Battle of Aba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Aba |
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| Part of the Mahdist War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Mahdist followers of Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi) |
 Egypt |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi) (WIA) |
Mohammad Bey Abu Sa'ud 'Ali Effendi |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 311 ill-armed rebels | 200 soldiers and one mountain-gun | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 12 killed and at least one wounded (Muhammad Ahmad) | 120 killed and wounded, plus 9 taken prisoner | ||||||
The Battle of Aba was the very first battle of the Mahdist War. It happened on August 12, 1881. In this fight, a group of rebels called Mahdists, led by Muhammad Ahmad, defeated Egyptian soldiers. The battle took place on Aba Island.
Contents
Why Did the Battle Happen?
In March 1881, a religious leader named Muhammad Ahmad lived on Aba Island. This island is located on the White Nile river. Muhammad Ahmad told his closest followers that he was the Mahdi. In Islam, the Mahdi is a special leader who is believed to appear before the end of the world. Muhammad Ahmad said he had a dream where the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ visited him.
Egyptian Government's Concern
The Governor-General of Sudan at the time was Ra'uf Pasha. He heard about Muhammad Ahmad's claims. Ra'uf Pasha sent an officer named Mohammad Bey Abu Sa'ud to Aba Island to find out more. Abu Sa'ud arrived on August 7, 1881. He asked Muhammad Ahmad to come to Khartoum, which was the capital of Sudan.
Muhammad Ahmad refused to go to Khartoum. Abu Sa'ud then warned him to stop saying he was the Mahdi. After this warning, Abu Sa'ud left the island.
How the Battle Unfolded
After the meeting, the Egyptian government decided to arrest Muhammad Ahmad. They sent 200 soldiers and one small mountain-gun on a ship called Isma'iliyya. It was not clear who was in charge of this mission, Abu Sa'ud or his senior military officer, 'Ali Effendi. The two leaders argued about it.
The Egyptian Attack
The ship arrived at Aba Island on August 12, 1881. It stopped about a quarter of a mile from Muhammad Ahmad's village. Abu Sa'ud wanted to wait until the next day to attack. But 'Ali Effendi disagreed and wanted to attack right away. 'Ali Effendi won the argument, and the soldiers moved out.
The Egyptian soldiers used some local traders as guides. They reached Muhammad Ahmad's hut. 'Ali Effendi rushed into the hut and shot the person inside. However, it turned out to be one of Muhammad Ahmad's guests, not Muhammad Ahmad himself.
Mahdist Victory
Muhammad Ahmad and his followers were waiting hidden in the thick bushes outside the village. The Mahdists were very determined. They were armed with simple tools like sticks, stones, hoes, and palm-knives. Only a few had spears and swords. They suddenly attacked the Egyptian soldiers.
The ground was muddy because it had rained during the Egyptians' march. This muddy ground was an advantage for the barefoot Mahdist rebels. The Egyptian soldiers wore boots, which made it harder for them to move. The Mahdists completely overwhelmed the Egyptians. The defeated Egyptian soldiers quickly ran back towards their ship, the Isma'iliyya.
Aftermath of the Battle
The Egyptians suffered heavy losses. About 120 soldiers were killed or wounded, and nine were taken prisoner. Among the Mahdi's forces, only twelve were killed. Muhammad Ahmad himself was wounded when he was shot in the right shoulder.
When Abu Sa'ud learned about the disaster, he ordered the Isma'iliyya to fire shells at the village. The Mahdists came to the river banks and shouted at the Egyptians. The first shell missed the rebels by about twenty yards. After that, the Mahdists moved out of range of the ship's gun. This ended the fight.
Muhammad Ahmad compared his victory to the Battle of Badr. This was a very important early military victory for the Prophet Muhammad.
