Mansa Musa returned from Mecca with several Islamic scholars, including direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad and an Andalusian poet and architect by the name of Abu Es Haq es Saheli,. Mansa Ms, whose empire was one of the largest in the world at that time, is reported to have observed that it would take a year to travel from one end of his empire to the other. In Ibn Khaldun's account, Sundjata is recorded as Mari Djata with "Mari" meaning "Amir" or "Prince". Mansa means (King or Emperor) and he was ruling the Mali kingdom from C.E 1312 to 1337 for around 25 years. Much of the history is oral, given by professional "historians". [102] It seems quite possible that an exodus of the inhabitants took place at this juncture and the importance of the city was not revived until the rise of the Songhai empire. After unsuccessful attempts by Mansa Mama Maghan to conquer Bamana, the Bamana in 1670 sacked and burned the capital, and the Mali Empire rapidly disintegrated and ceased to exist, being replaced by independent chiefdoms. Around 1610, Mahmud Keita IV died. Masuta the Descended is a miniboss in The Shadow Reef. [71] The tiny kingdom of Niani was one of several in the Kri area of Manden. KAIRO NEWS - Are Mandinkas Descendants Of Bilal? In 14331434, the Mali Empire lost control of Timbuktu to the Tuareg, led by Akil The identification of Niani as imperial capital is rooted in an (possibly erroneous) interpretation of the Arab traveler al Umari's work, as well as some oral histories. [25] The empire also reached its highest population during the Laye period ruling over 400 cities,[26] towns and villages of various religions and elasticities. Then, in 1630, the Bamana of Djenn declared their version of holy war on all Muslim powers in present-day Mali. [16], Al-Yafii gave Musa's name as Musa ibn Abi Bakr ibn Abi al-Aswad (Arabic: , romanized:Ms ibn Ab Bakr ibn Ab al-Aswad),[17] and Ibn Hajar gave Musa's name as Musa ibn Abi Bakr Salim al-Takruri. No single Keita ever ruled Manden after Mahmud Keita IV's death, resulting in the end of the Mali Empire. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2147/mansa-musa-family-tree--empire-of-mali/. At Taghaza, for example, salt was exchanged; at Takedda, copper. In that year he succeeded his father, Abu Bakr II, to the throne and thus gained the hereditary title of mansa. Who would native Malians have considered their greatest ruler? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). During his monarchy Musa or Musa, I was highly powered and the richest individual king Mansa Musa the . At both Gao and Timbuktu, a Songhai city almost rivalling Gao in importance, Mansa Ms commissioned Ab Isq al-Sil, a Granada poet and architect who had travelled with him from Mecca, to build mosques. The Portuguese decided to stay out of the conflict and the talks concluded by 1495 without an alliance.[110]. ), mansa (emperor) of the West African empire of Mali from 1307 (or 1312). Although this time in the kingdom was prosperous, Mali's wealth and power soon declined. [52][55], Musa's generosity continued as he traveled onwards to Mecca, and he gave gifts to fellow pilgrims and the people of Medina and Mecca. According to Ibn Battuta who visited Mali in the mid-14th century, one camel load of salt sold at Walata for 810 mithqals of gold, but in Mali proper it realised 2030 ducats and sometimes even 40. [131] Mansa Musa placed a heavy tax on all objects that went through Timbuktu. [36][37][38], According to the Tarikh al-Fattash, Musa had a wife named Inari Konte. The Story Of Mansa Musa, The Real 'Black Panther' - VIBE.com Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2147/mansa-musa-family-tree--empire-of-mali/. [124] Following this disastrous set of events, Mansa Mama Maghan abandoned the capital of Niani. Nelson, 1971. [56] Musa and his entourage lingered in Mecca after the last day of the hajj. King of Kings in the Mandinka language a reference to a great ruler in the Mali Empire of ancient Africa. Combined in the rapidly spoken language of the Mandinka, the names formed Sondjata, Sundjata or Sundiata Keita. [8] Mansa, 'ruler'[9] or 'king'[10] in Mand, was the title of the ruler of the Mali Empire. The conquest of Sosso in c. 1235 gave the Mali Empire access to the trans-Saharan trade routes. He became emperor in 1307. 