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Fire And Sword In The Sudan: A Personal Narrative
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
700 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 27, 2020
Last year I read Margaret MacMillan’s book “Peacemakers” about the 1919 Versailles Conference, where Freiherr von Slatin was mentioned as part of the Austrian delegation. He’d been appointed because he had been well-known in Britain before WW1, due to the popularity of this memoir of his life in Sudan. It was hoped that his presence might garner some sympathy from British officials. (MacMillan commented that the Austrians didn’t have many cards to play).
Anyway the reference was enough to get me interested in reading Slatin’s own account. For most of the 19th century Sudan was administered by the Government of Egypt. Judging from this book they liked to appoint Europeans to senior posts and Slatin was appointed Governor of Darfur, even though he was only in his early twenties at the time. His appointment more or less coincided with the rebellion led by Mohammed Ahmed, who proclaimed himself the Mahdi. I understand that in the Islamic tradition, the Mahdi is a figure who will appear to rule the world in the years leading up to the Day of Judgment.
Slatin comments that the Sudanese people were “heart and soul” behind the Mahdi. He fought a series of battles to try and stem the Mahdist tide but was forced to surrender in 1883. Afterwards he spent 12 years in the personal retinue of Abdullahi “al-Khalifa” (“The Successor”) who ruled Sudan after the death of the Mahdi in 1885.
This was a generally lively account although I found the first couple of chapters a bit boring. Slatin tries to set the context by explaining the history of Sudan, and Darfur, in the decades before his arrival. Essentially this consists of a series of regional warlords with (to me) unfamiliar Arabic names, who kept overthrowing one another. It’s worth sticking with the book though, as it improves greatly once Slatin starts his own personal recollections.
He is clear that the Khalifa employed him primarily to boost his own vanity and to humiliate him, frequently pointing him out to visitors with a “how the mighty have fallen” type message. Slatin portrays the Khalifa as a man who was capricious and tyrannical in the extreme, one who loved to demonstrate his power by doing harm to others. He also comments that both the Mahdi and the Khalifa were “base hypocrites” who affected to live austere lives but who in reality lived in luxury and kept enormous harems.
The book provides a fascinating portrait of Sudan under the Mahdist regime. Under the Khalifa the country reverted to medieval forms of government and economy. About the only industry that prospered was the slave trade, fuelled by constant internal strife as well as Mahdist raids into Abyssinia and Equatorial Africa.
There are a couple of other things to be aware of. Slatin assumes a degree of knowledge of Sudanese geography and culture that was well in excess of my own. I kept having to break off to look up locations and other references. I also felt that the book was a bit too long, but these were minor points. Slatin’s story of his eventual escape was dramatically told, and read like a thriller even though the outcome was known. An astonishing story.
Anyway the reference was enough to get me interested in reading Slatin’s own account. For most of the 19th century Sudan was administered by the Government of Egypt. Judging from this book they liked to appoint Europeans to senior posts and Slatin was appointed Governor of Darfur, even though he was only in his early twenties at the time. His appointment more or less coincided with the rebellion led by Mohammed Ahmed, who proclaimed himself the Mahdi. I understand that in the Islamic tradition, the Mahdi is a figure who will appear to rule the world in the years leading up to the Day of Judgment.
Slatin comments that the Sudanese people were “heart and soul” behind the Mahdi. He fought a series of battles to try and stem the Mahdist tide but was forced to surrender in 1883. Afterwards he spent 12 years in the personal retinue of Abdullahi “al-Khalifa” (“The Successor”) who ruled Sudan after the death of the Mahdi in 1885.
This was a generally lively account although I found the first couple of chapters a bit boring. Slatin tries to set the context by explaining the history of Sudan, and Darfur, in the decades before his arrival. Essentially this consists of a series of regional warlords with (to me) unfamiliar Arabic names, who kept overthrowing one another. It’s worth sticking with the book though, as it improves greatly once Slatin starts his own personal recollections.
He is clear that the Khalifa employed him primarily to boost his own vanity and to humiliate him, frequently pointing him out to visitors with a “how the mighty have fallen” type message. Slatin portrays the Khalifa as a man who was capricious and tyrannical in the extreme, one who loved to demonstrate his power by doing harm to others. He also comments that both the Mahdi and the Khalifa were “base hypocrites” who affected to live austere lives but who in reality lived in luxury and kept enormous harems.
The book provides a fascinating portrait of Sudan under the Mahdist regime. Under the Khalifa the country reverted to medieval forms of government and economy. About the only industry that prospered was the slave trade, fuelled by constant internal strife as well as Mahdist raids into Abyssinia and Equatorial Africa.
There are a couple of other things to be aware of. Slatin assumes a degree of knowledge of Sudanese geography and culture that was well in excess of my own. I kept having to break off to look up locations and other references. I also felt that the book was a bit too long, but these were minor points. Slatin’s story of his eventual escape was dramatically told, and read like a thriller even though the outcome was known. An astonishing story.
August 13, 2013
A well told story about the mahadi period from the perspective of Sir. Slatin, but in many pages you can clearly see that sir. Slatin is exaggerating in describing the scenes because of his extreme hatred and contempt to al-khalifa. abdellah, i think he told the truth about abdellah. what he says is not different from what our people in Darfour says. really must read book for every one want to know about the sudan before the Anglo-Egyptian period.
September 18, 2023
Hard read but an incredibly inspiring account of a man who survived almost 12 years of captivity in Sudan at the end of the 19 century.
I do not recommend for readers younger than 21 because of the accounts of torture. That said, the majority of Slatin’s account is not about the torture but the history and culture of the people during this time.
Yes, Slatin is clearly an empirist and served a colonial power, but he fought with dignity and respect for the people. (Especially for that time.) And used his experiences not only to help the war effort only a year after his release but later served on committees helping POWs (prisoners of war).
So, all in all, an inspiring account during the horrors of war and power-mongering by so-called religious persons.
I do not recommend for readers younger than 21 because of the accounts of torture. That said, the majority of Slatin’s account is not about the torture but the history and culture of the people during this time.
Yes, Slatin is clearly an empirist and served a colonial power, but he fought with dignity and respect for the people. (Especially for that time.) And used his experiences not only to help the war effort only a year after his release but later served on committees helping POWs (prisoners of war).
So, all in all, an inspiring account during the horrors of war and power-mongering by so-called religious persons.
July 6, 2018
Riveting! Well riveting apart from a poor first chapter or two where too many names were thrown out. But things get exciting when the uprising gains momentum.
If you haven't done so already, read also Father Orwalder's book and Charles Neufeld's book. Both men were also captives of the Khalifa. As far as I know, these three men were the only captives to have written a book on the subject. Their different perspectives make each one's experiences all the more interesting to the reader. Truly, truth is more fascinating than fiction.
If you haven't done so already, read also Father Orwalder's book and Charles Neufeld's book. Both men were also captives of the Khalifa. As far as I know, these three men were the only captives to have written a book on the subject. Their different perspectives make each one's experiences all the more interesting to the reader. Truly, truth is more fascinating than fiction.
May 5, 2020
Outstanding
Colonel Slatin tells a fascinating story. His courage and resilience are remarkable. While it is next to impossible to follow all of the characters and places nothing is lost.
Colonel Slatin tells a fascinating story. His courage and resilience are remarkable. While it is next to impossible to follow all of the characters and places nothing is lost.
August 12, 2017
The latter half of the 19th Century was an amazing time for young European men, who could travel to the many colonies in Africa, Asia, and South America and carve a life for themselves in any number of commercial or military capacities. One such soldier of fortune was young Austrian Rudolf Slatin, who traveled to Sudan when he was 19, helping German explorers map the area. He returned to Europe to serve out a term in the military, at the end of which he was invited by English colonial governor Charles "Chinese" Gordon to come to Khartoum. (At that time, Sudan was a colony of Egypt, which was nominally under Ottoman control; but many British and Germans held posts in the civil government and military of Sudan.)
Just 21 years old when he reached Khartoum, Slatin was made the financial inspector of Sudan, which entailed traveling around the country and reporting on conditions. He noted in his reports that taxation was generally too high and unequally harsh on the poor, which was depressing the colony's development and causing a great deal of resentment. His warnings were appreciated in Khartoum, but unheeded. Before long, Gordon appointed Slatin the governor of the town of Dara in Darfur Province, and in 1881 he was promoted to Governor-General of all Darfur.
