The Historical Record

The Rulers

Kings and queens of African and African-descended nations, oldest first. Open any ruler for their full story, with every fact numbered and linked to its source.

Kashta Kingdom of Kush · 8th century BC

The Kushite king before Piye, whose daughter became God's Wife of Amun at Thebes.

3 sources

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Piye Kingdom of Kush · second half of the 8th century BC

Also: Piankhi, Piankhy

The first king of Kush to rule Egypt.

4 sources

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Shebitku Kingdom of Kush · by about 706 BC

Also: Shabataka, Shebitqo

The Kushite king named in an Assyrian royal inscription as king of Kush by about 706 BC.

3 sources

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Shabaka Kingdom of Kush · after Shebitku to 690 BC

Also: Shabaqo, Sabacon

The Kushite pharaoh who had Egypt's oldest account of creation carved in stone.

4 sources

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Taharqa Kingdom of Kush · 690 BC to 664 BC

Also: Tirhakah, Taharqo

The Kushite pharaoh named in the Bible as Tirhakah, king of Cush. Under him, Kush's building, art and trade reached new heights.

7 sources

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Tantamani Kingdom of Kush · 664 BC to mid-7th century BC

Also: Tanutamani, Tanwetamani

The last Kushite king to rule in Egypt.

6 sources

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Masinissa Kingdom of Numidia · 202 BC to 148 BC

Also: Massinissa

The first king of all Numidia, who united its peoples in 202 BC and ruled for more than fifty years.

7 sources

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Juba II Kingdom of Mauretania · 25 BC to 23 AD

King of Mauretania from 25 BC to 23 AD, son of the last great king of Numidia.

5 sources

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Ptolemy of Mauretania Kingdom of Mauretania · 23 AD to 40 AD

The last king of Mauretania, son of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II.

4 sources

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Ezana Kingdom of Aksum · 4th century AD

Also: Ezana II

The king of Aksum who became a Christian in the 4th century AD.

4 sources

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Sundiata Keita Mali Empire · 13th century

Also: Sundjata

The founder of the Mali Empire, in the 13th century.

2 sources

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Mansa Musa Mali Empire · 1312 to 1337

Also: Musa I of Mali

Ruler of Mali from 1312 to 1337, whose pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 carried so much gold that its value fell in Cairo.

4 sources

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Sunni Ali Songhai Empire · 1464 to 1492

Also: Sonni Ali

The ruler who built the Songhai Empire, reigning from 1464 to 1492.

2 sources

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Askia Muhammad Songhai Empire · the 1490s

Also: Muhammad Ture; Mohammad I

The ruler who took power in Songhai in the 1490s and founded a new line of rulers.

2 sources

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