Egypt and Sudan

By An P

  • Suez Canal opened

    The Suez Canal was constructed in 1869 allowing faster sea transport to India, which increased Britain's long-standing strategic interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. Britain established a protectorate over Cyprus in 1878, and to suppress a nationalist revolt that threatened its interests, occupied Egypt in 1882. Britain then established a permanent military presence in Egypt. Protectorates were held over most of the Gulf states by 1900

  • Khedive Ismail appointed General Charles "Chinese" Gordon Governor of the Equatorial Provinces of Sudan

  • Disraeli acquires a 45% share in the Suez Canal

  • Khedive Ismail forced to abdicate in favour of his son Tawfiq

  • Dual control by the French and the British established in Egypt

  • Radical Islamic leader, the Mahdi, emerges in Sudan

    He is intent on driving out the Egyptian/Ottoman overlords
  • Period: to

    Mahdist War

  • Period: to

    Egypt under British Control: 'Veiled Protectorate"

  • British bomb Alexandria

    British warships begin the bombardment of Alexandria following French withdrawal from joint action.

  • Sir Evelyn Baring arrives in Egypt as consul general

  • Mahdist victory in the Battle of Shaykan.

    Anglo-Egyptian forces under the command of Hicks Pasha were defeated by forces of Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, in the woods of Shaykan near Kashgil near the town of El-Obeid.

  • Charles Gordon sent to Khartoum

    The British then decided to pull out of Sudan and in early 1884 sent Charles Gordon, former governor of part of south Sudan, to organise the withdrawal. However, Gordon was not committed to the British government's plan and he delayed long enough to be trapped in Khartoum by the Mahdi's forces. A relief expedition lead by General Wolseley came too late.

  • Charles Gordon killed by Mahdist forces

    A British relief expedition led by Garnet Wolseley failed to break through to Khartoum in time and Gordon was killed when the Mahdists stormed the city in January 1885.

  • Mahdi died

    Afther the Mahdi died in June 1885, a Mahdist state had been established with its capital a few miles from Khartoum at Omdurman.

  • Abbas II becomes khedive of Egypt

  • Period: to

    Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan

  • Battle of Omdurman

    Lord Kitchener decisively defeated the Mahdist forces.

  • Fashoda incident

    British and French forces meet at Fashoda in an incident that could have led to war between the British and the French
  • Period: to

    Anglo-Egyptian Condominium rules Sudan