4. The video and its description text are provided by Youtube. However, many believe Mansa Musa's wealth outdoes that of all modern billionaires. Three bowmen supporting one spearman was the ratio in Kaabu and the Gambia by the mid-16th century. Musa is known for his wealth and generosity. Emperors and Empresses from Around the (Non-Roman) World Quiz, Armand-Jean du Plessis, cardinal et duc de Richelieu, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Musa-I-of-Mali, World History Encyclopedia - Mansa Musa I, Musa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). As a result of this the empire fell. [22] Oral tradition, as performed by the jeliw (sg. The oldest brother, Srbandjougou Keita, was crowned Mansa Foamed or Mansa Musa Keita III. It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan Keita III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud Keita I. During most of his journey, Ibn Battuta travelled with a retinue that included servants, most of whom carried goods for trade. King Mansa Musa is famous for his Hajj journey, during which he stopped off in Egypt and gave out so much gold that the Egyptian economy was ruined for years to come. Why did Ms I make a pilgrimage to Mecca? Available from http://incompetech.com. [93] Mansa Maghan Keita I spent wastefully and was the first lacklustre emperor since Khalifa Keita. [47][48][49] His procession reportedly included 60,000 men, all wearing brocade and Persian silk, including 12,000 slaves,[50] who each carried 1.8kg (4lb) of gold bars, and heralds dressed in silks, who bore gold staffs, organized horses, and handled bags. This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." The latter told Ibn Khaldun about devastating struggle over Gao between Mali imperial forces against Berber Tuareg forces from Takedda. He left Kanku Musa, a grandson of Sunjata's brother Mande Bori, in charge during his absence. Musa's name Kanku Musa means "Musa son of Kanku", but the genealogy may not be literal. [j][52][53] While in Cairo, Musa met with the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad, whose reign had already seen one mansa, Sakura, make the hajj. The Wangara, an Old Soninke Diaspora in West Africa? Embedded by Arienne King, published on 17 October 2020. [79][80], Musa's reign is commonly regarded as Mali's golden age, but this perception may be the result of his reign being the best recorded by Arabic sources, rather than him necessarily being the wealthiest and most powerful mansa of Mali. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Mansa Musa was immensely wealthy (whether he can be regarded as personally wealthy or wealthy because he controlled the gold mines of Mali is, of course, a . Therefore, Arabic visitors may have assigned the "capital" label merely to whatever major city the mansa was based out of at the time of their visit. Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived? - BBC News The mansa could also replace a farba if he got out of control, as in the case of Diafunu. Medieval Map Points to World's Richest Man, Maybe Ever The three states warred with each other as much, if not more, than they did against outsiders, but rivalries generally stopped when faced with invasion. On the return from Takedda to Morocco, his caravan transported 600 female servants, suggesting that indentured servitude was a substantial part of the commercial activity of the empire.[134]. [128] Nevertheless, the mansa managed to keep tax money and nominal control over the area without agitating his subjects into revolt. After the publication of this atlas, Mansa Musa became cemented in the global imagination as a figure of stupendous wealth.After his return from Mecca, Mansa Musa began to revitalize cities in his kingdom. Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. The Keitas retreated to the town of Kangaba, where they became provincial chiefs. Mansa Mahmud Keita II's rule was characterised by more losses to Mali's old possessions and increased contact between Mali and Portuguese explorers along the coast. Maghan Sundiata was declared "faama of faamas" and received the title "mansa", which translates as "king". Timbuktu was a place of trade, entertainment, and education. His elaborate pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in 1324 introduced him to rulers in the Middle East and in Europe. Running a website with millions of readers every month is expensive. Ibn Khaldun claims Musa reigned for 25 years, so his accession is dated to 25 years before his death. [95] Musa himself further promoted the appearance of having vast, inexhaustible wealth by spreading rumors that gold grew like a plant in his kingdom. The Mali Empire reached its largest area under the Laye Keita mansas. In 1534, Mahmud III, the grandson of Mahmud II, received another Portuguese envoy to the Mali court by the name of Pero Fernandes. [6] The early history of the Mali Empire (before the 13th century) is unclear, as there are conflicting and imprecise accounts by both Arab chroniclers and oral traditionalists. Mansa Musa: A Captivating Guide to the Emperor of the Islamic Mali It is known from the Tarikh al-Sudan that Mali was still a sizeable state in the 15th century. [15], Musa ascended to power in the early 1300s[i] under unclear circumstances. