Sultanate of Darfur

Quick Facts: Who was Sultanate of Darfur?

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Sultanate of Darfur

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Pre-colonial state in modern Sudan, existing through periods of rule and conquest.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Sultanate of Darfur (Arabic: سلطنة دارفور, romanized: Salṭanat Dārfūr) was a pre-colonial state in present-day Sudan. It existed from the 16th century to 1874, when it fell to the Sudanese warlord Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur, and was re-established again from 1898 to 1916, until it was conquered by the British. At its peak in the late-18th and early-19th century it stretched all the way from Darfur in the west to Kordofan and the western banks of the White Nile in the east.

Career & Major Achievements

The region of Darfur is part of the wider bioregion of Sudanian savanna that forms an east–west belt across Africa, situated to the south of the Sahel and Sahara. Central Darfur features the Jebel Marra, a 70-mile-long (110 km) volcanic range that reaches around 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in height. There are typically large distances between areas of fertile land and therefore population centres.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The environment is hot and dusty, and rains often fail. Though drought and famine were likely always a major concern, population growth through the 20th century contributed significantly to desertification and environmental degradation, and climatic history of the region is poorly understood.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1874: 1874 Milestone — It existed from the 16th century to 1874, when it fell to the Sudanese warlord Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur, and was re-established again from 1898 to 1916, until it was conquered by the British.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sultanate of Darfur

True or False: “The Sultanate of Darfur maintained continuous, undisputed sovereignty over its entire territory from the 16th century until the British conquest in 1916.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Sultanate experienced multiple periods of decline and re-establishment, notably falling to warlords like Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur in 1874, which proves sovereignty was not continuous.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Historical peer (Born in 1874) (1874): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Adolphe Quetelet — Historical peer (Died in 1874) (1874): Pioneering Belgian statistician, founder of anthropometry, and social scientist.
• Albert Luthuli — Historical peer (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC in South Africa.
• Alexander Calder — Historical peer (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering American sculptor celebrated for kinetic mobiles and monumental abstract forms.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Born in 1916) (1916): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Ahmed Ben Bella — Historical peer (Born in 1916) (1916): Algerian revolutionary and politician who served as the first President of Algeria.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sultanate of Darfur