Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur

ese governor.

His reputation as a nemesis of General Charles Gordon meant he was bestowed a near-mythic status in England, where he was referred to as "the richest and worst", a "Slaver King" "who [had] chained lions as part of his escort". [Fuller, O. E. "Brave Men and Women Their Struggles, Failures, And Triumphs", 1884] Lang, Jeanie. " [http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=langjean&book=gordon&story=_contents The Story of General Gordon] " circa. 1900.]

Background

Born in 1830, Rahma came from the Gemaab section of the Jaalin tribe in Northern Sudan, and was a member of a family that claims descent from the Koreish tribe through Abbas, uncle of Muhammad.Fact|date=September 2007

He began his large-scale business in 1856, when he left Khartoum with a small army, to set up a network of trading forts known as "zeribas", focusing his efforts on slavetrading and ivory sales.

In 1871, at the height of his power, Rahma was visited by Georg Schweinfurth, who described the slavetrader's court as "little less than princely" ["Heart of Africa", vol. ii., chap. xv.] Two years later, he was granted the title of Governor over Bahr el Ghazal in return for an annual tribute of ivory.Fact|date=September 2007

Eventually Rahma controlled 30 "zeriba"s, and earned the titles of bey and Pasha, after allying himself, and his lieutenant Rabih az-Zubayr, with the khedive Ismail Pasha briefly during the invasion of Darfur, where he led the southern forces. He was referred to as "the Black Pasha", and ultimately wished to become Governor General.

Opposition to Gordon

In 1877, General Gordon arrived as the newly-appointed Governor of the Sudan, and sought to suppress the slavetrade. Rahma brought his grievances to Cairo, asking for the Governorship of the newly-conquered Darfur, but was rejected. Egyptian authorities also prohibited his return to Sudan, but allowed him to travel to Constantinople at the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War.Fact|date=September 2007

That year, Gordon wrote back to England "I have to contend with many vested interested, with fanaticism, with the abolition...with a large semi-independent province lately under Sebehr, the Black Pasha, at Bahr Gazelle".

Rahma's 22-year old son Suleiman also against General Gordon from a stronghold, named "The Cave of Adullam", located outside Shaka. Gordon briefly considered offering Suleiman the position of Governor of Dara in an attempt to occupy him with peaceful plans. Instead he chose to have El Nour, one of Suleiman's chiefs, report on activity within the group and in turn be offered the Governorship himself. Through this, he learned that Suleiman was still receiving letters from Rahma, whose correspondence always included the cryptic phrase "Take care of Abdoul Razoul".

Detained in Egypt, his son takes command

Prior to his 1878 departure to Cairo, where he intended to bribe other pashas with approximately £100,000 to recognise his sovereignty, Rahma had gathered his chiefs under a tree between Shaka and Obeid where they agreed that if the plan failed, they would go "to arms! to the road!". He was detained by Egyptian forces for his attempts at bribery, and refused permission to return to the Sudan. He messaged General Gordon, offering £25,000 annually to the Khedive, and to restore order within the Sudan, if only he would be allowed to return. Gordon declined the offer, and Rahma sent a message to his chiefs that they should "obey the orders given under the tree", which resulted in Gordon being met by near-anarchy upon his return to Khartoum.

Rahma was subsequently sentenced to death for his role in the insurrection. Despite this however, he was held in high favour by the Khedival court and entertained as a guest in Cairo, with no attention paid to the sentence.Fact|date=September 2007

Intent on dealing with Suleiman while his father was still imprisoned, General Gordon arranged several times to meet peacefully with the young man now leading his father's forces. Referring to him as a "cub", Gordon took an almost fatherly approach towards him, and explained at his camp that he was aware of what revolts the slavers had been provoking, and he was now offering an ultimatum - either Suleiman announce his surrender of the "Cave of Adullam" or he would attack with an overwhelming force. Feeling sick, and begging time to think on the matter, Suleiman returned to the cave where his forces rumoured that Gordon has served the group poisoned coffee.

Shortly afterwards, Suleiman sent Gordon confirmation of the surrender, and began making his way northwards towards other stations. While in the city of Shaka, he sent a letter referring to himself as Gordon's "son" and asking for a position of government. Gordon responded that he would rather die, than grant any title to the rebel leader unless he had travelled to Cairo and sworn allegiance to the Khedive.

Gordon wrote a few days later, "Suleiman no longer hopes to conquer...he may try to go up to other stations inland, but I do not expect it will last long; a retreating commander is rarely in a good temper, and he will soon disgust his people."

Angered, Suleiman rallied 6,000 of his men in large raids, which were quickly dispelled at Gordon's command by the troops of Yussuf Pasha and Romolo Gessi.Appleton's Annual Cyclopaedia, 1884. "Egypt" entry.] [Buel, J.W. "Heroes of the Dark Continent", 1890.] Gessi, together with Taha Mahomet had earlier been credited with sacking "Dem Sebehr", a reputed stronghold of the slaving clan. [Jephson, Arthur Jeremy Mounteney. "Emin Pasha and the Rebellion at the Equator", 1890.]

In early September, while travelling through Shaka, Gordon was surprised to be extended an invitation to spend two days in Suleiman's house. He accepted, but spent the following days again rejecting Suleiman's pleas for a title of government, but consoled the young chief by giving him a rifle and teaching him its proper use. Eventually, Suleiman was captured and executed under the command of Romolo Gessi (on Gordon's orders).

Later role in the War

On February 18 1884, Gordon offered the imprisoned Rahma leadership of the entire Sudan, in addition to his freedom - if he would help the British keep the forces of Messiah-claimant Muhammad Ahmad at bay. The following month Gordon astonished Europe by recommending that Rahma be named his successor as Governor of The Sudan.

Sir Reginald Wingate, who knew him personally, declared to British society that Rahma was a "far-seeing, thoughtful man of iron will, a born ruler of men" ["Mahdiism and the Egyptian Sudan, book v."] Eventually, Queen Victoria, Sir Evelyn Baring, William Ewart Gladstone and Nubar Pasha in Cairo, all agreed to allow Rahma the title, but the order was rescinded by the British government, upset with Rahma's slave-raiding practises.Beresford, John D. "Storm and Peace", 1977. pp 102-103.]

Nevertheless, he was put in charge of all the Negro forces, as well as sharing command of Arab forces with Hussein Pasha.

In March 1885, he was removed from command and imprisoned at Gibraltar, when British forces suspected that he might have negotiated fealty to Ahmad, the "false prophet", based on alleged correspondence between them.

In August 1887 he was allowed to return to Cairo, and after the 1899 reconquest of the Sudan was permitted to settle in his native country. He established himself on his estates at Geili, some 30 miles north of Khartoum.

In retirement Zubayr wrote his memoirs, which were translated into English as "Black Ivory: Or, the Story of El Zubeir Pasha, Slaver and Sultan, as Told By Himself".

References

*Churchill, Winston, "The River War: An Account Of The Reconquest Of The Sudan", 1902.