Makuria, Kingdom of

The Kingdom of Makuria, located in what is today Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt, is one of a group of Nubian kingdoms that emerges during the decline of the Aksumite Empire, which it had been part of from approximately 4BC to AD 950.

Makuria originally covers the area along the Nile River from the Third Cataract to somewhere between the Fifth and Sixth Cataracts.

It also has control over the trade routes, mines, and oases to the east and west.

Its capital is Dongola (Arabic: Dunqulah), and the kingdom is sometimes known by the name of its capital.By the end of the 6th century it had converted to Christianity, but in the 7th century Egypt is conquered by the Islamic armies, and Nubia is cut off from the rest of Christendom.

In 651 an Arab army invades, but it is repulsed and a treaty known as the baqt is signed creating a relative peace between the two sides that lasts until the 13th century.

Makuria expands, annexing its northern neighbor Nobatia either at the time of the Arab invasion or during the reign of King Merkurios.

The period from roughly 750 to 1150 sees the kingdom stable and prosperous.

Increased aggression from Egypt, and internal discord leads to the state's collapse in the 14th century.

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