Wagadou and Mema became junior partners in the realm and part of the imperial nucleus. [75] This victory resulted in the fall of the Kaniaga kingdom and the rise of the Mali Empire. The Mansa led the second expedition himself, and appointed Musa as his deputy to rule the empire until he returned. Via one of the royal ladies of his court, Musa transformed Sankore from an informal madrasah into an Islamic university. During the peak of the kingdom, Mali was extremely wealthy. By 1180 it had even subjugated Wagadou forcing the Sonink to pay tribute. 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]. 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. Al-Umari's list, which is quoted with slight differences by al-Qalqashandi, is as follows: Al-Umari also indicates that four Amazigh tribes were subjects of Mali: Gomez instead suggests that these tribes would have inhabited territory in the vicinity of Mema, Ghana, and Diafunu. The exact date of Musa's accession is debated. Musa was a Muslim, and his pilgrimage to Mecca, also known as hajj, made him well known across Northern Africa and the Middle East. In oral tradition and the Timbuktu Chronicles, Musa is known as Kanku Musa. Duties of the farba included reporting on the activities of the territory, collecting taxes and ensuring the native administration didn't contradict orders from Niani. Mansa Musa was the great-great-grandson of Sunjata, who was the founder of the empire of Mali. During most of his journey, Ibn Battuta travelled with a retinue that included servants, most of whom carried goods for trade. [23] Numbered individuals reigned as mansa; the numbers indicate the order in which they reigned. Available from http://incompetech.com. It was this pilgrimage that awakened the world to the stupendous wealth of Mali. His reign came with huge physical, economic and intellectual development in the Mali Empire. [114] However, the Songhai do not maintain their hold on the Malian capital. [93] Mansa Maghan Keita I spent wastefully and was the first lacklustre emperor since Khalifa Keita. Musa I (known more commonly as Mansa Musa) was the tenth Mansa (a Mandinka word for "emperor") of the Mali Empire. Traveling separately from the main caravan, their return journey to Cairo was struck by catastrophe. Consequently, the name of Mali and Timbuktu appeared on 14th century world maps. After the loyalty or at least the capitulation of an area was assured, it was allowed to select its own dyamani-tigui. . Mansa Musa was the great nephew of Sundiata Keita, who was founder . Mande bards in the region speak of the Dakajalan site, containing Sundiata's grave, as sacrosanct. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. 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 area was famous as a hunting ground for the large amount of game that it sheltered, as well as its dense vegetation. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Ibn Battuta, who visited the capital city from 1352 to 1353, called it Mali. 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. It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan Keita III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud Keita I. [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. Is Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived? - BBC News Songhai forces under the command of Askia Muhammad I defeated the Mali general Fati Quali Keita in 1502 and seized the province of Diafunu. 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. 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 Mahmud Keita II came to the throne in 1481 during Mali's downward spiral. However, territories that were crucial to trade or subject to revolt would receive a farba. [49] It has been suggested that the name given in the Arabic sources for the capital of Mali is derived the Manding word "bambi", meaning "dais", and as such refers to the "seat of government" in general rather than being the name of a specific city. 1312 is the most widely accepted by modern historians. [125] Farin was a general term for northern commander at the time. . Musa's name Kanku Musa means "Musa son of Kanku", but the genealogy may not be literal. UsefulCharts, . Why did Ms I make a pilgrimage to Mecca? Le Plerinage La Mecque de Mansa Musa (724725/13241325) d'aprs des Nouvelles Sources", "The Big Secret of Celebrity Wealth (Is That No One Knows Anything)", The International Journal of African Historical Studies, "West African empires. The ton-tigi belonged to an elite force of cavalry commanders called the farari ("brave men"). Konkodougou Kamissa Keita, named for the province he once governed,[70] was crowned as Mansa Mari Djata Keita II in 1360. [g] Faga Leye was the son of Abu Bakr, a brother of Sunjata, the first mansa of the Mali Empire. 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 [11][12] The version recorded by medieval Arab geographers is Mali (Arabic: , romanized:Ml). This trend would continue into colonial times against Tukulor enemies from the west.[121]. [70] The mansa lost control of Jalo during this period. [12] However, these hypotheses have been rejected by locals and are inconsistent with the apparent cognate status of Mali and Mand.[19]. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. He ruled the nation for nearly 25 years until his death in 1337 and is . At each halt, he would regale us [his entourage] rare foods and confectionery. The voyage is often incorrectly attributed to a Mansa Abu Bakr II, but no such mansa ever reigned. With a global population of some 11 million, the Mandinka are the best-known ethnic group of the Mande peoples, all of whom speak different dialects of the Mande language. This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." A Golden Age: King Mansa Musa's Reign. Using the reign lengths reported by Ibn Khaldun to calculate back from the death of Mansa Suleyman in 1360, Musa would have died in 1332. [131] Mansa Musa placed a heavy tax on all objects that went through Timbuktu. Musa went on hajj to Mecca in 1324, traveling with an enormous entourage and a vast supply of gold. [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 Mali Empire began in and was centered around the Manding region in what is now southern Mali and northeastern Guinea. Mali borrowed the practice to stem inflation of the substance, since it was so prominent in the region. [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. In the interregnum following Sunjata's death, the jomba or court slaves may have held power. Eventually, due to Muhammad's failure to return, Musa was recognized as mansa.