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Songhai Empire Timeline

(c. 1464 – 1591)

The Songhai Empire was a powerful West African state centered on the Niger River, with its capital at Gao. Flourishing from the 15th to 16th centuries under rulers like Sunni Ali and Askia Muhammad, it became one of the largest empires in African history, renowned for its wealth from trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt and its centers of Islamic learning such as Timbuktu. Less

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Origins and Early Kingdom

Horse-riding Songhai speakers establish control

900

Before the 10th century, these early settlers were subjugated by more powerful, horse-riding Songhai speakers, who established control over the area.

Image source: Songhai Empire

Horse-riding Songhai speakers establish control

Songhai chiefs establish Gao as a small kingdom

1000

By the 10th century, the Songhai chiefs had established Gao as a small kingdom, taking control of the people living along the trade routes.

Dynasty of Maliks rules Gao

1100 - 1200

Inscriptions on a few of the tombstones in the cemetery indicate that this dynasty ruled in the late 11th and early 12th centuries and that its rulers were given the title of Malik or Malikah (Arabic for 'King' and 'Queen' respectively).

Mali Empire Era

Gao grows into an important trading center

1250 - 1300

During the second half of the 13th century, Gao and the surrounding region had grown into an important trading center and attracted the interest of the expanding Mali Empire.

Mali conquers Gao

1290

Mali conquered Gao near the end of the 13th century, bringing the Songhai heartland under Malian command.

Gao becomes prosperous enough to attract Mali's attention

1300

Around 1300, Gao had become prosperous enough to attract the Mali Empire's attention due to its growing role in regional trade.

Ibn Battuta visits Gao

1353

Ibn Battuta visited Gao in 1353 when the town was still a part of the Mali Empire, leaving an account of the region during his famous travels.

Image source: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta visits Gao

Succession disputes weaken the Mali Empire

1360

Following the death of Mansa Sulayman in 1360, disputes over who should succeed him weakened the Mali Empire, opening opportunities for Songhai's rise.

Image source: Mali Empire

Succession disputes weaken the Mali Empire

Gao regains independence from Mali

1400

Gao remained under Malian command until the late 14th century, after which it broke free from Mali's control.

Sonni Dynasty

Sonni Ali establishes Gao as the empire's capital

1464

Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century.

Image source: Government Accountability Office

Sonni Ali establishes Gao as the empire's capital

Sonni Ali begins his reign

1464 - 1492

After the death of Sulayman Dama, Sonni Ali reigned from 1464 to 1492, establishing Gao as the empire's capital and greatly expanding Songhai territory.

Seven-year siege ends with conquest of Djenné

1466 - 1473

After a seven-year siege, he was able to starve them into surrender, incorporating Djenné into his empire in 1473.

Mahmud Kati writes the Tarikh al-fattash

1468 - 1593

Many Muslim accounts described Sonni Ali as a tyrant, including the Tarikh al-fattash, written by Songhai scholar Mahmud Kati (1468-1593).

Image source: Tarikh al-fattash

Mahmud Kati writes the Tarikh al-fattash

Conquest of Timbuktu

1468

He annexed Timbuktu in 1468 after the leaders of the town asked him to help overthrow the Tuaregs, who had taken the city following the decline of Mali.

Image source: Timbuktu

Conquest of Timbuktu

Djenné conquered

1475

Other important cities in the kingdom were Timbuktu and Djenné, where urban-centred trade flourished; they were conquered in 1468 and 1475, respectively.

Image source: Djenné

Djenné conquered

Death of Sonni Ali

1492

Sonni Ali died in 1492 after nearly three decades of rule that transformed Songhai into the dominant power of the western Sahel.

Askia Dynasty

Askia dynasty replaces the Sonni dynasty

1493 - 1591

Initially, the Songhai Empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty (c. 1464–1493), but it was later replaced by the Askia dynasty (1493–1591).

Image source: Askia Muhammad I

Askia dynasty replaces the Sonni dynasty

Askia Muhammad's pilgrimage to Mecca

1496 - 1497

Historians from Cairo said his pilgrimage consisted of 'an escort of 500 cavalry and 1000 infantry, and with him he carried 300,000 pieces of gold'.

Askia's children revolt against him

1528

In 1528, Askia's children revolted against him, declaring his son Askia Musa king.

Overthrow of Askia Musa

1531

Following Musa's overthrow in 1531, the Songhai Empire went into decline.

Reign of Emperor Askia Daoud

1549 - 1583

Emperor Askia Daoud ruled the Songhai Empire during a period of relative stability before his death triggered renewed turmoil.

Decline and Fall

War of succession after Askia Daoud's death

1583

Following the death of Emperor Askia Daoud in 1583, a war of succession weakened the Songhai Empire and split it into two feuding factions.

Al-Mansur sends Judar Pasha to conquer Songhai

1590

In 1590, Al-Mansur took advantage of the recent civil conflict in the empire and sent an army under the command of Judar Pasha to conquer the Songhai and gain control of the trans-Saharan trade routes.

Battle of Tondibi

1591

When Songhai forces under Askia Ishaq II (r. 1588–1591) met Judar at the 1591 Battle of Tondibi, Songhai forces, despite vastly superior numbers, were routed by a cattle stampede triggered by the Saadi's gunpowder weapons.

Image source: Battle of Tondibi

Battle of Tondibi

Collapse of the Songhai Empire

1591

The Songhai Empire collapsed after the defeat at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591, ending its dominance over the western Sahel.

Tarikh al-Sudan written

1655

The Tarikh al-Sudan (History of Sudan), written in Arabic around 1655, provides an early history of the Songhai as handed down through oral tradition.

Image source: Tarikh al-Sudan

Tarikh al-Sudan written

Key Facts

  1. The Songhai Empire reached its height under Sunni Ali (r. 1464–1492), who expanded its territory through military conquests of Timbuktu and Jenne.
  2. Askia Muhammad I (r. 1493–1528) established an efficient administrative system and promoted Islam, making Songhai a major center of Islamic scholarship.
  3. Timbuktu became a renowned hub of learning, home to Sankore University and vast libraries of manuscripts on science, law, and theology.
  4. The empire's wealth came largely from controlling trans-Saharan trade routes, especially the exchange of gold, salt, and slaves.
  5. The empire collapsed in 1591 after defeat by Moroccan forces armed with firearms at the Battle of Tondibi.

Source

This Songhai Empire timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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