First battle of Jebel Gedir
| date | December 9, 1881 |
|---|---|
| place | Jebel Gedir , a mountain in South Kordofan |
| output | Victory of the Mahdists |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
|
Ansar (Mahdists) |
|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| approx. 1,420 men | unknown |
| losses | |
|
very high |
approx. 30 dead |
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Aba - Jebel Gedir I - Sennar I - Jebel Gedir II - al-Ubayyid I - al-Ubayyid II - Sennar II - Sinkat - Sheikan - First Battle of El Teb - Second Battle of El Teb - Tamanieh - Khartoum - Abu Klea - Gallabat - Toski - Firket - Atbara - Omdurman - Umm Diwaykarat
In the First Battle of Jebel Gedir, the Mahdists destroyed the Egyptian expeditionary army led by Raschid Bey Ayman on December 9, 1881 at the foot of Mount Gedir .
prehistory
After the failure of the mission to arrest the self-proclaimed Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad , in Aba ( Battle of Aba ), the Governor General ( hikimdar ) of Sudan , Rauf Pasha , sent another expedition. To this end, he commissioned Muhammad Pasha Said , the governor ( mudir ) of Kordofan . However, shortly after his victorious battle, Muhammad Ahmad set out with his supporters to flee to the Nuba Mountains . He received permission from Mak (= King) Adam to enter his domain and to settle at the foot of Mount Gedir.
Muhammad Pasha pursued the Mahdists on their flight, but broke off the expedition at the mountains of Um Talhah because he did not consider his strength to be sufficient to safely penetrate the anti-government territory of Mak Adam. Rauf Pascha was convinced that the uprising would soon collapse by itself, and therefore prohibited all military activity against Muhammad Ahmad. The governor ( mudir ) of Faschoda , Rashid Bey Ayman, ignoring the command and organized an expedition consisting of 350 soldiers, 70 irregulars and 1,000 Shilluk warriors, led by their Reth (= king) Kaikun .
course
Rashid wanted to surprise the Mahdists and moved quickly towards Muhammad Ahmad's camp. However, Muhammad Ahmad was warned and instead surprised the exhausted Egyptian army with an attack. With the exception of a few survivors, the army and its leaders were destroyed.
consequences
Due to the hesitant and inconsistent action by Rauf Pascha against the Mahdi uprising, the movement gained the time it needed to strengthen itself. After another attempt by the Egyptians had failed ( Second Battle of Jebel Gedir ), the Mahdists went on the offensive, captured Kordofan and destroyed a large Egyptian army ( Battle of Sheikan ), whereupon Egypt gave up the province of Sudan .
literature
- Mekki Shibeika: The Independent Sudan . Robert Speller & Sons, New York, 1959.