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 2013.

VII Century

Qalidurut: Reigned c. 651/652.

Mercurios: Reigned 696-710-?

VIII Century

Simon

Abraham

Mark: Reigned for six months.

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

Chael or Michael: c. 785/94 to 804/13.

IX Century

Ioannes: c. 850? or before 822?

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

David of Alwa: I.Khartoum Greek 79, a king David who reigned for 16 years, 3 months and 2 days in IX/X.

Giorgios: King for at least 12 years at the time of a Faras inscription Jakobielski believed to date to 871; see Jakobielski 1972, 95.

X Century

Giorgios: King and father of Zacharias below; see Hagen 2010.

Zacharias: 918 to at least 941; see Hagen 2010. Son of Giorgios.

Kabil, Surur's son: c. 943.

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. So the ed.pr. by Jakobielski, but see I.Khartoum Greek 79, moving the text to the IX/X.

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

Anonymous: son of Raphael.

Stephanos: c. 1027; see Millett 1967, 59.

Giorgios: 1070s (P.QI inv. 72.10.24/13: Plumley 1981 Coptic protocol, which dates to 1071/1072).

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: b. 5 July 1106. r. 28 June (?) 1132 on. d. 1158. Wadi Natrun inscription (WN).

Moses Giorgios: 1144-1199? Son of Koudapis and Mari. Nephew of David (who in turn would likely be Mari's brother). King of Alwa and Makouria. Descendant of Maranya Georgi, Zachari, and David.

Basil: -1199- (P.QI. 3.38. Note also the Basil in QI photo sheet 76V13 and in P.QI.inv. 82.2.3/67B)

XIII Century

Murtashkar: -1268?

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

Shakanda: 1276-

Barak: -1279?

Giorgios Simon (Semamun): 1280s-1290s

Semamun's nephew

David's nephew.

XIV Century

Amay: -1304/5-

Kernabes: 1311-1316.

Barshanbu: 1316-1317 (or 1318/1319).

Kanz ed-Dawla: 1317 (or 1318/1319) to 1323, including a short reign of Abraham.

Kernabes: 1323-1324.

Kanz ed-Dawla: 1324-?

Paper: Attested at Banganarti; see Łajtar 2005.

Siti: 1330s. See Łajtar 2004; Ochała 2011a; P.QI.4.66; P.QI.4.68.

XV Century

Ioel: -1464-1484-

Undated

Giorgios of Alwa. Soba East inscription.

Koudlaniel. Abu Oda.