Askia Mohammed

Mamadou (Mohammed) Touré, known as Askia Mohammed was emperor of Songhaï, born in 1443 and died in 1528. It reverses in 1493 Sonni Baro, the son of Sonni Ali Ber (Ali the large one). He becomes emperor of Songhaï. Taking the name of Askia Mohammed, he is the founder of the dynasty of the Askia. He pacifies and reorganizes the empire. He subjects to the tribute the Mali, the kingdom of Diara, the Peul S of the Fouta-Toro, the kingdom Berbère of the Aïr and several kingdoms Haoussa in the east but fails the south against the Bourgou and the Kebbi.

Askia Mohammed improves the administration. The territory is divided into four viceroyalties and several governments. It creates functions similar to the current ministries. It sets up a professional army, primarily made up of slaves and prisoners of war and orders the construction of a fleet to ensure of the faster connections by the Niger. He encourages agriculture and orders and drain irrigation work of Niger. He supports, in spite of his anti-semitism, the installation of farmers Juifs along the river. He unifies the weights and measures, increases the production of the saltworks of Teghazza and the gold mines of the empire. It transfers its capital from Gao to Tombouctou where it gains the support of the Ouléma S.

In 1497, considering that its empire is pacified, it entrusts of it regency to his/her Omar brother and share in pilgrimage with Mecque where it receives the title of Caliph for the Sudan. It distributes gold in all the cities which it crosses. On its return, it supports the expansion of the Islam in the big cities of the empire. It brings back with him to Tombouctou a nephew of the sherif of Mecque as well as many Moslem well-read men.

Askia Mohammed extends the borders of the Empire songhaï until the Fouta Toro (current Senegal) and in north until Agadez which it seizes in 1515.

In 1500, it occupies the south of the Dendi and the neighbouring areas where the son of the Sonni Ali Ber, Sonni Baro cut a kingdom. The following year, it seizes the Empire of Mali, then reduced to a small vassal territory of the empire songhaï. It carries out then the holy war against the king Nasséré animist of the country Mossi.

In 1512, it completes the pacification of the area of the Bakounou, held by the Peul of Tenguéla, which is killed. Askia Mohammed makes then alliance with Kanta, king of the Kebbi, and goes towards the east where it annexes the States Haoussas Katsina, the Gobir and the town of Kano. In 1515, it seizes Agadez, city held by the Touareg, but avoids coming into contact with the powerful empire of the Bornou.

Askia Mohammed is scrambled with her ally Kanta, king of the Kebbi, for the division of the spoils (1516). It must beat a retreat for the first time. Peace lasts however on the Songhaï empire until the end of its reign.

Become blind, it is détrôné by his son Monzo Moussa in 1528 and dies shortly after at the 85 years age: It had some 200 children of women of any origines (African, Arab, European and Turkish). His/her oldest son Foamed, born of a prisoner dahoméenne, gathers the dissatisfied ones and seizes Gao whereas his/her father is in inspection. After having driven out it royal palace, it takes the title of Askia, but does not manage to impose its authority. He decimates most of the applicants to the throne, brothers and cousins, but is killed in his turn in 1531. (see here: Askia Mohammed)

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