Question 2

What did PM Gladstone order General Gordon to do after the death of General Hicks?

Answer 2

• In 1883, a joint British-Egyptian military expedition under the command of General Hicks launched a counter attack against the Mahdi in which Hicks was killed.
• Gladstone ordered General Gordon to evacuate the Egyptian and British troops from Khartoum in 1884.

Question 3

What happened to General Gordon and the Khartoum garrison?

Answer 3

• Gordon defied Gladstone’s orders and stayed at Khartoum.
  -> extremely popular and the British public -> angry with Gladstone for not sending relief.
• Eventually Gladstone sent the ‘Gordon relief Expedition’ of 15 000 troops led by Wolseley. - However, there were several setbacks and they arrived 2 days after the death of Gordon.
• In 1885, the British-Egyptian forces were overrun.
• Virtually the entire garrison were killed and General Gordon was beheaded during the attacks.