The Mahdi claimed to be a Moslem prophet.

The prevailing religion of Egypt and its provinces is Mohammedanism.

Now the Mohammedans believe that a great prophet, or Mahdi, will come to
lead them. Under his generalship they expect to gain possession of the
whole world.

More than one ambitious man has come forward and claimed to be the
Mahdi.

Whenever such a leader has appeared the people have flocked to his
standard, and through blind faith that success must attend their cause
under his leadership, have done some brave deeds.

The most important of all the Mahdis was the chief who came forward in
1881, declared himself to be the long-expected prophet, called the
people to his standard, and, taking the field against the British and
Egyptian troops, overthrew the Egyptian power in the Soudan.

At first the rising of this new Mahdi was not considered serious, but
after a time the rebellion assumed such serious proportions that it
became evident that Egypt alone could no longer hold her provinces in
the Soudan.

She appealed to England for help, and in 1884 the famous General Gordon
was sent out by the British Government to help the Khedive.

There were many military posts scattered throughout the Soudan, and the