Editing Nilotic peoples (section)

===Shilluk===
[[File:A group of Shilluk, ca 1860.jpg|thumb|A group of [[Shilluk people|Shilluk]] in around 1860]]
By the 16th century, the most powerful group among the Nilotic speakers were the Cøllø, called Shilluk by Arabs and Europeans, who spread east to the banks of the white Nile under the legendary leadership of Nyikang,{{sfn|Forde|James|1999}} who is said to have ruled Läg Cøllø c from around 1490 to 1517.{{sfn|Mercer|1971|p=410}} The Cøllø gained control of the west bank of the river as far north as [[Kosti, Sudan|Kosti]] in Sudan. There they established an economy based on cattle raising, cereal farming, and fishing, with small villages located along the length of the river.{{sfn|EOPAME: Shilluk|2009}} The Cøllø developed an intensive system of agriculture. The Cøllø lands in the 17th century had a population density similar to that of the Egyptian Nile lands.{{sfn|Singh|2002|p=659}}

One theory is that pressure from the Cøllø drove the Funj people north, who would establish the [[Sultanate of Sennar]].
The Dinka remained in the Sudd area, maintaining their [[transhumance]] economy.{{sfn|EOPAME: Dinka|2009}}

While the Dinka were protected and isolated from their neighbours, the Cøllø were more involved in international affairs. The Cøllø controlled the west bank of the White Nile, but the other side was controlled by the Funj sultanate, with regular conflict between the two. The Cøllø had the ability to quickly raid outside areas by [[war canoe]], and had control of the waters of the Nile. The Funj had a standing army of armoured cavalry, and this force allowed them to dominate the plains of the [[sahel]].

Cøllø traditions tell of Rädh Odak Ocollo who ruled around 1630 and led them in a three-decade war with Sennar over control of the White Nile trade routes. The Cøllø allied with the [[Sultanate of Darfur]] and the Kingdom of [[Takali]] against the Funj, but the capitulation of Takali ended the war in the Funj's favour. In the later 17th century, the Cøllø and Funj allied against the Dinka, who rose to power in the border area between the Funj and Cøllø.{{sfn|Gen Hist Africa: vol. V chap 7|1999|pp=89–103}}

The Cøllø political structure gradually centralized under the a king or ''reth''. The most important is Rädh Tugø (son of Rädh Dhøköödhø) who ruled from ''circa'' 1690 to 1710 and established the Cøllø capital of [[Fashoda]]. The same period had the gradual collapse of the Funj sultanate, leaving the Cøllø in complete control of the White Nile and its trade routes. The Cøllø military power was based on control of the river.{{sfn|Gen Hist Africa: vol. V chap 7|1999|pp=89–103}}