[89]. Musa stayed in Cairo for three months, departing on 18 October[k] with the official caravan to Mecca. [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. This style is characterised by the use of mudbricks and an adobe plaster, with large wooden-log support beams that jut out from the wall face for large buildings such as mosques or palaces. Trade was Mali's form of income, and wealth. However, the legendary oral tradition that surrounds Keita suggests that he never turned away from his native religion. Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the king of the ancient empire of Mali in West Africa. [39], The identity of the capital city of the Mali Empire is a matter of dispute among historians. 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. Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations, World History. [91] Historians such as Hadrien Collet have argued that Musa's wealth is impossible to accurately calculate. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. The Lightning Flash | Mansa Musa A manuscript page from Timbuktu showing a table of astronomical information. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. With trade being disrupted by wars, there was no way for the economy to continue to prosper. 19 Children of Mansa Musa Muhummed [149], Imperial banner carried with Musa I in 1325 Hajj, Social, economic and governmental reformation. [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. Today, his net worth is estimated to have been $400 billion. The Mali Empire (Manding: Mand or Manden; Arabic: , romanized: Ml) was an empire in West Africa from c. 1226 to 1670. [40] Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus both call the capital "Mali. Musa Keita I (c. 1280 - c. 1337), or Mansa Musa, was the ninth Mansa of the Mali Empire, one of the most powerful West African states. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [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. [105][106] Three years later, Oualata also fell into their hands. 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. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Inside the world's wealthiest", "Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) | National Geographic Society", "The 25 richest people who ever lived inflation adjusted", "Civilization VI the Official Site | News | Civilization VI: Gathering Storm Mansa Musa Leads Mali", International Journal of African Historical Studies, "Searching for History in The Sunjata Epic: The Case of Fakoli", "chos d'Arabie. The Catalan Atlas, published in 1375, depicts the richest man of his day: Mansa Musa, the emperor of 14th-century Mali. By the time they reached Suez, many of the Malian pilgrims had died of cold, starvation, or bandit raids, and they had lost many of their supplies. Manuscript of Nasir al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Hajj al-Amin al-Tawathi al-Ghalawi's Kashf al-Ghummah fi Nafa al-Ummah. Umari also describes the empire as being south of Marrakesh and almost entirely inhabited except for few places. His leadership of Mali, a state which stretched across two thousand . The growing trade in Mali's western provinces with Portugal witnessed the exchange of envoys between the two nations. Then, in 1630, the Bamana of Djenn declared their version of holy war on all Muslim powers in present-day Mali. [84] Then an enslaved court official, Sakura, seized power. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. He had so much gold that during his hajj to Mecca, the Mansa passed out gold to all the poor along the way. [116] Songhai authority over Bendugu and Kala declined by 1571, and Mali may have been able to reassert some authority over them. It was this pilgrimage that awakened the world to the stupendous wealth of Mali. Mansa Mari Djata Keita II became seriously ill in 1372,[93] and power moved into the hands of his ministers until his death in 1374. While in Mecca, conflict broke out between a group of Malian pilgrims and a group of Turkic pilgrims in the Masjid al-Haram. 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). In the 17th year of his reign (1324), he set out on his famous pilgrimage to Mecca. Forty years after the reign of Mansa Musa Keita I, the Mali Empire still controlled some 1,100,000 square kilometres (420,000sqmi) of land throughout Western Africa.[103][9]. [9] Upon Leo Africanus's visit at the beginning of the 16th century, his descriptions of the territorial domains of Mali showed that it was still a kingdom of considerable size. [60] In return for their submission, they became "farbas", a combination of the Mandinka words "farin" and "ba" (great farin). The Joma area, governed from Siguiri, controlled the central region, which encompassed Niani. [7] Maghan I succeeded his father as mansa in 1337, but was deposed by his uncle Suleyman in 1341. As soon as Sassouma's son Dankaran Touman took the throne, he and his mother forced the increasingly popular Sundjata into exile along with his mother and two sisters. [40], Various sources cite several other cities as capitals of the Mali Empire, some in competition with the Niani hypothesis and others addressing different time periods. 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, who is . Mansa Musa was very wealthy and religious man who went on his Hajj for religious reasons and to also help people from his empire make the holy trip to Mecca for the god Allah.