Funj Sultanate << funj SUHL tuh nayt >> was a Muslim empire in what is now Sudan in northeastern Africa. The empire began in the early 1500’s and fell in 1821. It reached its height between 1600 and 1650 when Funj armies conquered neighboring peoples. The Funj became greatly feared in the region between the Red Sea and the Nile River.
The origin of the Funj people is uncertain. They may have descended from Shilluk raiders from the White Nile region. In the early 1500’s, the Funj adopted Islam, the Muslim religion. In 1504, they founded their capital, Sennar, south of the present-day city of Wad Madani. The sultanate went on to conquer the northern region of Sudan and nearly all the area between the Blue Nile and White Nile, south of the present-day city of Khartoum. From 1600 to 1650, the Funj used a slave army built by the sultan Badi II Abu Daqn to further extend their empire.
Between 1650 and 1750, the Funj nobles became jealous of the sultans’ power and revolted frequently. Finally, in 1761, a group of officers deposed the ruling sultan. A period of decline followed, and the empire fell in 1821 after Egypt invaded it.
