The Siege of Khartoum
In 1884 Muhammad Ahmad, calling himself the ‘Mahdi’ of Islam, laid siege to Khartoum in the Sudan. After nearly a year, the British garrison was overcome. General Gordon died along with all his soldiers and thousands of townspeople, and the rebels remained in control for over a decade. William Gladstone’s failure to intervene cost him his post as Prime Minister.
59 words