Askia Muhammad I

Askia Muhammad Ture I, also known as Askia the Great, was the first ruler of the Askia dynasty of the Songhai Empire. He reigned from 1493 to 1528 and is remembered for making the Songhai Empire one of the largest in West Africa’s history. Under his leadership, the empire grew to include areas as far as Kano in present-day Nigeria and stretched from the north to Guinea.

Before becoming ruler, Muhammad served as a general under Sunni Ali. When Sunni Ali died and was succeeded by his son Sunni Baru in 1492, Muhammad challenged the new ruler because he was not a faithful follower of Islam. Muhammad defeated Baru and took the throne in 1493.

As ruler, Askia Muhammad worked hard to expand and organize his empire. He created a strong system of government, set up trade rules and taxes, and protected trade routes. He also helped spread the ideas of Islam throughout the empire while respecting local traditions. His changes helped make the Songhai Empire strong and prosperous. He was later overthrown by his son, Askia Musa, in 1528.

Name and origins

The Tarikh al-Sudan tells us that Askia Muhammad's name was Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Turi or al-Sillanki. The Tarikh al-Fattash says his name was Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr. Many historians think al-Turi and al-Sillanki are clan names from the Soninke people. But some believe they refer to places called Futa Toro or Silla in the Senegal valley.

After his trip to Mecca in 1497–1498, he became known as Askia al-Hajj Muhammad. Today, in the Songhai language, he is called Mamar Kassey. “Mamar” is another way to say Muhammad, and “Kassey” comes from his mother’s name.

Some people argue that Askia Muhammad’s family came from Futa Toro, but this idea is not popular among the Songhai people. His exact family name is still unknown. The story of his background is still being studied by experts in Timbuktu.

Title

The title "Askia" comes from an unknown origin, but it has been used since the early 1300s. Some think it might mean "general" in Arabic. A story from the Tarikh al-Sudan says that Askia Muhammad made up the title after hearing the daughters of Sonni Ali say, "a si Kiya", which means "it is not his" or "he shall not be it."

The original way people said the title is not known. Today, in Songhai, it is said as siciya. Moroccan writers spelled it Sukyā or Sikyā, Leo Africanus wrote it as Ischia, and a Portuguese writer from that time spelled it Azquya.

Early life

Askia Muhammad was born in Gao. His father, Baru Lum, came from the Toucouleur or Soninke people, whose ancestors lived near the Senegal River valley. His mother was named Kassey and, according to stories passed down, she was the sister of Sonni Ali.

Rebellion

Under Sonni Ali, Muhammad Ture was a strong general but often disagreed with the king. He believed Ali was not treating people fairly.

In 1492, after Sonni Ali passed away, Muhammad Ture led a fight against Ali's son Sonni Baru. He said Baru was not a faithful leader. Ture got help from leaders in Timbuktu and others. Ture won the battle at Battle of Anfao in 1493 near Gao and became the new leader, taking the title 'Askia'.

Reign

Askia Muhammad Ture I, also known as Askia the Great, became the first ruler of the Askia dynasty of the Songhai Empire. In 1496, he traveled to Mecca, a journey he made with 500 horsemen and 1000 soldiers. During this trip, he gave away money to help others but returned to his empire owing a lot of money. Despite this, his journey gave him important titles and helped make Islam an important part of his rule.

When he came back, he led many battles against nearby lands such as the Mossi, the Sultanate of Agadez, and the Kanem-Borno empire. His forces won some battles and made new agreements with groups like the Tuareg, which helped the Songhai Empire grow stronger. He also organized his empire better, making new rules based on Islamic law and setting up special leaders to govern different parts of the land. He created a strong army and made important cities like Timbuktu centers of learning and power.

Exile and death

Askia Muhammad had many sons who wanted to be in charge. When one of his younger sons, Bala, became a governor, another son named Musa threatened to harm the king's advisor and forced Askia Muhammad to leave his home. By 1528, Askia Muhammad was very old, ill, and had lost his sight. He was forced to give up his position as ruler by his son Askia Musa.

After Musa was removed from power, Askia Muhammad was sent away to an island in the Niger River. From there, he worked with his son Ismail to take back control. In 1537, they succeeded, and Askia Muhammad returned to the capital city of Gao. He died there in 1538 and was buried in the city.

Descent from Askia

Askia Muhammad I had many children from many wives and concubines. Like famous leaders such as Genghis Khan in Asia and Charlemagne in Europe, Askia Muhammad and his family became important ancestors for many people in West Africa.

People who are descendants of Askia Muhammad are known as mamar hamey. They come from many places, including Mali, Niger, and other areas. These descendants often held important positions and were part of royal families. In some places, they mixed with local groups and helped shape the culture and language of the area.

The descendants of Askia Muhammad are also found among the Djermas, a subgroup of the Songhai people. Marriages between different royal families helped keep strong ties among these groups. These families played big roles in the army and government of the old Songhai Empire.

Legacy

Askia Muhammad encouraged learning and reading. He helped make Songhai's universities places where important scholars studied and wrote books. His friend and nephew, Mahmud Kati, was one of these scholars. Askia worked with scholars in Timbuktu, making it a center for learning and Muslim studies. Two important history books, Tarikh al-fattash and Tarikh al-Sudan, were written during his time and are still used by historians today. The king's tomb, called the Tomb of Askia, is now a special site protected by UNESCO.

Storytellers known as griots have shared an oral story called The Epic of Askia Mohammed for many years. A version of this story was recorded in Niger in 1980.

In popular culture, a musical group from Niger is named Mamar Kassey after him. He also appears as a leader in the game Sid Meier's Civilization V.