Battle of Aba

Battle of Aba
Part of the Mahdist War
Date12 August 1881
Location
Aba Island, Egypt (now Sudan)
Result Mahdist victory
Belligerents
Mahdist followers of Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi) Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi) (WIA) Mohammad Bey Abu Sa'ud
'Ali Effendi
Strength
311 ill-armed rebels[1] 200 soldiers and one mountain-gun[2]
Casualties and losses
12 killed[3] and at least one wounded (Muhammad Ahmad)[4] 120 killed and wounded, plus 9 taken prisoner[3]

The Battle of Aba, which took place on 12 August 1881, was the opening battle of the Mahdist War. The incident saw Mahdist rebels, led by Muhammad Ahmad, who had proclaimed himself the Mahdi, rout Egyptian troops who had landed on Aba Island.

  1. ^ Featherstone, Donald (2013). Khartoum 1885: General Gordon's last stand. Osprey Publishing, pp. 8. ISBN 9781472803849.
  2. ^ Asher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 60.
  3. ^ a b Asher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 61.
  4. ^ Asher, Michael (March 28, 2008). Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure. London: Penguin Global. p. 62.