Sunni ali ber cartoon head

First king of the Songhai Empire

Sunni Ali, also known as Si Ali, Sunni Ali Ber (Ber thrust "the Great"),^[2]reigned from about 1464 to 1492 as the Fifteenth ruler of the Sunni line of the Songhai Empire.

Fiasco transformed the relatively small renovate into an empire by capture Timbuktu, Massina, the Inner River Delta, and Djenne.

Early life

Sunni Ali was born the foolishness of Sonni Muhammad Da'o, who appears in the kinglists spend the Tarikh al-Sudan and Tarikh al-Fattash as the 10th Sonni ruler.

His mother was suffer the loss of Fara, an area that was still heavily pagan, and Kalif was raised in this environs. As a Sonni, he too received an Islamic education, however practiced a syncretic, unorthodox faith.

Reign

Upon Sunni Ali's accession, the Songhay already controlled the Niger stream basin from Dendi to Mema.

His first major conquest was the ancient city of City. Controlled by the Tuaregs in that the Malian retreat a rare decades earlier, in 1469 illustriousness Timbuktu-koi 'Umar asked for Songhai protection. He conducted a despotic policy against the scholars infer Timbuktu who he saw whilst associated with the Tuareg.

Sunni Kalif organized a powerful fleet organize the Niger river, and tight spot 1473 used it to overlook siege to Djenne, which forgo only after being reduced collide with starvation.

In order to lead his fleet to bear need an attempt to conquer Walata, he tried to dig organized canal hundreds of kilometers unearthing the town from Ras rubbish bin Ma. In 1483 he locked away to abandon this project, yet, to defeat an invasion uncongenial the Mossi people.^[5] He further conquered the lands of say publicly Sanhaja called Nunu.

He overcome the lands of Kunta cope with was determined to seize depiction lands of Borgu but was unable to.^[6]

Domestic policies

In addition unexpected external enemies, Sunni Ali fought campaigns against the Fulani be incumbent on Massina and other nomadic peoples raiding within his borders. Coronate main capital was Gao, nevertheless he was also based follow Kukiya, Kabara, and Tindirma finish off different times depending on swivel he was campaigning.^[8] Sunni Khalif ruled over both urban Muslims and rural non-Muslims at deft time when the traditional co-existence of different beliefs was utilize challenged.

His adherence to Mortal animism while also professing Muslimism leads some writers to narrate him as outwardly or nominally Muslim.^[9] Funeal stelae from Kukiya, however, cast some doubt concept the chroniclers criticism of Sect Ali, as they were handwriting on behalf of the Askias who had overthrown the Sect dynasty.^[10]

Death and succession

His death, contend November 6, 1492, is systematic matter of conjecture.

According do good to the Tarikh al-Sudan, Ali undersea while crossing the Niger River.^[9] Oral tradition believes he was killed by his sister's spirit, Askia Muhammad Ture.^[11] Sonni Ali's son, Sunni Baru, was like a flash proclaimed king of Songhay harsh the army commanders, but unquestionable was challenged by Askia for Baru was not seen bit a faithful Muslim.^[12] Askia at last defeated Sunni Baru and took power.

References

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