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca during the reign of Mamluk Sultan An-Nasir Muhammad (r. 12981308), but died on his voyage home. Musa I of Mali | Biography, Wealth, Slaves, Pilgrimage, & Facts [3] During the 11th and 12th centuries, an empire began to develop following the decline of the Ghana Empire, or Wagadu, to the north. [96], According to some Arabic writers, Musa's gift-giving caused a depreciation in the value of gold in Egypt. [70] However, once Sundiata did gain use of his legs he grew strong and very respected. The exact date of Musa's accession is debated. He had so much gold that during his hajj to Mecca, the Mansa passed out gold to all the poor along the way. He intended to abdicate the throne and return to Mecca but died before he was able to do so. Today, his net worth is estimated to have been $400 billion. Log in, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). The House of Saud is ruled by the descendants of King Abdulaziz, who founded and unified Saudi Arabia in 1932. [100], Arabic writers, such as Ibn Battuta and Abdallah ibn Asad al-Yafii, praised Musa's generosity, virtue, and intelligence. [29] Al-Umari, who visited Cairo shortly after Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca, noted that it was "a lavish display of power, wealth, and unprecedented by its size and pageantry". The architectural crafts in Granada had reached their zenith by the fourteenth century, and its extremely unlikely that a cultured and wealthy poet would have had anything more than a dilettante's knowledge of the intricacies of contemporary architectural practice. Eventually, due to Muhammad's failure to return, Musa was recognized as mansa.[89]. Mansa Musa brought architects and scholars from across the Islamic world into his kingdom, and the reputation of the Mali kingdom grew. Mansa Musa - Originalpeople.org [93] Sandaki Keita should not however be taken to be this person's name but a title. Mansa Ms probably died in 1332. [27] His list does not necessarily accurately reflect the actual organization of the Mali Empire,[28] and the identification of the listed provinces is controversial. It was during Suleyman's 19-year reign that Ibn Battuta visited Mali. He attempted to make Islam the faith of the nobility,[93] but kept to the imperial tradition of not forcing it on the populace. [92] Furthermore, it is difficult to meaningfully compare the wealth of historical figures such as Mansa Musa, due to the difficulty of separating the personal wealth of a monarch from the wealth of the state and the difficulty of comparing wealth in highly different societies. [40] In fact, there is a conspicuous absence of archaeological samples of any kind from Niani dated to the late 13th through early 15th centuries, suggesting that Niani may have been uninhabited during the heyday of the Mali Empire. "LEAD: International: The History of Guinea-Bissau", "Four People Who Single-handedly Caused Economic Crises", "Lessons from Timbuktu: What Mali's Manuscripts Teach About Peace | World Policy Institute", "Mossi (12501575 AD) DBA 2.0 Variant Army List", "The history of Africa Peul and Toucouleur", "Africa and Slavery 15001800 by Sanderson Beck", "How the Mali Empire in the 12th century revolved levels of governance", Trade, Transport, Temples, and Tribute: The Economics of Power, "Gold, Islam and Camels: The Transformative Effects of Trade and Ideology", "Power and permanence in precolonial Africa: a case study from the central Sahel", "Recherches sur l'Empire du Mali au Moyen Age", "Expansion and Contraction Patterns of Large Polities: Context for Russia", "East-West Orientation of Historical Empires", Metropolitan Museum Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire, Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 13251354, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mali_Empire&oldid=1142808910, Identification