An Embassy from the Sultan of Darfur to the Sublime Porte in 1791

Abstract This article presents documents relating to the embassy sent by Sultan ʿAbd al-Raḥmān of Darfur Ottoman Selim III in 1791. These include an original Arabic letter which is unusually early surviving example sultanic correspondence from Sahel. The permit a new interpretation purposes embassy, as well examination chancery practice Darfur, and offer insight into Darfuri views outside world. To aid analysis, compares this with second addressed Napoleon Bonaparte around 1800, text has not previously been published.