DBA Armies

With the conversion of the Nobades to Monophysite Christianity around 550 AD, three Christian kingdoms arose in the Sudan and this list describes their armies. These were, from north to south, Nobatia, Makouria (around modern Dongola) and Alwa (with its capital at Soba near the junction of the White and Blue Niles). Nobatia was conquered by Makouria circa 650-700 and after this the combined state was often called Nubia. It fought successive Muslim Egyptian regimes and inflicted the first serious reverse on the Muslim Arab conquest armies at Dongola in 643, but also enjoyed long periods of peaceful trade with Egypt. Bedouin Arabs (in particular the Banu Kanz tribe) moved south from Egypt after being expelled by Saladin in 1174 and seized control from 1323-1365, after which the history is obscure, though a Nubian successor state survived until at least 1484. Alwa also suffered from Bedouin incursions and fell around 1500, either to these or to Funj migrating from the south. The army were renowned for its very effective foot archers. Contemporary depictions of other foot show segmented nasal-guard helmet, quilted armour, cloak, a figure-of-eight shield which may be shown under-sized, a spear and a broad-bladed shafted stabbing weapon similar to the later Zulu assegai. Since most inhabitants were poor peasants, these well-armed foot may have been an elite or a court standing army. Mounted troops used both horses and camels throughout the period and it was one of the few army to use charging camelry, many of whom may have been provided by Beja (see II/45) or similar allies. Court nobility probably provided the cavalry (both mailed and unarmoured) in gold-embroidered robes seen in Nubian art. Camel riders fighting against the Mamluks in 1286 are described swathed in black felt cloaks and using spears. Reference: Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath.