The Mahdi's Tomb, Omdurman, September 1898

Photograph attributed to Francis Gregson, 2nd Sudan War (1896-1899), 1898.

Courtyard with the damaged mausoleum of the Mahdi at Omdurman in the background.

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi (1844-1885), a Dongola Arab, proclaimed himself Al-Mahdi, the Islamic chosen one, in 1881. He led a fundamentalist revolt against Egyptian occupation. Early successes including the capture of El Obeid increased his following and his forces defeated European-led Egyptian troops sent against him. The Mahdi then moved to Omdurman and besieged Khartoum defended by forces under the command of General Charles Gordon. The Mahdi's ansar, or helpers, including Beja tribesmen from eastern Sudan, delayed the British and Egyptian relief forces and the city fell. The Mahdi died on the 22 June 1885 and was buried in a tomb at Omdurman. The tomb was badly damaged by shellfire when Lord Kitchener's forces re-conquered the Sudan in 1898. The tomb was restored in 1947.

From an album entitled 'Khartum 1898', associated with the 2nd Sudan War (1896-1899).