Historians Debated The Existence of African King for Centuries, Until This Letter Appeared

A recent discovery in Sudan is providing historians with a clear view of a ruler who was previously considered half-legendary. A 400-year-old Arabic letter from King Qasqash was unearthed by researchers while digging at Old Dongola, which gives us the first clear proof that the king indeed existed in real life and was not just a fictional ruler in history books. King Qasqash was mentioned in a few lines of a 19th-century religious text to this time, but it was unclear whether he was actually a ruler in that region.

The Arabic letter was unearthed in 2026 by archaeologists from the University of Warsaw Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology while digging in the citadel region of Old Dongola. This region had long been considered the capital of the Kingdom of Makuria, which was one of the most powerful civilizations in the Nile River region that thrived for centuries. The Arabic letter was found in a trash heap in the citadel region and had survived for centuries due to the bone-dry conditions in the desert region.

his one had survived in almost pristine condition and was not torn in any part, unlike most documents from this period, which enables scholars to read it in full, according to TVP World and Phys.org.


Qasqash’s existence was a subject of intense debate before this discovery. Historical references to him appeared only in later religious writings, which left historians unsure whether he was a real ruler or a legendary figure. The newly discovered order changes that understanding by clearly identifying the king as the issuer of an administrative directive, and provides concrete evidence that he ruled Makuria during the late 16th or early 17th century, reports Heritage Daily. Historians say this confirmation helps in clarifying a period of Nubian history that is still poorly documented because of limited written records.

The letter itself is an administrative instruction that was sent by the king to an official named Khidr. It deals with the management of goods, which includes textiles and livestock, and tells us how royal authorities handled economic exchanges in the kingdom. One item mentioned in the document is a mandūf al-raʾs, which is a ceremonial headdress that was associated with elite status. Gifts such as these were often used to reinforce social hierarchies and maintain alliances among nobles, according to researchers at Phys.org.

These details show how rulers in Makuria exercised their authority by directly getting involved in economic and social relationships. Language is another important feature of the letter. Makuria was historically a Christian Nubian kingdom with its own local languages; despite this, the document is written in Arabic. The writing style contains grammatical features that are closer to spoken language than formal Arabic, according to researchers. This could possibly mean that the kingdom was going through a linguistic transition, with Arabic slowly becoming the administrative language of the royal court.

Such shifts were a reflection of broader cultural changes that occurred across northeastern Africa during this period, being influenced by trade and contact with Arab communities.

The discovery also points to the significance of Old Dongola as one of the most important archaeological sites in Sudan. The site was once a thriving center of politics and religion, and now serves as a window to the past of the Nubian civilizations that once thrived there. The discovery of the letter, embedded in the rubbish layer, tells us about the importance of rubbish and junk, which very often hold the key to historical discoveries.

Archaeologists have found significant historical documents in unexpected places, as noted by The Archaeologist magazine. The discovery of King Qasqash has filled some of the gaps that exist regarding the late medieval period of Nubia, and aims to reinforce the importance of archaeology in confirming historical characters that are only heard of through stories and books, with some historians indicating that discoveries like this serve to put some of the lesser-known periods of African history into sharper focus.