Askia Ismail was the sixth ruler of the

Songhai Empire The Songhai Empire (also transliterated as Songhay) was a state that dominated the western Sahel/Sudan in the 15th and 16th century. At its peak, it was one of the largest states in African history. The state is known by its historiographical ...

from 1537 – 1539, and fourth from the

Askia dynasty The Askiya dynasty, also known as the Askia dynasty, ruled the Songhai Empire at the height of that state's power. It was founded in 1493 by Askia Mohammad I, a general of the Songhai Empire who usurped the Sonni dynasty. The Askiya ruled from Gao ...

. Ismail came to power through a conspiracy generated by

Askia Mohammad I Askia Muhammad I (b. 1443 – d. 1538), born Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Turi or Muhammad Ture, was the first ruler of the Askia dynasty of the Songhai Empire, reigning from 1493 to 1528. He is also known as Askia the Great, and his name in modern ...

, his father and founder of the Askia dynasty, with the aim of freeing Mohammad from captivity. Directed to one of Mohammad’s Eunuchs, he was able to obtain gold. With this Ismail was then able to recruit men, allies and Suma Kutubaki, a friend of the ruling

Askia Mohammad Benkan Askia Mohammad Benkan, also Askiya Muhammad Bonkana, was the third ruler of the Songhai Empire from 1531 to 1537. Mohammad Benkan assumed power after Askiya Musa (son of Askia Mohammad I) was assassinated. Musa was assassinated in the village of ...

. The conspiracy came to fruition when Benkan was encamped at a village called Mansur. Benkan’s captains turned against him, he was deposed by the Dendi-fari, with the Dendi-fari capturing and chaining up most of Benkan’s inner circle. Raised to power by the Dendi-fari, Askia Ismail was then able to release his father Askia Muhammad from Kangaba Island, bringing him home to Gao. Ismail campaigned against the one called Bakabula in Gurma. Ismail gave charge of the cavalry to the Kurmina-fari. Ismail instructed the Kurmina-fari to chase and engage Bakabula and to hold out until Ismail arrived. In the ensuing battle the Kurmina-fari lost over 900 horsemen. However they succeeded in killing Bakabula and were able to take a large amount of booty. Shortly after this battle in December 1539 Ismail died.

See

*''

Tarikh al-fattash The ''Tarikh al-fattash'' is a West African chronicle written in Arabic in the second half of the 17th century. It provides an account of the Songhay Empire from the reign of Sonni Ali (ruled 1464-1492) up to 1599 with a few references to event ...

'' – Chronicle giving the history of the Songhay Empire *''

Tarikh al-Sudan The ''Tarikh al-Sudan'' ( ''Tārīkh as-Sūdān''; also ''Tarikh es-Sudan'', "History of the Sudan") is a West African chronicle written in Arabic in around 1655 by the chronicler of Timbuktu, al-Sa'di. It provides the single most important primary ...

'' – Chronicle giving the history of the Songhay Empire

External links

* People of the Songhai Empire History of Africa History of Mali 16th-century deaths {{Africa-royal-stub