Rulers+of+Songhai

__A New Beginning__
As years past by in Songhai, many leaders made the empire grow to its height. The many rulers of Songhai were called "Askia". In the 1400s A.D. the ruler, Sunni Ali fought many wars and also conquered the cities of Timbuktu and Djenne, so that his empire expands to include most of the West-African savannah. Sunni Ali Ber made a great ruler until many others of the future brought wonders and organization to all of Songhai, but those were yet to come for the empire. = = = = = =

= = =__Songhai At Its Glorious Height__=

After the very death of Sunni Ali, his son, Bakori Da'a took over and ruled until the great Askia Muhammad overthrew him. Askia Muhammad was a great leader that brought Songhai to its dramatic height and made the Empire really, really powerful. The amazing things he did were that he divided the kingdom into 5 huge provinces, with each having a governor, a tax collector, a court of judges, and a trade inspector. He also spreaded Islam into West Africa and made his country into the largest country in West-African history. Askia maintained peace, security, and had a realm of cavalry and a navy. He also made Timbuktu the center for learning and he was the first out of all the rulers of Songhai to be name "Askia".

__Death__
The great Askia sadly died on March 2nd, 1538, in Gao, the Songhai capital. All these years that have past, yet people have still not been able to find out when was the actual date that Askia was born. It is still a mystery to us today. Askia Muhammad was overthrown by his oldest son Askia Musa in 1523. Askia's tomb still exists until today, and many people still visit the tomb while it is still standing and displaying the mighty king's lair. Some people visit for tourism and some for not, even though he now exists in ashes, he still made a great and powerful king of Songhai.

[|**Image Location**]
 * The great tomb of Askia Muhammad**




 * The Great Sunni Ali Ber**
 * __[|Image Location]__**



Other Songhai pages:

Songhai Home Songhai Location Songhai Culture Songhai Religion Songhai's Collapse