<P> Indeed, at the end of the 2nd century AD, the Nobatae occupied the Nile's west bank in northern Kush . They are believed to have been one of several well - armed bands of horse - and camel - borne warriors who sold their vagility to the Meroitic Population for protection; eventually they intermarried and established themselves among the Meroitic people as a military aristocracy . Until nearly the 5th century, Rome subsidized the Nobatae and used Meroe as a buffer between Egypt and the Blemmyes . Meanwhile, the old Meroitic kingdom contracted because of the expansion of the powerful Ethiopic Kingdom of Aksum to the east . By AD 350, King Ezana of Axum had captured and destroyed Meroe city, ending the kingdom's independent existence, and conquering its territory into modern - day northern Sudan . </P> <P> Nubia was never dominated by the Romans, but in Augustus times there was a possible "Client State" of Rome in northern Nubia . </P> <P> Indeed, Strabo describes a war with the Romans in the 1st century BC . After the initial victories of Kandake (or "Candace") Amanirenas against Roman Egypt, the Kushites of northern Nubia were defeated and Napata sacked . Remarkably, the destruction of the capital of Napata was not a crippling blow to the Kushites and did not frighten Candace enough to prevent her from again engaging in combat with the Roman military . Indeed, it seems that Petronius's attack might have had a revitalizing influence on the kingdom . Just three years later, in 22 BC, a large Kushite force moved northward with intention of attacking Qasr Ibrim . Alerted to the advance, Petronius again marched south and managed to reach Qasr Ibrim and bolster its defences before the invading Kushites arrived . Although the ancient sources give no description of the ensuing battle, we know that at some point the Kushites sent ambassadors to negotiate a peace settlement with Petronius and possibly accept a status like "Client State" of Rome . By the end of the second campaign after other years of fighting, however, Petronius was in no mood to deal further with the Kushites . The Kushites succeeded in negotiating a peace treaty on favourable terms . and trade between the two nations increased . </P> <P> It is possible that the Roman emperor Nero planned another attempt to fully conquer Kush before his death in 68 AD . </P>

The kushites of meroe had indirect trade relations with