The year 1884 was a year of great events in the Sudan. The Mahdist revolt, which had been brewing for some time, broke out in full force. The Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad, declared himself the Mahdi, the awaited messiah, and rallied the Sudanese people to his cause. The revolt quickly gained momentum, and the Mahdist forces, under the leadership of the Mahdi and his lieutenants, such as Osman Digna, began to defeat the Egyptian and British forces. The fall of Khartoum in January 1885, and the death of General Gordon, marked a turning point in the conflict. The Mahdist victory was a significant blow to the British Empire, and it led to a period of Mahdist rule in the Sudan.