Makuria (Ma-KUR-i-a)

Makuria was a medieval Nubian kingdom that formed after the destruction of the Kingdom of Kush (c 350 A.D.). It was located between the third and fifth cataracts of the Nile (northern Sudan to southern Egypt) between the Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia to the north and Alodia to the south. Makuria converted to Christianity in the early 6th century in response to missions sent from Constantinople by Justinian (who was hoping to build alliances against the Sassanian Empire).
The Sassanian Empire invaded Egypt in 639 A.D. and began to pressure Nobatia. Ultimately Makuria annexed Nobatia before 642 A.D. It is unclear whether this annexation was a military one because Nobatia had been weakened by the Sassanians or whether it was more of a vassal state situation with Nobatia seeking protection from the Sassanians. In either case, Makuria extended its borders further downstream (to the north) all the way to the first cataract of the Nile near Aswan. Nobatia remained a separate province within Makuria ruled by an eparch.
Sassanian Muslims invaded Makuria in the 640's and 650's, being driven out each time. In their final invasion, they reached the capital of Dongala and besieged it but were unable to conquer it. The Makurian and Sassanian leaders signed a treaty called the Baqt which remained in force until the 13th century, acknowledged Makuria as an independent kingdom, and created a trade program exchanging African slaves for Mulsim wheat and textiles. The Muslim invaders attributed their inability to conquer Makuria to the exceptional skill of the Makurian archers.
In the 8th to the 10th centuries, Makuria became increasingly aggressive, especially toward Muslim Egypt. They won a number of battles, even capturing Aswan on several occasions but were unable to hold onto any territory in Egypt. 
Makuria was at its peak in the 9th to 11th centuries but declined sharply in the late 12th and 13th centuries, probably due to Bedouin incursions and raids. Internal conflicts eventually led to King David's cousin Shekanda fleeing to the Mamelukes in Egypt in 1276 A.D. and receiving their support, thus bringing the Mamluks into direct participation in the succession wars that followed over the next few decades. Makuria bounced back and forth between being a vassal state of the Mamluks and being an independent state.
A reduced Makuria kingdom eventually emerged with its capital in Addo. It was Christian but it continued to suffer from internal conflicts and Mamluk pressure from the north. It eventually disappeared after the death of its last known king Joel around 1500 A.D.

By LeGabrie - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66345634

Type

Geopolitical, Country