Chapters › Funj & Darfur Sultanates · Sudan – Middle Nile
Funj Sultanate of Sennar
1504 CE – 1821 CE
Approximate area of control
Research in progress No areas drawn: the file only has reference points.
Reference points
- Sennar (capital) [medium] — P.M. Holt & M.W. Daly (2011) A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day
- Fazughli (probable southern limit, early 17th c.) [low] — Y.F. Hasan and B.A. Ogot (1992) The Sudan, 1500–1800, ch.7 (General History of Africa V) pp. p. 177
- Old Dongola (northern reach) [low] — 中华人民共和国驻苏丹大使馆 (PRC Embassy in Sudan) (2020) 苏丹历史漫谈 (Notes on Sudanese history)
- Third Cataract (northern limit) [low] — P.M. Holt & M.W. Daly (2011) A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day
- Kordofan (contested with Darfur) [low] — P.M. Holt & M.W. Daly (2011) A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day
Dating note
1504–1821 per Holt & Daly. Foundation by a Shilluk band is a tradition, not established fact.
Key events
- Founded by Amara Dunqas 1504
- Islamisation and Sufi orders
- Conquered by Ottoman-Egyptian army 1821
- Holt & Daly: Funj suzerainty over Upper Nubia (above 3rd Cataract) incl. vassal-kingdom of Dongola; 'Abdallab recognised as paramount chiefs of the Arabs
Capitals / sites
Sennar
Geopolitics
Suzerain over Upper Nubia above the Third Cataract, including the vassal kingdom of Dongola; Lower Nubia nominally under Ottoman Egypt. 'Abdallab recognised as paramount chiefs of the Arabs; Kordofan contested with Darfur (Holt & Daly).
Culture
Islamisation and Sufi orders; Arab genealogical identity (Ja'ali/'Abbasi, Juhayna) spreading among riverain peoples (Holt & Daly).
Economy
North–south route Sennar–Egypt and west–east route Darfur–Suakin; Shendi the main market by c.1800; staples millet and dammur cloth used as currency, foreign silver for large deals; slaves of pre-eminent importance in trade (Holt & Daly).
Regional power
- Funj Sultanate: Research in progress suzerainty attested (Holt & Daly) but no comparative measure
- Darfur: Research in progress unscored
- Ottoman Egypt: Research in progress unscored
Open data flags
- suzerainty attested (Holt & Daly) but no comparative measure
- unscored
- unscored
Sources
- P.M. Holt & M.W. Daly (2011) A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day Routledge (Pearson/Longman) link [en]
- Jay Spaulding (1985) The Heroic Age in Sinnār African Studies Center, Michigan State University (1985); later reissue catalogued by LoC link [en]
- Wikipedia contributors Funj Sultanate Wikipedia link [en]