Kings

This page follows the names of kings of Nubian kingdoms presented in Welsby 2002, 259-261 (see Guide to the Texts). It does however reject Welsby's presentation of Makouria, Alwa and Dotawo as different kingdoms: see Ruffini forthcoming.

VIII Century

Cyriacus: Reigned during the patriarchate of Michael (743-767). Abu Salih describes his attack on Egypt.

IX Century

Zacharias: Reigned during the patriarchate of Joseph (831-849). Abu Salih describes his son's trip to Baghdad.

X Century

Asabiyus of Alwa: c. 938 - c. 955.

Astabanus of Alwa: c. 955-

Giorgios: -969 - before or until 1002

Zacharias: -962- (Dijkstra and van der Vliet 2002)

XI Century

David of Alwa: 999 to 1015.

Raphael: c. 1002, credited by Abu Salih with introducing red brick domes to the royal structure at Dongola.

Giorgios: 1070s (P.QI inv. 72.10.24/13). 1079/1080-

Solomon: His retirement during the patriarchate of Cyril, 67th patriarch (1078-1092), is described in Abu Salih. He had retired to a church of St Onnophrios before traveling to Cairo, where he died. His tomb is recorded as being in the monastery of St George. He had written a letter in Old Nubian which proved his learning in religious matters.

Basil: -1089-

XII Century

Basil of Alwa: an Arabic letter from Qasr Ibrim. Identical to Basil c. 1199 below?

David: Prior to 1156? See P.QI 3.30 and Griffith's land sale.

Giorgios: 1130-1158 - Wadi Natrun inscription

Moses Giorgios: 1144-1199?

Basil: -1199-

XIII Century

Murtashkar: -1268?

David: -1268-1272 (or 1275/1276)

Shakanda: 1276-

Barak: -1279?

Giorgios Simon (Semamun): 1280s-1290s

XV Century

Ioel: -1464-1484-

Undated

Giorgios of Alwa. Soba East inscription.