This was at a time when the restlessness of the Moslem inhabitants of western Sudan--in both black and Arab tribes--was beginning to be channeled by a new holy man who called himself the Mahdi, and who claimed he was the successor of the prophet Mohammed and would use divine leadership to throw off colonial rule and establish a Moslem caliphate. Slatin, with some native forces at his command, fought a resourceful but ultimately failed campaign against the Mahdists, who went on to capture Khartoum and kill Gordon himself. Slatin was captured and made a slave/advisor, first to the Mahdi and then, upon the Mahdi's death in 1885, to his successor, the khalifa Abdullahi ibn Muhammad. In this state--a sort of aide-de-camp, trophy, and slave--Slatin remained for 12 years, until he was able finally to escape and return to Europe.
Upon his return, Slatin sat down immediately to write his memoir. He claimed that all his papers and diaries had been captured and destroyed by the Mahdists, and given the dire circumstances of his escape it is unlikely that he'd have been able to bring them with him out of captivity anyway; which makes his incredibly detailed recall of dates, conversations, names and events all the more impressive.
Suffice it to say that Slatin's account was compellingly written and detailed; and this English translation by his friend F.R. Wingate no less so. The account in the final chapters of his escape from the khalifa's despotic grip has to rank as one of the most thrilling, edge-of-your-seat episodes ever written. His first-hands accounts of the cruelty, misery, and capriciousness of the khalifa's reign calls to mind the stories we hear today of life under ISIS or Nazi Germany. It is a stark reminder of what life under Islamic rule is like, and would be a warning to those moronic Europeans (and some Americans) who sport their "Refugees Welcome" bumper stickers with no idea of the kind of world those "refugees" have in mind.
My only complaint with this book--at least my edition of it, which is the 2013 imprint by Oakpast Ltd--is the utter lack of usable maps. It's safe to assume that most readers are not familiar with the geography of even modern Sudan, let alone 19th Century Sudan, so Slatin's accounts of his travels and battles will have little meaning and this hampers one's enjoyment of his memoir. I turned to the Web and found little in the way of useful maps. There is a decent image of a German map from Meyer's Kleine Handatlas from about 1880 at http://mapsandart.com/shop/antique-ma..., and you can use the built in magnifier on that page to clearly read the small print on the map. This is the only map I've seen that clearly shows Dara (spelled Darra), the seat of Slatin's administration when he was Governor-General of Darfur and where he ultimately surrendered to Mahdist general Maddibo. One can also go to the Perry-Castaneda collection at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sudan..... I downloaded several maps prepared by British Army engineers in 1942 and taped them together for a very nice map of the region between Berber, Khartoum, and Kordofan Province.
Just 21 years old when he reached Khartoum, Slatin was made the financial inspector of Sudan, which entailed traveling around the country and reporting on conditions. He noted in his reports that taxation was generally too high and unequally harsh on the poor, which was depressing the colony's development and causing a great deal of resentment. His warnings were appreciated in Khartoum, but unheeded. Before long, Gordon appointed Slatin the governor of the town of Dara in Darfur Province, and in 1881 he was promoted to Governor-General of all Darfur.
This was at a time when the restlessness of the Moslem inhabitants of western Sudan--in both black and Arab tribes--was beginning to be channeled by a new holy man who called himself the Mahdi, and who claimed he was the successor of the prophet Mohammed and would use divine leadership to throw off colonial rule and establish a Moslem caliphate. Slatin, with some native forces at his command, fought a resourceful but ultimately failed campaign against the Mahdists, who went on to capture Khartoum and kill Gordon himself. Slatin was captured and made a slave/advisor, first to the Mahdi and then, upon the Mahdi's death in 1885, to his successor, the khalifa Abdullahi ibn Muhammad. In this state--a sort of aide-de-camp, trophy, and slave--Slatin remained for 12 years, until he was able finally to escape and return to Europe.