disputed; possibly no fixed capital, Yantaar or Kel Antasar: Located in the vicinity of the, Tn Ghars or Yantar'ras: Correspond to the modern, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 13:53. Gold dust had been weighed and bagged for use at least since the time of the Ghana Empire. Mansa Musa came from his country with 80 loads of gold dust (tibr), each load weighing three qintars. The lands of Bambougou, Jalo (Fouta Djallon), and Kaabu were added into Mali by Fakoli Koroma (Nkrumah in Ghana, Kurumah in the Gambia, Colley in Casamance, Senegal),[70] Fran Kamara (Camara) and Tiramakhan Traore (Tarawelley in the Gambia),[77] respectively Among the many different ethnic groups surrounding Manden were Pulaar speaking groups in Macina, Tekrur and Fouta Djallon. This was due to the tax on trade in and out of the empire, along with all the gold Mansa Musa had. [46] Through the oral tradition of griots, the Keita dynasty, from which nearly every Mali emperor came, claims to trace its lineage back to Lawalo, one of the sons of Bilal,[60] the faithful muezzin of Islam's prophet Muhammad, who was said to have migrated into Mali and his descendants established the ruling Keita dynasty through Maghan Kon Fatta, father of Sundiata Keita.[61]. [70] The mansa lost control of Jalo during this period. [93], Following Musa Keita III's death, his brother Gbr Keita became emperor in the mid-15th century. The other account claims that Gao had been conquered during the reign of Mansa Sakura. [99] The gold Musa brought on his pilgrimage probably represented years of accumulated tribute that Musa would have spent much of his early reign gathering. Musa I ( Arabic: , romanized : Mans Ms, N'Ko: ; r. c. 1312 - c. 1337 [a]) was the ninth [4] mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. She or he will best know the preferred format. To his parents' dread, the prince did not have a promising start. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita (c. 1214 - c. 1255) and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa (Musa Keita). He is also called Hidji Mansa . After Ibn Khaldun's death in 1406, there are no further Arab primary sources except for Leo Africanus, who wrote over a century later. Sundiata's mother was Maghan Kon Fatta's second wife, Sogolon Kdjou. [11][12] The version recorded by medieval Arab geographers is Mali (Arabic: , romanized:Ml). His information about the empire came from visiting Malians taking the hajj, or pilgrim's voyage to Mecca. Barring any other difficulties, the dyamani-tigui would run the province by himself collecting taxes and procuring armies from the tribes under his command. Mansa Musa: Great Leader of the Malink Kingdom - ThoughtCo Around 1550, Mali attacked Bighu in an effort to regain access to its gold. [86] After Sakura's death, power returned to the line of Sunjata, with Wali's son Qu taking the throne. Captivation History summarizes Mansa Musa's story from his ancestors to his descendants as they reigned over the Mali Empire beginning in the 1300s. Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage to Mecca - Amazing Bible Timeline He describes it as being north of Mali but under its domination implying some sort of vassalage for the Antasar, Yantar'ras, Medussa and Lemtuna Berber tribes. The Catalan Atlas, published in 1375, depicts the richest man of his day: Mansa Musa, the emperor of 14th-century Mali. Musa I (c. 1280 - 1337), better known as Mansa Musa, was the ninth mansa of the Mali Empire.Widely considered to have been the wealthiest person in known history (some sources measuring his wealth at around $400 billion adjusted to inflation), his vast wealth was used to attract scholars, merchants and architects to Mali, establishing it as a beacon of Islamic trade, culture and learning. Among these are references to "Pene" and "Malal" in the work of al-Bakri in 1068,[53][54] the story of the conversion of an early ruler, known to Ibn Khaldun (by 1397) as Barmandana,[55] and a few geographical details in the work of al-Idrisi. Mansa Musa's reign itself was 25 years long. Several alternate spellings exist, such as Congo Musa, Gongo Musa, and Kankan Musa, but they are regarded as incorrect. You cannot download interactives. Mansa Musa (1280-1337) Mansa Musa, fourteenth century emperor of the Mali Empire, is the medieval African ruler most known to the world outside Africa. Sandaki likely means High Counsellor or Supreme Counsellor, from san or sanon (meaning "high") and adegue (meaning counsellor). After the victory, King Soumaoro disappeared, and the Mandinka stormed the last of the Sosso cities. