Turco-Egyptian conquest of Sudan (1820–1824)
Military campaign, 1820–1824 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Turco-Egyptian conquest of Sudan was a major military and technical feat. Fewer than 10,000 men set off from Egypt,[1][3] but, with some local assistance, they were able to penetrate 1,500 km up the Nile River to the frontiers of Ethiopia, giving Egypt an empire as large as Western Europe.[4]
Turco-Egyptian conquest of Sudan | |||||||
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Part of the campaigns of Muhammad Ali of Egypt | |||||||
Egyptian expansion under Muhammad Ali dynasty | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Egypt[1][2] |
Sennar Sultanate Shayqih Kingdom Sultanate of Darfur | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Muhammad Ali |
Badi VII King Saber Namur Little King Jawish | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
4,000 men (1820) 8,000 men (1823) | Unknown |
The conquest was the first time that an invasion of Sudan from the north had penetrated so far; it involved two risky and unprecedented desert crossings; it necessitated the use of explosives to clear a way up the Nile; and it was an early instance of a small force with modern training, firearms and artillery defeating much larger forces in Africa.[5] Together with the campaigns and expeditions which followed it, the conquest roughly established the post-independence borders of Sudan.[6] The invading forces also made their headquarters at Khartoum in May 1821, from which time it soon developed into Sudan's capital city.[7]