General Gordon of Khartoum - Essay Example

?General Gordon of Khartoum European Experience in Africa The 19th century witnessed intense transformations in Africa. Some of the changes were instigated by disease and famine. Others were a result of territorial desires of the African rulers. As years went by, alliances with missionaries and merchants from Europe started to influence the manner in which the African leaders realized their goals. At the beginning of the 19th century, Europeans were largely ignorant of the African continent. The methodical colonization of Africa, which gained energy in the 1880’s, was absent in the first half of 19th century. The Europeans restricted themselves to trading along the coast (BBC 2013, p1). The Arab and African merchants handled the inland trade of commodities and slaves. After the abolition of the slave trade by the British in 1807, they started patrolling the coasts, seizing other countries’ slave ships. Within the last twenty years of the 19th century, rivalries and conflicts in Europe started affecting individuals in Africa directly. Over the last years of the 19th century (1880’s), the European powers shared African territories among themselves without the consent or will of the people living there. They had partial understanding of the land they had acquired (BBC 2013, p1). Political rivalry, commercial greed, and territorial ambition all instigated the European scramble for Africa. This climaxed in the Africa’s partition during the 1884-5 Berlin Conference. The whole process that is the partitioning of Africa became famously identified as the scramble for Africa. In the last half of the 19th century, the disjointed patchwork of trading colonies, understandings, protectorates, and alliances yielded to sweeping transformations enforced by the Europeans. The French and the British were determined to make things right and institute a clear administrative hierarchy composed of the Europeans (at the top) and Africans (at the bottom) (BBC 2013, p1). On the other hand, a number of the oldest trading countries in Europe left Africa and the other set of players emerged. The Danes and the Dutch abandoned the continent while Belgium, Italy, and Germany moved into the continent. Elsewhere the mineral riches of Africa dazzled and fixated European adventures. However, casual commercial connections were replaced by methodical control and exploitation. At the beginning of the 19th century, the European hold of the African geography was restricted mainly to the coastal regions. However, before the end of the century, Europeans were spanning the continent with roads and railways. Now it was easy to take control of the continent both commercially and politically (BBC 2013, p1). The Scramble for Africa “had the effect of defusing and displacing tensions between the European powers in Europe, but eventually the tradeoffs and alliances could not disguise the fact that Imperial Germany was on a collision course with Britain and France” (BBC 2013, p1). For the first time, the African people found themselves pulled into conflicts, which had its sources in London and Berlin war rooms. The moral bravado of the European powers, purportedly representing reconciliation and order, civilization, and wisdom, soon broke into the destruction, death, and chaos of World War I (BBC 2013, p1). It is important to note that, in Africa, the Europeans were strangers but by aggression, settlement, and trade they became by different levels part of the inside (Connah 2004, p175). General Charles George Gordon’s Experience in Khartoum Sudan In the year 1882, Mohamed Ahmed (also referred to himself as Messiah or Mahdi) invited all the true believers to join in the holy war against Christians. Most people especially wild tribesman heeded to his call, and in the following, he conquered an army of close to eleven thousand Egyptians and English that had tried to subdue the revolt. England was forced to leave the province. However, thousands of Europeans who had sought asylum in Khartoum and other towns had to be rescued from their dangerous position. General Gordon was, therefore, appointed to head the rescue as he was the only man who could at that time spearhead the evacuation (Halsall 1998, p1). On February 18, Gordon arrived in Khartoum. The rescue mission started with sending a total of two thousand women and children safely to Egypt. According to Sir Evelyn Baring, fifteen thousand people were to be relocated from Khartoum to Egypt. This was a hard task for Gordon, and for that reason, he had to devise a strategy of achieving what was expected of him. Some of the strategies picked by Gordon were to establish a stable government in Sudan, but that was never to be. The only person who could have been able to establish such a government (Zebehr) adamantly refused. The other option that Gordon had was either to remain in Khartoum or surrender to Mahdi. The first step in this unforgettable moment was on March when 4000 Arabs were sailed to the Nile (Halsall 1998, p1). On March 16, the Arabs were able to out power Gordon’s team by capturing Halfaya. Gordon had to set up a barrier at the northern part of the town to mount a fight at the Arabs in the town. This idea was fruitful as they were able to send away the Arabs and capture the town back with the help of Hassan and Seid Pashas (Gordon’s black Generals) who were later tried and killed. While the fighting continued, Gordon tirelessly tried to negotiate a deal with Mahdi, but failed. Neither the promise of being made a Sultan of Kordofan could make Mahdi change his mind. He insisted on being the sultan, and this made Gordon cancel Mahdi’s sultanship, which led to a renewed war (Halsall 1998, p1). Gordon had to request for the support of Turkish troops, and he telegraphed Mr. Powers on April 19, but received no troops. A reply that was later received in September 16 cut off Gordon from the outside world because his team was being ambushed, and he only relied on his own resources. The Mahdi followers had defeated the Omdurman, and they went in to the caves to rest. The prophecy by Mahdi that, after six days there would be flow of blood was almost right since the fight of Abu Klea led to the death of many stewards that left Gordon almost alone. In December 14, Gordon had given up completely following a letter received by one of his friends. Gordon blew down what he had built in the town of Khartoum and Mahdi took over. Gordon appeared