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The Battle of Aba, which took place on 12 August 1881, was the opening battle of the Mahdist War. The incident saw Mahdist rebels, led by Muhammad Ahmad, who had proclaimed himself the Mahdi, rout Egyptian troops who had landed on Aba Island.
Backgroundedit
In March 1881, Muhammad Ahmad, living on Aba Island on the White Nile, before his "inner circle" (which included Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, who would become known as "the Khalifa"), announced that he was the Mahdi. He based this off of a dream he had where he was visited by the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ.[5] The Governor-General of the Sudan, Ra'uf Pasha, soon sent Mohammad Bey Abu Sa'ud to investigate the situation. Arriving on Aba Island on 7 August 1881, Abu Sa'ud requested that Muhammad Ahmad come to Khartoum (the capital of Sudan) to meet with the Governor-General. The Mahdi refused and Abu Sa'ud warned him that he "must give up his claim to be the Mahdi" and then left the island.[6]
Battleedit
After that meeting, an "arrest-party" of 200 Egyptian soldiers (and one mountain-gun) were sent to Aba Island on the ship Isma'iliyya. It was unclear who was the head of the expedition, Abu Sa'ud or his senior military officer, 'Ali Effendi, and the two quarreled. The ship arrived at Aba on 12 August 1881 and moored about a quarter of a mile from the Mahdi's village. Once there, Abu Sa'ud and 'Ali Effendi found themselves in disagreement over when to attack. The former wanted to wait until the following day to attack, while the latter (who won the argument) wanted to move out right away.[2]
Using some merchants as guides, the Egyptian forces reached Muhammad Ahmad's hut and 'Ali Effendi burst into the shelter, shooting the man inside,[2] who turned out to be a guest of the Mahdi.[7] Muhammad Ahmad and his followers were waiting "in the dense bush outside the village."[3] The zealous Mahdists, "armed with sticks, stones, hoes, and palm-knives, and a very few with spears and swords" attacked the Egyptians and completely overwhelmed them.[3] The ground was muddy (it had rained during the Egyptians' march to the village[2]) and this favored the bare-foot Mahdist rebels over the boot-clad government soldiers. The routed Egyptians made a dash for the Isma'iliyya. The Egyptians had suffered 120 casualties with nine of them taken prisoner.[3] Of the Mahdi's forces, only twelve had been killed[3] and Muhammad Ahmad, himself, was wounded after being shot in the right shoulder.[4]
After learning of the disaster, Abu Sa'ud ordered the Isma'iliyya to shell the village. The Mahdists arrived on the banks of the river to taunt the Egyptians. The first shell missed the rebels by twenty yards, and, after that, the Mahdists walked out of range of the Isma'iliyya, ending the confrontation.[3]
The Mahdi compared his victory to the Battle of Badr, "the Prophet Mohammad's first military victory."[4]
Referencesedit
^Featherstone, Donald (2013). Khartoum 1885: General Gordon's last stand. Osprey Publishing, pp. 8. ISBN9781472803849.
^ abcdAsher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 60.
^ abcdefgAsher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 61.
^ abcAsher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 62.
^Asher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 57.
^Asher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 59.
^Asher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. pp. 60–61.
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Battle of Aba news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2023 Battle of AbaPart of the Mahdist WarDate12 August 1881LocationAba Island Egypt now Sudan ResultMahdist victoryBelligerentsMahdist followers of Muhammad Ahmad the Mahdi EgyptCommanders and leadersMuhammad Ahmad the Mahdi WIA Mohammad Bey Abu Sa ud Ali EffendiStrength311 ill armed rebels 1 200 soldiers and one mountain gun 2 Casualties and losses12 killed 3 and at least one wounded Muhammad Ahmad 4 120 killed and wounded plus 9 taken prisoner 3 The Battle of Aba which took place on 12 August 1881 was the opening battle of the Mahdist War The incident saw Mahdist rebels led by Muhammad Ahmad who had proclaimed himself the Mahdi rout Egyptian troops who had landed on Aba Island Background editIn March 1881 Muhammad Ahmad living on Aba Island on the White Nile before his inner circle which included Abdallahi ibn Muhammad who would become known as the Khalifa announced that he was the Mahdi He based this off of a dream he had where he was visited by the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ 5 The Governor General of the Sudan Ra uf Pasha soon sent Mohammad Bey Abu Sa ud to investigate the situation Arriving on Aba Island on 7 August 1881 Abu Sa ud requested that Muhammad Ahmad come to Khartoum the capital of Sudan to meet with the Governor General The Mahdi refused and Abu Sa ud warned him that he must give up his claim to be the Mahdi and then left the island 6 Battle editAfter that meeting an arrest party of 200 Egyptian soldiers and one mountain gun were sent to Aba Island on the ship Isma iliyya It was unclear who was the head of the expedition Abu Sa ud or his senior military officer Ali Effendi and the two quarreled The ship arrived at Aba on 12 August 1881 and moored about a quarter of a mile from the Mahdi s village Once there Abu Sa ud and Ali Effendi found themselves in disagreement over when to attack The former wanted to wait until the following day to attack while the latter who won the argument wanted to move out right away 2 Using some merchants as guides the Egyptian forces reached Muhammad Ahmad s hut and Ali Effendi burst into the shelter shooting the man inside 2 who turned out to be a guest of the Mahdi 7 Muhammad Ahmad and his followers were waiting in the dense bush outside the village 3 The zealous Mahdists armed with sticks stones hoes and palm knives and a very few with spears and swords attacked the Egyptians and completely overwhelmed them 3 The ground was muddy it had rained during the Egyptians march to the village 2 and this favored the bare foot Mahdist rebels over the boot clad government soldiers The routed Egyptians made a dash for the Isma iliyya The Egyptians had suffered 120 casualties with nine of them taken prisoner 3 Of the Mahdi s forces only twelve had been killed 3 and Muhammad Ahmad himself was wounded after being shot in the right shoulder 4 After learning of the disaster Abu Sa ud ordered the Isma iliyya to shell the village The Mahdists arrived on the banks of the river to taunt the Egyptians The first shell missed the rebels by twenty yards and after that the Mahdists walked out of range of the Isma iliyya ending the confrontation 3 The Mahdi compared his victory to the Battle of Badr the Prophet Mohammad s first military victory 4 References edit Featherstone Donald 2013 Khartoum 1885 General Gordon s last stand Osprey Publishing pp 8 ISBN 9781472803849 a b c d Asher Michael March 28 2008 Khartoum The Ultimate Imperial Adventure London Penguin Global p 60 a b c d e f g Asher Michael March 28 2008 Khartoum The Ultimate Imperial Adventure London Penguin Global p 61 a b c Asher Michael March 28 2008 Khartoum The Ultimate Imperial Adventure London Penguin Global p 62 Asher Michael March 28 2008 Khartoum The Ultimate Imperial Adventure London Penguin Global p 57 Asher Michael March 28 2008 Khartoum The Ultimate Imperial Adventure London Penguin Global p 59 Asher Michael March 28 2008 Khartoum The Ultimate Imperial Adventure London Penguin Global pp 60 61 nbsp This Sudan related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This Egyptian history related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This African military article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a battle is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Islam related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Aba amp oldid 1176373438, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