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. The empire he founded became one of the richest in the world, and his descendants included one of the richest individuals to ever live, Mansa Musa. Arab writers from the time said that he travelled with an entourage of tens of thousands of people and dozens of camels, each carrying 136 kilograms (300 pounds) of gold. Who is the richest monarch in the world? - coalitionbrewing.com [8] Suleyman's death marked the end of Mali's Golden Age and the beginning of a slow decline. The only major setback to his reign was the loss of Mali's Dyolof province in Senegal. [86] Qu was succeeded by his son Muhammad, who launched two voyages to explore the Atlantic Ocean. Mansa Ms, either the grandson or the grandnephew of Sundiata, the founder of his dynasty, came to the throne in 1307. During this period, trade routes shifted southward to the savanna, stimulating the growth of states such as Bono state. [57][58] Having run out of money, Musa and his entourage were forced to borrow money and re-sell much of what they had purchased while in Cairo before the hajj, and Musa went into debt to several merchants, such as Siraj al-Din. Constant civil war between leaders led to a weakened state. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. It contained three immense gold mines within its borders unlike the Ghana Empire, which was only a transit point for gold. Mansa Ms, either the grandson or the grandnephew of Sundiata, the founder of his dynasty, came to the throne in 1307. [72], According to Niane's version of the epic, during the rise of Kaniaga, Sundiata of the Keita clan was born in the early 13th century. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. [40], Musa was a young man when he became mansa, possibly in his early twenties. In the interregnum following Sunjata's death, the jomba or court slaves may have held power. While this was probably an exaggeration, it is known that during his pilgrimage to Mecca one of his generals, Sagmandia (Sagaman-dir), extended the empire by capturing the Songhai capital of Gao. Scholars have located the capital in Niani, or somewhere on the Niger, or proposed that it changed several times, that there was no true capital, or even that it lay as far afield as the upper Gambia River in modern-day Senegal. Mansa Musa also known as Musa I of Mali and was the ninth Islamic ancient Emperor of West Africa in a kingdom known as the Mali Empire. Original video by UsefulCharts. Mansa Musa (1280-1337) - BlackPast.org Musa expanded the borders of the Mali Empire, in particular incorporating the cities of Gao and Timbuktu into its territory. He could read and write Arabic and took an interest in the scholarly city of Timbuktu, which he peaceably annexed in 1324. The 1375 Catalan Atlas portrayed a "city of Melly" (Catalan: ciutat de Melly) in West Africa. The farimba operated from a garrison with an almost entirely slave force, while a farima functioned on field with virtually all freemen. The final incarnation of the Gbara, according to the surviving traditions of northern Guinea, held 32 positions occupied by 28 clans. This is the first account of a West African kingdom made directly by an eyewitness; the others are usually second-hand. Musa made his pilgrimage between 1324 and 1325 spanning 2,700 miles. [115], Mali's fortunes seem to have improved in the second half of the 16th century. [126], The Kouroukan Fouga also put in place social and economic reforms including prohibitions on the maltreatment of prisoners and slaves, installing documents between clans which clearly stated who could say what about whom. Mansa Musa Keita was succeeded by his son, Maghan Keita I, in 1337. In 1203, the Sosso king Soumaoro of the Kant clan came to power and reportedly terrorised much of Manden stealing women and goods from both Dodougou and Kri. In their own country they use only slave women and men for transport, but for long journeys such as pilgrimages they have mounts. At the local level (village, town and city), kun-tiguis elected a dougou-tigui (village-master) from a bloodline descended from that locality's semi-mythical founder. [12] However, these hypotheses have been rejected by locals and are inconsistent with the apparent cognate status of Mali and Mand.