Makuria

Kingdom of Makuria
Ⲙⲁⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲁ
340–1276 1286–1317
The flag of Makuria according to the Book of Knowledge of All Kingdoms
Christian Nubia in the three states period. Makuria would later absorb Nobatia. Note that the border between Alodia and Makuria is unclear, but it was somewhere between the 5th and 6th Cataracts of the Nile
Capital		Dongola
Languages		Nubian
Religion		Traditional African religion, Christianity (from the 6th century)
Government		Monarchy
•	1316-1317	Barschanbu
History
•	Established	4th century
•	Makuria invaded and occupied by Mamluks	1312
•	Disestablished	1312
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Kush Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo) Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo) Banu Kanz

The flag of Makuria according to the Book of Knowledge of All Kingdoms

The Kingdom of Makuria (perhaps Old Nubian: ⲇⲱⲧⲁⲩⲟ, Dotawo; Greek: Μακογρια, Makouria; Arabic: مقرة‎‎, al-Muqurra) was a kingdom located in what is today Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt. Makuria originally covered the area along the Nile River from the Third Cataract to somewhere between the Fifth and Sixth Cataracts. It also had control over the trade routes, mines, and oases to the east and west. Its capital was 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 was conquered by the Islamic armies, and Nubia was cut off from the rest of Christendom. In 651 an Arab army invaded, but it was repulsed and a treaty known as the baqt was signed creating a relative peace between the two sides that lasted until the 13th century. Makuria expanded, annexing its northern neighbour Nobatia either at the time of the Arab conquest or during the reign of King Merkurios. The period from roughly 750 to 1150 saw the kingdom stable and prosperous, in what has been called the "Golden Age". Increased aggression from Egypt, and internal discord led to the state's collapse in the 14th century.