How did the defeat of General William Hicks's army change the war in Sudan?

The defeat of General William Hicks’s army in 1883 was a pivotal moment in the Sudan conflict. By annihilating this force of 8,000 men, al-Mahdī effectively secured control over the province of Kordofan and its capital, El Obeid, after successful sieges.1

This victory significantly bolstered the momentum of the Mahdist movement, transforming al-Mahdī’s followers into an increasingly powerful military force. Following the destruction of the Hicks expedition—the third Egyptian army to be annihilated by his ansar—al-Mahdī was able to transition from a regional insurgent to the head of an armed theocracy. He began collecting taxes according to the Qur'ān and consolidated his authority, setting the stage for his eventual capture of Khartoum in 1885 and the establishment of his religious empire.1