Musa conquered more than 20 major cities in his lifetime. During most of his journey, Ibn Battuta travelled with a retinue that included servants, most of whom carried goods for trade. 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. [81] He went on the hajj during the reign of Mamluk sultan Baibars (12601277). Mansa Musa is potentially the richest person to ever live; as ruler of Mali from 1312 to 1337, he came into power after his brother, King Abu Bakr the Second, vanished on an oceanic voyage. The Portuguese decided to stay out of the conflict and the talks concluded by 1495 without an alliance.[110]. [93] Emperor Bonga did not appear to hold the area, and it stayed within the Mali Empire after Maghan Keita III's death in 1400. The city's water supply was a leading cause to its successes in trade. The army of the Mali Empire during the 14th century was divided into northern and southern commands led by the Farim-Soura and Sankar-Zouma, respectively. [70] However, once Sundiata did gain use of his legs he grew strong and very respected. [24] The empire's total area included nearly all the land between the Sahara Desert and coastal forests. [41] Given the grandeur of his subsequent hajj, it is likely that Musa spent much of his early reign preparing for it. [111] This envoy from the Portuguese coastal port of Elmina arrived in response to the growing trade along the coast and Mali's now urgent request for military assistance against Songhai. During this period, trade routes shifted southward to the savanna, stimulating the growth of states such as Bono state. The second account is that of the traveller Ibn Battuta, who visited Mali in 1352. Musa made his pilgrimage between 1324 and 1325 spanning 2,700 miles. [74] The combined forces of northern and southern Manden defeated the Sosso army at the Battle of Kirina (then known as Krina) in approximately 1235. [122] Their forces marched as far north as Kangaba, where the mansa was obliged to make a peace with them, promising not to attack downstream of Mali. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. What did Ms I do when he returned to Mali? But more reasoned analysis suggests that his role, if any, was quite limited. Musa is reported to have reigned for 25 years, and different lines of evidence suggest he died either. Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the king of the ancient empire of Mali in West Africa. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Following the death of Sundiata Keita in c. 1255, the kings of Mali were referred to by the title mansa. It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan Keita III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud Keita I. How Europe Planned to Steal from African King Mansa Musa - YouTube He ruled the nation for nearly 25 years until his death in 1337 and is . All rights reserved. [110] Meanwhile, Songhai seized the salt mines of Taghazza in 1493. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Lightning Flash | Mansa Musa [11][12] The version recorded by medieval Arab geographers is Mali (Arabic: , romanized:Ml). This is one of the main factors to the fall of the kingdom. Heusch, Luc de: "The Symbolic Mechanisms of Sacred Kingship: Rediscovering Frazer". [27] The date of Musa's birth is unknown, but he still appeared to be a young man in 1324. [118] Mahmud sought support from several other rulers, including the governor of Kala, Bukar. Musa Mansa | YourDictionary The oldest brother, Srbandjougou Keita, was crowned Mansa Foamed or Mansa Musa Keita III. To his parents' dread, the prince did not have a promising start. The child of this marriage received the first name of his mother (Sogolon) and the surname of his father (Djata). Gold dust was used all over the empire, but was not valued equally in all regions. Bukar professed his support, but believing Mahmud's situation to be hopeless, secretly went over to the Moroccans. UsefulCharts, . Three bowmen supporting one spearman was the ratio in Kaabu and the Gambia by the mid-16th century. [56] Musa and his entourage lingered in Mecca after the last day of the hajj. [60] The anglicised version of this name, Sunjata, is also popular. Ms I is widely considered the wealthiest man in history. Arabic sources omit Faga Leye, referring to Musa as Musa ibn Abi Bakr. Biti, Buti, Yiti, Tati). 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). Sundjata is credited with at least the initial organisation of the Manding military. Ms I of Mali, Ms also spelled Musa or Mousa, also called Kankan Ms or Mansa Musa, (died 1332/37? Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. [15] Leo Africanus said that the capital city was called Melli. [125] Farin was a general term for northern commander at the time. The Mandinka went on to form the powerful and rich Mali Empire, which produced the richest Black man who ever lived, King Mansa Musa. Scholars who were mainly interested in history, Qurnic theology, and law were to make the mosque of Sankore in Timbuktu a teaching centre and to lay the foundations of the University of Sankore. Al-Nasir expected Musa to prostrate himself before him, which Musa initially refused to do. to 1337 C.E. He built mosques and large public buildings in cities like Gao and, most famously, Timbuktu. Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way to Mecca, including Cairo and Medina, but also traded gold for souvenirs. The kingdom of Mali was relatively unknown outside of West Africa until this event. The history of the Mandinka started in Manding region. After the reigns of two more emperors, Musa Keita became mansa in c. 1312. These farbas would rule their old kingdoms in the name of the mansa with most of the authority they held prior to joining the empire. The dates of Musa's reign are uncertain. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Mali flourished especially when Timbuktu came under Mansa Musa's control. Mansa Ms, either the grandson or the grandnephew of Sundiata, the founder of his dynasty, came to the throne in 1307. While spears and bows were the mainstay of the infantry, swords and lances of local or foreign manufacture were the choice weapons of the cavalry. [4] Much of the recorded information about the Mali Empire comes from 14th-century Tunisian historian Ibn Khaldun, 14th-century Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta and 16th-century Andalusian traveller Leo Africanus. [140], The Mali Empire maintained a semi-professional, full-time army in order to defend its borders. Rulers of West African states had made pilgrimages to Mecca before Mansa Ms, but the effect of his flamboyant journey was to advertise both Mali and Mansa Ms well beyond the African continent and to stimulate a desire among the Muslim kingdoms of North Africa, and among many of European nations as well, to reach the source of this incredible wealth. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. He is believed to be one of the richest individuals to have walked on this planet. "[42], Early European writers such as Maurice Delafosse believed that Niani, a city on what is now the border between Guinea and Mali, was the capital for most of the empire's history, and this notion has taken hold in the popular imagination. His 25-year reign (1312-1337 CE) is described as "the golden age of . Side by side with the encouragement of trade and commerce, learning and the arts received royal patronage. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. [77] Alternatively, it is possible that the four-year reign Ibn Khaldun credits Maghan with actually referred to his ruling Mali while Musa was away on the hajj, and he only reigned briefly in his own right. Al-Umari, who wrote down a description of Mali based on information given to him by Abu Said 'Otman ed Dukkali (who had lived 35 years in the capital), reported the realm as being square and an eight-month journey from its coast at Tura (at the mouth of the Senegal River) to Muli. [46] Kangaba became the last refuge of the Keita royal family after the collapse of the Mali Empire, and so has for centuries been associated with Sundiata in the cultural imagination of Mande peoples. Original video by UsefulCharts. The earliest document mentioning the mosque is Abd al-Sadi's Tarikh al-Sudan, which gives the early history, presumably from the oral tradition as it existed in the mid seventeenth century. [70] Manden was split in half with the Dodougou territory to the northeast and the Kri territory to the southwest. [116] Songhai authority over Bendugu and Kala declined by 1571, and Mali may have been able to reassert some authority over them. 24 June, 2022. [147][148], The Sudano-Sahelian influence was particularly widely incorporated during the rule of Mansa Musa I, who constructed many architectural projects, including the Great Mosque of Gao and Royal Palace in Timbuktu, which was built with the assistance of Ishaak al-Tuedjin, an architect brought by Musa from his pilgrimage to Mecca. He is also called Hidji Mansa . Sundiata Keita is the first ruler for which there is accurate written information (through Ibn Khaldun). After the victory, King Soumaoro disappeared, and the Mandinka stormed the last of the Sosso cities. Ibn Battuta observed the employment of servants in both towns. [e] After the loss of the first expedition, Muhammad led the second expedition himself. When Musa departed Mali for the hajj, he left his son Muhammad to rule in his absence. [93] It is during his reign that Fula raids on Takrur began. [33] Some modern historians have cast doubt on Musa's version of events, suggesting he may have deposed his predecessor and devised the story about the voyage to explain how he took power. [44] Niani's reputation as an imperial capital may derive from its importance in the late imperial period, when the Songhai Empire to the northeast pushed Mali back to the Manding heartland. The last son of Maghan Keita I, Tenin Maghan Keita (also known as Kita Tenin Maghan Keita for the province he once governed) was crowned Mansa Maghan Keita II in 1387. A very large number of families that make up the Mandinka community were born in Manding. World History Encyclopedia, 17 Oct 2020. Around 1610, Mahmud Keita IV died. Mansa Souleyman Keita died in 1360 and was succeeded by his son, Camba Keita. [45], Many oral histories point to a town called Dakajalan as the original home of the Keita clan and Sundiata's childhood home and base of operations during the war against the Soso. ", "Recherches sur l'Empire du Mali au Moyen Age", "Towards a New Study of the So-Called Trkh al-fattsh", World History Encyclopedia Mansa Musa I, History Channel: Mansa Moussa: Pilgrimage of Gold, Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture, and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mansa_Musa&oldid=1142573327, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Mansa Musa was portrayed in two games in the, Mansa Musa was portrayed in the episode ", This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 05:05. During his