The Madhist War began in 1881. It was a conflict between the Mahdist forces and the British-Egyptian army in Sudan. The Mahdists were followers of a religious leader, Muhammad Ahmad, who had proclaimed himself as the Mahdi or the messiah. In 1881, he led a successful uprising against the Ottoman-Egyptian occupation of Sudan, which led to the establishment of an Islamic state in Sudan. The Mahdists, under the leadership of the Mahdi, then began to expand their influence and control over other parts of Sudan.
The British-Egyptian army, which had a presence in Sudan, then launched a series of military expeditions against the Mahdist forces, leading to the outbreak of the Madhist War in 1881. The war lasted for over a decade and involved several battles and campaigns, with both sides suffering significant casualties. The war finally ended in 1899, with the British-Egyptian army emerging victorious and re-establishing their control over Sudan.