Upon his return, Slatin sat down immediately to write his memoir. He claimed that all his papers and diaries had been captured and destroyed by the Mahdists, and given the dire circumstances of his escape it is unlikely that he'd have been able to bring them with him out of captivity anyway; which makes his incredibly detailed recall of dates, conversations, names and events all the more impressive.
Suffice it to say that Slatin's account was compellingly written and detailed; and this English translation by his friend F.R. Wingate no less so. The account in the final chapters of his escape from the khalifa's despotic grip has to rank as one of the most thrilling, edge-of-your-seat episodes ever written. His first-hands accounts of the cruelty, misery, and capriciousness of the khalifa's reign calls to mind the stories we hear today of life under ISIS or Nazi Germany. It is a stark reminder of what life under Islamic rule is like, and would be a warning to those moronic Europeans (and some Americans) who sport their "Refugees Welcome" bumper stickers with no idea of the kind of world those "refugees" have in mind.
My only complaint with this book--at least my edition of it, which is the 2013 imprint by Oakpast Ltd--is the utter lack of usable maps. It's safe to assume that most readers are not familiar with the geography of even modern Sudan, let alone 19th Century Sudan, so Slatin's accounts of his travels and battles will have little meaning and this hampers one's enjoyment of his memoir. I turned to the Web and found little in the way of useful maps. There is a decent image of a German map from Meyer's Kleine Handatlas from about 1880 at http://mapsandart.com/shop/antique-ma..., and you can use the built in magnifier on that page to clearly read the small print on the map. This is the only map I've seen that clearly shows Dara (spelled Darra), the seat of Slatin's administration when he was Governor-General of Darfur and where he ultimately surrendered to Mahdist general Maddibo. One can also go to the Perry-Castaneda collection at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sudan..... I downloaded several maps prepared by British Army engineers in 1942 and taped them together for a very nice map of the region between Berber, Khartoum, and Kordofan Province.
April 26, 2015
The world did not move far from the 19 century
Fire and Sword of Rudolf Slatin gives living images, detailed descriptive and interesting narrative of Sudan and Sudanese conditions in the late 19th century . This book is a personal narrative and reflection of Rudolf Slatin life in Sudan as a young man in his early twenties appointed as the governor of the vast region of Darfur.The young Austrian soldier was later surrounded to save his life to the leader of the Mahadists armed revolution that swapped Sudan in 1885.
Slatin even went further to show loyalty to his captives by pretending to be a Muslim and present himself as one of the Caliphat Al Mahadi loyal servants. For more than 12 years Slatin lived through the 19 century militant and militarized Mahadists regime, largely mirroring the current Islamic militants regimes like Boko Haram or Elshbab of Somalia. Although in his book Slatin consistently reflected his undermining and disrespect for the men who controlled his life for 12 years or more. His narrative presented a strong images and interesting details of the dynamic of the relationships between colonialists and their colonial nations. The the book gives fascinating description about the process of the Mahadists nation wide revolt against of the Turkish-Egyptian ruling and their European allies in Sudan. Slatin as a trained military man gives descriptions of the 19 century brutal battles.
Reading this book and being Sudanese myself seems as if time traveled backwards and Sudan's was never able to overcome that particular moment of the Mahadist militant and militarized regime. Slatin despite his own conflicting, arrogant views of Sudanese people interactions and living, his book some how and interesting enough reflected on the strong ties that connect the hybrid nations of Sudan and some how unites their destiny. Slatin is the typical young imperial officer who is over empowered you see his representation every where in our time in Iraq , Afghanistan or in Mali.
Rudolf Slatin maintains great narration ability and while telling his story and his transformation from a master into a slave and the transformation of the whole country from an ottoman colonial country
into Islamic militant state, the first of it it is kind in the region causing unrest across Sudan and Ethiopia and Egypt.
Slatin book gives an accurate reflection of the inherited confusion of colonialism towards Sudan and Sudanese as Arabs non Arabs Africans or blacks a confusion continued to hunt Sudan until present time.
Fire and Sword of Rudolf Slatin gives living images, detailed descriptive and interesting narrative of Sudan and Sudanese conditions in the late 19th century . This book is a personal narrative and reflection of Rudolf Slatin life in Sudan as a young man in his early twenties appointed as the governor of the vast region of Darfur.The young Austrian soldier was later surrounded to save his life to the leader of the Mahadists armed revolution that swapped Sudan in 1885.