reign, the Mossi emperor Bonga of Yatenga raided into Mali and plundered Macina. [66], Timbuktu soon became the center of trade, culture, and Islam; markets brought in merchants from Hausaland, Egypt, and other African kingdoms, a university was founded in the city (as well as in the Malian cities of Djenn and Sgou), and Islam was spread through the markets and university, making Timbuktu a new area for Islamic scholarship. Mahmud Keita, possibly a grandchild or great-grandchild of Mansa Gao Keita, was crowned Mansa Maghan Keita III in 1390. By the beginning of the 14th century, Mali was the source of almost half the Old World's gold exported from mines in Bambuk, Boure and Galam. Embedded by Arienne King, published on 17 October 2020. [89] This claim is often sourced to an article in CelebrityNetWorth,[89] which claims that Musa's wealth was the equivalent of US$400 billion. In the 17th year of his reign (1324), he set out on his famous pilgrimage to Mecca. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. UsefulCharts, . The "Qur'an" had a great importance to Mansa Musa as it states "God loves the charitable" (Document D). harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKi-ZerboNiane (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFLevztionHopkins2000 (. Mansa Musa (about 1280 - about 1337) was an emperor (mansa) of the Mali Empire during the 14th century. [113], In 1544 or 1545,[f] a Songhai force led by kanfari Dawud, who would later succeed his brother Askia Ishaq as ruler of the Songhai Empire, sacked the capital of Mali and purportedly used the royal palace as a latrine. Only sofa were equipped by the state, using bows and poisoned arrows. He also made Eid celebrations at the end of Ramadan a national ceremony. Mansa Musa (1280-1337) - BlackPast.org Mansa Fadima Musa Keita, or Mansa Musa Keita II, began the process of reversing his brother's excesses. [120], The old core of the empire was divided into three spheres of influence. [12] However, these hypotheses have been rejected by locals and are inconsistent with the apparent cognate status of Mali and Mand.[19]. In their own country they use only slave women and men for transport, but for long journeys such as pilgrimages they have mounts. Konkodougou Kamissa Keita, named for the province he once governed,[70] was crowned as Mansa Mari Djata Keita II in 1360. [39] Her jamu (clan name) Konte is shared with both Sunjata's mother Sogolon Konte and his arch-enemy Sumanguru Konte. At the time of Musa's ascension to the throne, Mali in large part consisted of the territory of the former Ghana Empire, which Mali had conquered. [40] Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus both call the capital "Mali. No single Keita ever ruled Manden after Mahmud Keita IV's death, resulting in the end of the Mali Empire. [93] Gold mines in Boure, which is located in present-day Guinea, were discovered sometime near the end of the 12th century. Watch the map animation on From Nothing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOexUoPc6YUBe sure to subscribe to From Nothing for more African History:https://www.. U UsefulCharts 0 followers More information Mansa Musa Family Tree Rich Man His generous gifts to Mamluk Egypt and his expenditure of gold caused significant inflation in Egypt. Mansa Musa was the great-great-grandson of Sunjata, who was the founder of the empire of Mali. [46] [45] Those animals included 80 camels which each carried 23136kg (50300lb) of gold dust. The Mali Empire (Manding: Mand[3] or Manden; Arabic: , romanized:Ml) was an empire in West Africa from c. 1226 to 1670. Longman, 1995. Ibn Battuta comments on festival demonstrations of swordplay before the mansa by his retainers including the royal interpreter. [96], According to some Arabic writers, Musa's gift-giving caused a depreciation in the value of gold in Egypt. Ms Is pilgrimage caravan to Mecca in 1324 comprised some 60,000 people and an immeasurable amount of gold. [11][b] In Mand tradition, it was common for one's name to be prefixed by their mother's name, so the name Kanku Musa means "Musa, son of Kanku", although it is unclear if the genealogy implied is literal. [104] He would only reign a year before a descendant of Mansa Gao Keita removed him.[70]. [93] Dyamani-tiguis had to be approved by the mansa and were subject to his oversight. 4. The farba could also take power away from the native administration if required and raise an army in the area for defence or putting down rebellions.[130]. The only Mandinka power spared from the campaign was Kangaba. The bow figured prominently in Mandinka warfare and was a symbol of military force throughout the culture. [70] Gbr Keita was crowned Mansa Ouali Keita II and ruled during the period of Mali's contact with Portugal. [17] Whether Mali originated as the name of a town or region, the name was subsequently applied to the entire empire ruled from Mali. Traveling separately from the main caravan, their return journey to Cairo was struck by catastrophe. While on the hajj, he met the Andalusian poet and architect es-Saheli. By 1180 it had even subjugated Wagadou forcing the Sonink to pay tribute. The empire began as a small Mandinka kingdom at the upper reaches of the Niger River, centered around the Manding region. However, from 1507 onwards neighboring states such as Diara, Great Fulo and the Songhai Empire chipped away at the outer borders of Mali. In 1330, the kingdom of Mossi invaded and conquered the city of Timbuktu. Historians who lived during the height and decline of the Mali Empire consistently record its standing army peaking at 100,000, with 10,000 of that number being made up of cavalry. Ag-Amalwal. The Sankor University was capable of housing 25,000 students and had one of the largest libraries in the world with roughly 1,000,000 manuscripts.