Who Was When

You are looking at

Songhai Empire

AfricaHeartland today: Mali and Niger

Compare with…

Meanwhile…

From Gao on the Niger bend, Sunni Ali and then Askia Muhammad built one of the largest states in African history, holding Timbuktu and Djenné. A Moroccan army with firearms defeated it at Tondibi in 1591.

Also alive at the same time

Key events

  1. Sunni Ali becomes ruler of Songhai

    EBSCO says he ruled from c. 1464 to 1492; Wikipedia and World History Encyclopedia give 1464 to 1492.

    Also happening around

  2. Sunni Ali takes Timbuktu from the TuaregDisputed

    EBSCO and Wikipedia give 1468; World History Encyclopedia gives 1469. EBSCO says the Tuareg had held the city since 1433.

    Also happening around

  3. Djenné surrenders to Sunni Ali after a siege of several yearsDisputed

    EBSCO, World History Encyclopedia and the Sonni Ali section of Wikipedia give 1473; Wikipedia's introduction gives 1475. Wikipedia describes a seven-year siege that ended in surrender; EBSCO says the city finally succumbed.

    Also happening around

  4. Muhammad Ture overthrows Sunni Ali's son and rules as Askia Muhammad, founding the Askia dynastyDisputed

    EBSCO and Wikipedia give 1493 (Wikipedia: the battle of Anfao, April 1493); World History Encyclopedia's timeline starts his rule in 1494. Sunni Ali's son is Sunni Baru.

    Also happening around

  5. – Askia Muhammad makes the pilgrimage to Mecca and receives the title of caliph of the SudanDisputed

    Wikipedia's Askia Mohammad I article gives 1496 in one passage and 1497 to 1498 in another, and says he was away for nearly two years. World History Encyclopedia says he received the honorary title of Caliph of the Sudan; Wikipedia says he returned with the titles al-hajj and khalifa.

    Also happening around

  6. A Moroccan army with firearms defeats Askia Ishaq II at Tondibi and takes GaoDisputed

    EBSCO has the Moroccan army reach Tondibi by 12 March 1591; Wikipedia dates the battle to 13 March 1591; World History Encyclopedia puts the invasion in 1590 to 1591.

    Also happening around