Defeat of last Christian king in Nubia and ascension of first Muslim king to the throne in Dongola. Beginning of Keira sultanate in Darfur. Mohammed Ali s Turco-Egyptian forces conquer much of northern Sudan bringing the Funj sultanate to an end. The Keira sultanate maintains its independence from the Turco-Egyptian regime until 1874. The Bahr al-Ghazal region in the south is conquered in 1871.
Egyptian government introduces anti-slavery measures, encouraged by Britain.
Muhammed Ahmad declares himself al-Mahdi , the awaited guide. Mahdist conquest of Sudan begins. Mahdist forces capture Khartoum ending Turco-Egyptian rule. Gen. Charles Gordon, a British citizen working for the Turco-Egyptian regime and in charge of the evacuation of Khartoum, is killed. Later that year, Muhammed Ahmad dies and is succeeded by Abdallah al-Tai ishi, known as the Khalifa .