[100][101]. More than sixty years after the reign of Sundiata Keita, one of his descendants rose to become the King of Mali. [67] News of the Malian empire's city of wealth even traveled across the Mediterranean to southern Europe, where traders from Venice, Granada, and Genoa soon added Timbuktu to their maps to trade manufactured goods for gold.[68]. The kingdom of Mali reached its greatest extent around the same time, a bustling, wealthy kingdom thanks to Mansa Musas expansion and administration.Mansa Musa died in 1337 and was succeeded by his sons. Who is the richest monarch in the world? - coalitionbrewing.com [40] Seemingly contradictory reports written by Arab visitors, a lack of definitive archaeological evidence, and the diversity of oral traditions all contribute to this uncertainty. [99] Mosques were built in Gao and Timbuktu along with impressive palaces also built in Timbuktu. The next great unit of exchange in the Mali Empire was salt. In the 1450s, Portugal began sending raiding parties along the Gambian coast. The Catalan Atlas, published in 1375, depicts the richest man of his day: Mansa Musa, the emperor of 14th-century Mali. By the end of Mansa Musa's reign, the Sankor University had been converted into a fully staffed university with the largest collections of books in Africa since the Library of Alexandria. Last modified October 17, 2020. Omissions? Mali's wealth in gold did not primarily come from direct rule of gold-producing regions, but rather from tribute and trade with the regions where gold was found. The only real requirement was that the mansa knew he could trust this individual to safeguard imperial interests. Like the Great Mosque, a contemporaneous and grandiose structure in Timbuktu, the Hall was built of cut stone. [95] When he passed through Cairo, historian al-Maqrizi noted "the members of his entourage proceeded to buy Turkish and Ethiopian slave girls, singing girls and garments, so that the rate of the gold dinar fell by six dirhams.". The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa By Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack Page 60, "The richest person who ever lived had unimaginable wealth. But the Mali Empire built by his predecessors was too strong for even his misrule and it passed intact to Musa's brother, Souleyman Keita in 1341. Still, when Ibn Battuta arrived at Mali in July 1352, he found a thriving civilisation on par with virtually anything in the Muslim or Christian world. ), mansa (emperor) of the West African empire of Mali from 1307 (or 1312). Imperial Malian architecture was characterised by Sudano-Sahelian architecture with a Malian substyle, which is exemplified by the Great Mosque of Djenne. [75] This victory resulted in the fall of the Kaniaga kingdom and the rise of the Mali Empire. Sergio Domian, an Italian scholar of art and architecture, wrote of this period: "Thus was laid the foundation of an urban civilization. Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived? - BBC News CREDITS: Chart/Narration: Matt Baker. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. The Joma area, governed from Siguiri, controlled the central region, which encompassed Niani. Musa embarked on a large building program, raising mosques and madrasas in Timbuktu and Gao. [citation needed] The northern region on the other hand had no shortage of salt. The final incarnation of the Gbara, according to the surviving traditions of northern Guinea, held 32 positions occupied by 28 clans. The Bamana, likewise, vowed not to advance farther upstream than Niamina. An army was required to guard the borders to protect its flourishing trade. [73], Prince Sundjata was prophesied to become a great conqueror. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Mss rule defined the golden age of Mali. This enabled him to rule over a realm larger than even the Ghana Empire in its apex. This thread is archived The Malian and Moroccan armies fought at Jenne on 26 April, the last day of Ramadan, and the Moroccans were victorious thanks to their firearms and Bukar's support, but Mahmud was able to escape. In the interregnum following Sunjata's death, the jomba or court slaves may have held power. The army of the Mali Empire used of a wide variety of weapons depending largely on where the troops originated. Mansa Musa: A Captivating Guide to the Emperor of the Islamic Mali In Ibn Khaldun's account, Sundjata is recorded as Mari Djata with "Mari" meaning "Amir" or "Prince". Under his leadership, Mali conquered new territories and trade with North Africa increased. It may have been located close to modern Kangaba. The tarikh states that a Sultan Kunburu became a Muslim and had his palace pulled down and the site turned into a mosque; he then built another palace for himself near the mosque on the east side. [81] He was replaced by Abu Bakr, a son of Sunjata's daughter. Cairo and Mecca received this royal personage, whose glittering procession, in the superlatives employed by Arab chroniclers, almost put Africas sun to shame. [78] There was evidently a power struggle of some kind involving the gbara or great council and donson ton or hunter guilds.

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