Editing Funj Sultanate (section)

===Military===
[[File:Shukuri knight.png|thumb|left|An armoured [[Shukria clan|Shukuri]] horseman in 1879]]
[[File:Sword Nasir ibn Badi IV NCAM KH394.jpg|right|thumb|165px|Sword of [[Nasir of Sennar|Nasir ibn Badi IV]]. National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums of [[Sudan]].]]
The army of Sennar was feudal. Each noble house could field a military unit measured in its power by its horsemen. The population, although generally armed, was only rarely called to war, in cases of uttermost need. Most Funj warriors were slaves traditionally captured in annual slave raids called ''salatiya'',{{sfn|Spaulding|1985|pp=71–72}} targeting the stateless non-Muslims in the Nuba mountains pejoratively referred to as ''Fartit''.{{sfn|Insoll|2003|p=123}} The army was divided into infantry, represented by an official called ''muqaddam al-qawawid'', and cavalry, represented by the ''muqaddam al-khayl''.{{sfn|Spaulding|1985|pp=72–73}} The Sultan rarely led armies into battle and instead appointed a commander for the duration of the campaign, called ''amin jaysh al-sultan''.{{sfn|Spaulding|1985|p=70}} At its peak the Funj Sultanate was probably able to field about 5,000 horsemen, while in 1772 James Bruce estimated that lightly armed slave warriors fighting as infantry amounted to about 14,000 men.{{sfn|Paul|1954|p=24–25}} Nomadic warriors fighting for the Funj had an own appointed leader, the ''aqid'' or ''qa’id''.{{sfn|O'Fahey|Spaulding|1974|p=54}} [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]] and [[Dinka]] mercenaries were also utilized.{{sfn|O'Fahey|Spaulding|1974|p=63}}

The weaponry of the Funj warriors consisted of thrusting [[lance]]s, [[throwing knives#Central Africa|throwing knives]], [[javelin]]s, [[hide (skin)|hide]] [[shield]]s and, most importantly, long [[broadsword]]s which could be wielded with two hands. Body armour consisted of leather or quilts and additionally mail, while the hands were protected by leather gloves. On the heads iron or copper helmets were worn. The horses were also armoured, wearing thick [[quilt]]s, [[copper]] headgear and [[barding|breast plates]]. While armour was also manufactured locally, it was at times imported as well.{{sfn|O'Fahey|Spaulding|1974|pp=53–54}} In the late 17th century Sultan [[Badi III]] attempted to modernize the army by importing [[firearm]]s and even [[cannons]], but they were quickly disregarded after his death not only because the import was expensive and unreliable, but also because the traditionally armed elites feared for their power.{{sfn|O'Fahey|Spaulding|1974|pp=68–69}} James Bruce remarked that the Sultan had "not one musket in his whole army".{{sfn|Bruce|1790|p=481}} 40 years later [[Johann Ludwig Burckhardt]] noted that [[Mek Nimr]], the now independent lord of [[Shendi]], maintained a small force of slaves armed with muskets bought or stolen from Egyptian merchants. While they were in bad shape their mere display was enough to cause terror among Nimr's enemies.{{sfn|Burckhardt|1819|p=286}} In 1820 the Shaiqiya were said to have a few pistols and guns, although the overwhelming majority still used traditional weapons.{{sfn|Waddington|Hanbury|1822|p=98}}