in the streets of Khartoum and was recognized by the Mahdi followers, he was shot dead just two days before the English army reached Khartoum (Halsall 1998, p1). Why British Considered General Gordon A Hero and a Martyr In the late 19th century, (that is 1870s), General Charles George Gordon headed both the Egyptian and British forces in the Sudan in which Egypt governed under the watch of the British. However, by the late 1883, the prime minister of Britain, William Gladstone (an unwilling imperialist), decided to leave Sudan. The previous British policy suggested that they maintain the region as the bridge between her existing colonies in Kenya and Uganda and the empire’s region of influence in Egypt. An order was issued to General Gordon to go to Khartoum and plan on how best to rescue thousands of Egyptian civilian families and soldiers out of the nation as the Sudanese continued increasing pressure (Perry 2010, p57). Gordon made a decision to defend Khartoum instead of abandoning it. However, the British government did not give him the support he needed in changing the policy. The capital city was surrounded in March, and it is on August that the government decided to assist Gordon. The relief forces were approved and transported in January 1885; however, it was too late. The rescue of the city was done two days after the murder of Gordon. Gordon was killed Sudanese soldiers and his head was cut off and put on a pike. Gordon was a renowned diplomat, soldier and an evangelical Christian who preached, supported charities for children, and visited the sick and the old. He became a military hero and a Christian martyr in the eyes of his fellow citizens (Perry 2010, p58). In October 1871, Gordon was chosen to sketch navigation rights on Danube. The work proved dull until a powerful adviser (Nubar Pasha) to the Egypt Khedive gave him a better positing. Pasha (the Khedive) wanted to make him the governor of Equatoria (in Southern Sudan) to replace Sir Samuel Baker (a British explorer). Gordon accepted pending approval from the British government, which granted him permission in the late 1873. An Ottoman general from a former Chinese general, General Gordon took with zeal to abolish the slave trade. He crushed slave traders when he found one and conquered several hostile tribes and created stations along the river Nile. In 1877, he was coaxed by the khedive to take the position of a governor-general of the whole Sudan. In other words, he was given the position of a military rank of the Egyptian filed marshal (Crocker 2011, p215). Gordon roles remained the same, eliminating corruption, laboring to finish slave trade and slavery, and establishing peace. It is important to state that slavery and ivory were the centerpieces of the economy in Sudan. He cruised everywhere at speed with his camel and caught up with unsuspecting tribes and potential rebels and he won their fealty. Gordon was a dealmaker and he frequently attempted to find means of employing slavers who were the most powerful and canniest men in the nation. He did away with whipping in Khartoum, protected his people (that is, the Sudanese) against the khedive’s British and French creditors, and cancelled projects that the government could not afford (for instance, the construction of railway along Nile) (Crocker 2011, p215). In Sudan, Mohamed Ahmed was a religious visionary of the fanatic aspect. Ahmed professed a jihad against all the people who stood against him. He slaughtered as Egyptian army commanded by William Hicks (a British officer). Earlier on, the British has taken responsibility for Sudan and Egypt and were forced to withdraw from Sudan immediately. General Gordon was proposed to head the rescue operation of the people of Sudan (Crocker 2011, p216). The British took the Egyptian affairs despite it being an Ottoman Empire affair. The Prime Minister refused to send more soldiers and expected Gordon to deal with the issues (The Independent 2006, p1). With characteristic energy, he set about rescuing the sick, women, and children, built fortifications, planted mines of his own design, and planned Khartoum defenses. Gordon was let down by Gladstone severally who refused to ratify his proposal of an influential leader. The leader was to be the head of the new government and this would help in the withdrawal of the British troops in the region, leaving Khartoum secluded. The sieges started in early 1884; there approximately 8,000 local troops, a few lines of communication, and the city had enough supplies. General Gordon and other two British officials led the local troops. Failure to raise relief force by the government resulted in the attack of Gordon and his men (The Independent 2006, p1). From his experience in Khartoum, it is evident that General Gordon was a hero and a martyr to the people of Britain. He was called in at a time when there was a huge problem in Sudan and he acted according to what he was sent to do. Gordon had the mission of rescuing the city of Khartoum from the self-acclaimed Messiah (Mohamed Ahmed). His mission was faced with challenges such as no support from the British government. However, he continued with his mission despite persistent calls to call it off. He made a decision to defend the city rather than leave it. He was not to see the awaited victory because the government acted too late. One member of the Sudanese soldiers murdered him and his head put on a pike. Gordon was also involved in the abolishment of slave trade and the spread of the gospel to the people of Sudan. He acted both as a political and a spiritual leader therefore the British considered him a hero and a martyr. References BBC. (2013) Africa & Europe [online], BBC. Available at: [Accessed 28 February 2013]. BBC. (2013) The European scramble [online], BBC. Available at: [Accessed 28 February 2013]. Connah, G. (2004) Forgotten Africa: An introduction to its archaeology, London: Routledge. Crocker, H. W. (2011) The politically incorrect guide to the British empire, London: Regnery Publishing. Halsall, P. (1998) Islamic history sourcebook: Alfred Egmont Hake: The death of General Gordon at Khartoum, 1885 [online], Fordham University. Available from: [Accessed 28 February 2013]. Perry, J. (2010) Winston Churchill, London: Thomas Nelson Inc. The Independent. (2006) Britain’s colonial adventures: The truth about Gordon of Khartoum, The Independent [online], 12 May. Available at: [Accessed 28 February 2013]. Read More