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Georgios I of Makuria

Georgios I or George I of Makuria was a ruler of the Nubian state of Makuria from c. AD 860 to 920.

In his youth his father Zacharias appointed him co-regent and dispatched him on the long journey to Baghdad. For several years Egypt had been wracked by civil war and Zacharias had halted payments of the baqt. Once Ibrahim had gained control over Egypt he demanded the bakt be resumed and the payment of all arrears. The try to reduce these demands young Georgios was sent to meet the Caliph. It is not certain if he traveled all the way to Baghdad or whether he simply went to Cairo, either way his journey had a major impact, and new treaty was signed canceling the arrears and changing the bakt so that it only needed to be paid every three years.

There is another story of Georgios being captured in his youth and brought to Baghdad as a prisoner. It is possible, but unlikely, that he made the journey twice. It is also possible that he was conflated with another person.

During Georgios' long reign the Arab adventurer Abu al-Rahman al-Umari invaded the gold mining area near Abu Haman with his private army. Georgios dispatched his nephew and heir Niuty to battle him, but Niuty rebelled. Georgios sent one of his sons, but he was defeated and forced to flee to Alodia. Another son, Zacharias , was dispatched, defeated once by Niuty's forces he allied himself with al-Umari and defeated Niuty. He then turned on al-Umari forcing him back to the north.

Zacharias, who was also Niuty's nephew, succeeded Georgios at the end of his long reign.

Last updated: 01-04-2007 01:18:57
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