[19]. [83] He is criticized for being unfaithful to tradition, and some of the jeliw regard Musa as having wasted Mali's wealth. The Manding languages were spoken in the empire. [54] Despite this initial awkwardness, the two rulers got along well, and exchanged gifts. The University of Sankore in Timbuktu was restaffed under Musa's reign with jurists, astronomers, and mathematicians. [107] The Gambia was still firmly in Mali's control, and these raiding expeditions met with disastrous fates before Portugal's Diogo Gomes began formal relations with Mali via its remaining Wolof subjects. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Omissions? The Songhai kingdom measured several hundreds of miles across, so that the conquest meant the acquisition of a vast territory. By 1180 it had even subjugated Wagadou forcing the Sonink to pay tribute. Still, by the time of Mansa Musa Keita II's death in 1387, Mali was financially solvent and in control of all of its previous conquests short of Gao and Dyolof. [84][85] However, some aspects of Musa appear to have been incorporated into a figure in Mand oral tradition known as Fajigi, which translates as "father of hope". This process was essential to keep non-Manding subjects loyal to the Manding elites that ruled them. Contemporary sources claim 60 copper bars traded for 100 dinars of gold. Imperial Malian architecture was characterised by Sudano-Sahelian architecture with a Malian substyle, which is exemplified by the Great Mosque of Djenne. En route, he spent time in Cairo, where his lavish gift-giving is said to have noticeably affected the value of gold in Egypt and garnered the attention of the wider Muslim world. [93], In 1477, the Yatenga emperor Nassr made yet another Mossi raid into Macina, this time conquering it and the old province of BaGhana (Wagadou).[109]. [62] According to one account given by Ibn Khaldun, Musa's general Saghmanja conquered Gao. [citation needed]. He ruled oppressively and nearly bankrupted Mali with his lavish spending. Mali Emperors Family Tree | Mansa Musa - The Richest Man in World Many houses were built by hand and during the hot weather some houses would melt so they had to be very secure, The dating of the original Great Mosque's construction is obscure (the current structure, built under French Colonial Rule, dates from 1907). . Biti, Buti, Yiti, Tati). His religious devotion contributed to the spread of Islam across West Africa. Nobody lived in the area except the Musafa servants who worked to dig the salts and lived on dates imported from Sijilmasa and the Dar'a valley, camel meat and millet imported from the Sudan. [91] Historians such as Hadrien Collet have argued that Musa's wealth is impossible to accurately calculate. Mansa Mss prodigious generosity and piety, as well as the fine clothes and exemplary behaviour of his followers, did not fail to create a most-favourable impression. Also, Sundiata divided the lands amongst the people assuring everyone had a place in the empire and fixed exchange rates for common products[127]. Mansa Mari Djata, later named Sundiata Keita, saw the conquest of several key locals in the Mali Empire. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Robert Smith, "The Canoe in West African History", harvnb error: no target: CITEREFBourgeois1987 (, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Kitab al-Masalik wa al-Mamalik (Book of Highways and Kingdoms) Ab Ubayd Al-Bakri, "The Empire of Mali, In Our Time BBC Radio 4", "Tracing History in Dia, in the Inland Niger Delta of Mali -Archaeology, Oral Traditions and Written Sources". Musa and his entourage arrived at the outskirts of Cairo in July 1324. This led to inflation throughout the kingdom. [78] Nehemia Levtzion regarded 1337 as the most likely date,[72] which has been accepted by other scholars. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita (c. 1214 c. 1255) and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa (Musa Keita). Heusch, Luc de: "The Symbolic Mechanisms of Sacred Kingship: Rediscovering Frazer". As founded by Mari Djata, it was composed of the "three freely allied states" of Mali, Mema and Wagadou plus the Twelve Doors of Mali.[60]. Ms I is widely considered the wealthiest man in history. Not only do we pay for our servers, but also for related services such as our content delivery network, Google Workspace, email, and much more. [70] Manden was split in half with the Dodougou territory to the northeast and the Kri territory to the southwest. [114] However, the Songhai do not maintain their hold on the Malian capital.
