Powstanie Mahdiego w Sudanie w latach 1881-1898

Between 1820-1822 Sudan was conquered by Egypt (by khedive Muhammad Ali), which subsequently was conquered by the British Empire in 1882. The Sudanese State was a convenient base for a penetration of the whole Middle Africa. While subordinating Egypt, London got involved in the problems connected with Sudan, which always was a turbulent province. Almost every year there were smaller or bigger revolts. Hated reign of the governors, local people's oppression and high taxes led to the mutinies of the particular tribes. Nomads were ready to follow their religious leader promising an overthrow of the Egyptian reign, which in their opinion was villainous and heretical; and sometimes too severe. This religious leader appeared and his name was Muhammad Ahmad, born in 1844 near Khartoum as a boat builder's son. In 1881 Muhammad Ahmad proclaimed himself the Mahdi that was a promised messiah sent by the God. Under Mahdi's command, the warfare against the Egyptian invader became the organized religious-liberation revolt. In this way, Sudan entered the next stage of its history concerning the period of 1881-1898, that was called Mahdia or Mahdist Revolt. It was an important stage on a way to shape the national awareness of the Sudanese Muslims; both those arabicized and non-arabicized, who were united by the Mahdi. Their common fight against the foreign invaders was initiated then in order to create their own state. The independence movements of the Sudanese Islam believers referred to the Mahdism ideology in the 20th century.