1-152-306 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

The Mahdi, rebel against Egyptian rule in the Sudan, c1885. Mohammed Ahmed (1848-1885), known as the Mahdi (the expected one) was a charismatic former local government officer who, beginning in 1882, led a rebellion against Egyptian rule in Eastern Sudan to try to establish an Islamic state. His army laid siege to Khartoum, and on 26 January 1885 the city was overrun by the Mahdi's forces and its British commander, General Gordon, was killed. The Mahdi died, probably from typhus, 5 months later, but the British launched a military campaign under Kitchener in 1898 to avenge Gordon and defeat the Mahdists.