Nobatia

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Nobatia was a kingdom in Christian Lower Nubia. Nobatia was likely founded by the Nobatae, who had been invited into the region from the Egyptian desert by the Roman Emperor Diocletian to help defeat the Blemmys in AD 297. Early Nobatia is quite likely the same civilization that is known to archeologists as the Ballana culture. Eventually the Nobatae were successful, and an inscription by Silko, Basiliskos of the Nobatae, claims to have driven the Blemmys into the eastern deserts. Around this same time the Nobatian kingdom was established with its capital at Faras. It quickly became a prosperous and important state, but was overshadowed by its more powerful southern neighbour Makuria. In the sixth century Nobatia converted to Monophysite Christianity, and Makuria to the rival Melkite faith.

At some point, either in the sixth or seventh century, Nobatia was annexed to Makuria. The circumstances of this merger are unknown. It might have occurred during the period of Arab conquests in 652, or perhaps during the reign of Merkurios of Makuria. Nobatia seems to have maintained some autonomy in the new state. It was ruled by the Eparch of Nobatia, some of whose records have been found at Qasr Ibrim which present a figure with a great deal of power. Some Arab writers refer to the merged state as the "Kingdom of Makuria and Nobatia" implying a dual monarchy.

Nobatia was the closest part of Nubia to Egypt, and was the most subject to the pressures of Arabization and Islamization. Over time the people of Nobatia gradually converted and moved from under the control of the Egyptians, becoming the semi-independent state of al-Maris.

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