Slatin even went further to show loyalty to his captives by pretending to be a Muslim and present himself as one of the Caliphat Al Mahadi loyal servants. For more than 12 years Slatin lived through the 19 century militant and militarized Mahadists regime, largely mirroring the current Islamic militants regimes like Boko Haram or Elshbab of Somalia. Although in his book Slatin consistently reflected his undermining and disrespect for the men who controlled his life for 12 years or more. His narrative presented a strong images and interesting details of the dynamic of the relationships between colonialists and their colonial nations. The the book gives fascinating description about the process of the Mahadists nation wide revolt against of the Turkish-Egyptian ruling and their European allies in Sudan. Slatin as a trained military man gives descriptions of the 19 century brutal battles.
Reading this book and being Sudanese myself seems as if time traveled backwards and Sudan's was never able to overcome that particular moment of the Mahadist militant and militarized regime. Slatin despite his own conflicting, arrogant views of Sudanese people interactions and living, his book some how and interesting enough reflected on the strong ties that connect the hybrid nations of Sudan and some how unites their destiny. Slatin is the typical young imperial officer who is over empowered you see his representation every where in our time in Iraq , Afghanistan or in Mali.
Rudolf Slatin maintains great narration ability and while telling his story and his transformation from a master into a slave and the transformation of the whole country from an ottoman colonial country
into Islamic militant state, the first of it it is kind in the region causing unrest across Sudan and Ethiopia and Egypt.
Slatin book gives an accurate reflection of the inherited confusion of colonialism towards Sudan and Sudanese as Arabs non Arabs Africans or blacks a confusion continued to hunt Sudan until present time.
August 2, 2015
One of the best books about this era in the Egyptian and sudanese history, far of a common fate for this nation -not nations- than any sudanese could imagine or Egyptian may simile than did Slatin pasha in his almost flawless account herein.
How stressful and emotionally challenging was his years in sudan is beyond fair or even fanatic imagination, alas, those who lived only more are they only who may surpass these sufferings and enormous humilation.
Slatin pasha -the model soldier despite all of that never forgot the good hands of his friend and more importantly the flag he served -Egypt- his last chapter i wish one day should - if not at least a must - to be in the schools history books, a fair advice to my fellow countrymen - never to lose sudan or neglect the Nile, that been said, Egypt MUST use all and every mean of power and force to regain its full fate on the nile, if not by good hands let it be by "Fire and Sowrd".
How stressful and emotionally challenging was his years in sudan is beyond fair or even fanatic imagination, alas, those who lived only more are they only who may surpass these sufferings and enormous humilation.
Slatin pasha -the model soldier despite all of that never forgot the good hands of his friend and more importantly the flag he served -Egypt- his last chapter i wish one day should - if not at least a must - to be in the schools history books, a fair advice to my fellow countrymen - never to lose sudan or neglect the Nile, that been said, Egypt MUST use all and every mean of power and force to regain its full fate on the nile, if not by good hands let it be by "Fire and Sowrd".
October 19, 2017
It was an interesting experience to read this as Sudanese. You always hear the Sudanese side of events but it was great to hear the perspective from a different point of view. There is no doubt that Slatin was racist and looked down on the people he was supposed to govern and lead and for sure he did not have their best interest but the interest of the British and the Egyptians. He tried to do one good thing here and there but let us not forget why was he there in the first place.
June 24, 2015
Marhadist The dark of Sudan history
Although it's a good history reflection of Mahdist rulers, the author being extreme in describing the different Sudan tribes traditions and in many occasions judging tribes traditions from one angle or simple impression made by individual.
Although it's a good history reflection of Mahdist rulers, the author being extreme in describing the different Sudan tribes traditions and in many occasions judging tribes traditions from one angle or simple impression made by individual.
September 25, 2023
Slatin was my great grandfather, so I am a little biased but I enjoyed this more than I thought. I was expecting a hard slog but found it quite enjoyable. Good descriptions of life in Sudan and the struggles both sides had. It left me feeling they were definitely made of stronger stuff back then!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews