Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

First battle of Dongola

First battle of Dongola was a battle fought in AD 642 at Old Dongola, in what is now Sudan. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Old Dongola. It was part of Muslim conquests, which ran from AD 622 to AD 750. The recorded result: Makurian victory. Recorded strength: 20,000 Cavalry against 8,000-10,000 Archers & Cavalry.

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FoughtAD 642
WhereOld Dongola, Sudan18.223N, 30.744E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeMakurian victory
BelligerentsRashidun Caliphateagainst18px Kingdom of Makuria
Casualties and losses10,000-15,000 killed or woundedand2,000 killed or wounded
Part ofMuslim conquestsAD 622 to AD 750

Where it sits in Muslim conquests

First battle of Dongola, AD 642Second battle of Dongola, AD 652Battle of Siponto, AD 663Siege of Carcassonne, AD 725Battle of the River Berre, AD 737Battle of Avignon, AD 737Siege of Bilistan, AD 738Battle of Licosa, AD 846Siege of Salerno, AD 871Battle of Garigliano, AD 915Battle of Stilo, AD 982AD 642AD 982First battle of Dongola, AD 642
12 placed engagements of Muslim conquests in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateAD 642 (year precision)
PlaceOld Dongola, Sudan
18.223N, 30.744E
KindBattle, medieval
Strength20,000 Cavalry8,000-10,000 Archers & Cavalry
Casualties and losses10,000-15,000 killed or wounded2,000 killed or wounded
Commanders
  • Qalidurut
First battle of DongolaFirst battle of DongolaSecond battle of DongolaSecond battle of DongolaDongolaMerowe100 km18.223N, 30.744E
Placed at Old Dongola; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 642

First battle of Dongola is one of 179 engagements of the 7th century in the atlas and one of 25 in present-day Sudan.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q5452509, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article First battle of Dongola, revision 1384299633, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.