Timeline of emperors and succession crisis

end of askia Mohammad's reign

• he became physically weak

• going blind

• relied on wisdom of Ali Fulan (chief adviser )

• appointed youngest son to ‘binga farma’ (governor of important province)- resulted in toure’s sons (led by Musa) to begin revolt

• removed Toure from power in 1528

when did askia Musa rule ?

1528-31

askia Musa’s reign

• punctuated with revolts and opposition 

• brothers refused to accept him as king 

• led to a battle which Musa won but his brothers continued until he was killed in another battle in 1531

Askia Benkan 

nephew of askia Muhammad 

cousin askia Musa 

1531-37

what was Askia Benkan’s rule like ?

• not peaceful

• engaged in a struggle with the deposed Askia Mohammad, whom he banished to an Island in the river Niger .

• led to much criticism by the Muslim faction

• led to another of Toure’s sons, Ismail ,deposing him in 1537

when did askia Ismail rule ?

1537-39

when did askia ishaq rule?

1539-49

what was Ishaq’s reign like ?

• rule unstable - threatened by feuds and conspiracies

• energy went into defeating enemies

Askia Dawud

1549-82

Askia Al-Hajj Muhammad II (Dawud’s son)

1582-86

what was Muhammad II’s reign like ?

• reversion to political instability

• unsuccessful revolt from his brother Al-Hadi

• 1586: His brother dethroned him

• Muhammad Bani ruled

Askia Bani

1586-88

What was Askia Bani’s rule like ?

• faced opposition from same brothers that put him on the throne - considered him weak ruler

• revolts broke out in Western provinces that led to the splitting of empire into two Askias

• revolt led by his brother - Balma Sadiq

• Balma died of heart attack before battle

who was the next ruler after Askia Bani ?

Askia Ishaq II and Askia Sadiq (both sons of Dawud)

what was Ishaq II and Sadiq’s rule like ?

• askia Bani’s brother , Askia Ishaq II became ruler in 1588

• Western provinces claimed sadiq ruler

• east = Ishaq II

• west = Sadiq

• led to civil war - Sadiq killed in 1588

what happened to Songhai after Mohammad's rule and Askia dawud’s death ?

political disintegration and succession crisis