Sennar

The family of kings from central Africa, called the Funj, took control of much of the central and southern Nile Valley in the early 1500s. They became Islamic, even though they were not Arabs. They also learned to speak Arabic. They encouraged the spread of Islam in the Sudan by bringing many Islamic teachers from overseas.

For about three centuries, the Funj ruled Nubia from their capital at Sennar. They were known as "the Black Sultans," and wore "horned crowns" of quilted fabric with two pointed cheek pieces.

The Funj kings had a huge army of slaves. Their mounted troops and their horses wore full suits of armor.

Drawing of a king of Sennar, by F. Cailliaud in 1821.

In Islamic times in Sudan only very devout and holy men were given large tombs, in the form of domes, which were placed over the spot where they died. This domed tomb (gubba) is at Wad Ban Naqa, Sudan. Nineteenth century.

Photo: T. Kendall.

	The scarcity of guns in Sudan made quilted body armor and chain mail of this type effective for mounted warriors from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century.
	Courtesy of H. Ricketts.