Chapters › Christian Nubia · Sudan – Middle Nile
Makuria
500 CE – 1500 CE
Approximate area of control ≈ approximate
- OpenHistoricalMap contributors Kingdom of Makuria (0450–1265), relation 2960090 link [low]
Sources: OpenHistoricalMap contributors Kingdom of Makuria (0450–1265), relation 2960090; Tomasz Derda & Adam Łajtar (2019) Organization of the Church in Medieval Nubia in the Light of a Newly Discovered Wall Inscription in Dongola; K. Michałowski (1981) The spreading of Christianity in Nubia (General History of Africa II, ch.12) - OpenHistoricalMap contributors Kingdom of Makuria (0450–1265), relation 2960090 link [low]
Sources: OpenHistoricalMap contributors Kingdom of Makuria (0450–1265), relation 2960090; Tomasz Derda & Adam Łajtar (2019) Organization of the Church in Medieval Nubia in the Light of a Newly Discovered Wall Inscription in Dongola; K. Michałowski (1981) The spreading of Christianity in Nubia (General History of Africa II, ch.12) - OpenHistoricalMap contributors Kingdom of Makuria (1265–1268), relation 2960089 link [low]
- OpenHistoricalMap contributors Kingdom of Makuria (1268–1276), relation 2960088 link [low]
Reference points
- Gebel Adda (reference marker) [low] — Wikipedia contributors, "Makuria", English Wikipedia (fetched 2026-10-20; cites Gerhards 2025, Ruffini 2012, Seignobos 2018) – flagged, no scholarly text read
- Qasr Ibrim (reference marker) [low] — Wikipedia contributors, "Makuria", English Wikipedia (fetched 2026-10-20; cites Gerhards 2025, Ruffini 2012, Seignobos 2018) – flagged, no scholarly text read
- Meinarti (reference marker) [low] — Wikipedia contributors, "Makuria", English Wikipedia (fetched 2026-10-20; cites Gerhards 2025, Ruffini 2012, Seignobos 2018) – flagged, no scholarly text read
Dating note
End date approximate (kingdom fragmented in 14th–15th c.). Merger with Makuria: date disputed. GHA II ch.12 (Michałowski, pp.332–333) gives two versions: Maqrizi has one king, Qalidurut, ruling central and northern Nubia by the mid-7th c.; 'Christian sources seem to prove that the union of Nubia was the work of King Merkurios, who came to the throne in 697.' Derda & Łajtar (2019, p.136 and n.4): 'perhaps around 630'; the earliest indubitable proof of a greater Makuria including Nobadia is the reign of Merkurios (late 7th–early 8th c.); incorporation probably before the Arab raid on Dongola in 652; Godlewski has suggested the end of the 6th c. Welsby 2002 not read on this point.
Key events
- Repulsed Arab armies at Dongola 651/652
- Baqt treaty with Egypt
- Faras cathedral frescoes
- Decline under Mamluk pressure, 14th c.
Capitals / sites
Old Dongola, Banganarti
Geopolitics
Kingdom centred on Old Dongola from the 6th c.; the baqt agreement with Muslim Egypt, followed by Abdallah ibn Abi Sarh's raid on Dongola in 651–2; Northern and Central Nubia later united into one state (GHA II ch.12).
Culture
Converted to Melkite (Orthodox) Christianity by Justinian's mission (567–70), then adopted Monophysitism between 660 and 700 (King Merkurios, from 697, is credited with introducing it); government nomenclature modelled on Byzantine bureaucracy; Polish excavations at Old Dongola identified churches and the royal palace (GHA II ch.12).
Economy
Raids did not interrupt the constant trade between Nubia and Muslim Egypt (GHA II ch.12).
Regional power
Research in progress We have not yet read a source for this section. It will be added once one is checked; nothing is filled in by guesswork.
Cross-language checks
- en · conflict · Common simplification: Christian Nubia was Monophysite from its conversion (GHA2; Applies to Makuria only; 'Monophysite Nubia' holds for Nobadia and for Makuria after c.700)
Open data flags
- regional_power: no actors scored
Sources
- K. Michałowski (1981) The spreading of Christianity in Nubia (General History of Africa II, ch.12) UNESCO link [en]
- Derek A. Welsby (2002) The Medieval Kingdoms of Nubia: Pagans, Christians and Muslims along the Middle Nile British Museum Press link [en]
- Wikipedia contributors (2026) Makuria Wikipedia link [en]
- Wikipedia contributors Baqt Wikipedia link [en]
- Tomasz Derda & Adam Łajtar (2019) Organization of the Church in Medieval Nubia in the Light of a Newly Discovered Wall Inscription in Dongola Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinistik 69 (Austrian Academy of Sciences) link [en]