Askia Daoud

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Dawud
Askia of the
Askia Mohammad
(Ruled 1493-1528)
Songhai Empire, West Africa . (15th-16th Century)

Askia Daoud (also Askia Dāwūd, Askiya Dawud) was the ruler of the Songhai Empire from 1549 to 1582. His rule saw the empire rise to a peak of peace and prosperity following a series of succession disputes and short reigns.[5]

Background and Rise to Power

Dawud was one of many sons of

Askia dynasty. Under his rule, the Songhai economy thrived and developed a profoundly Islamized society, with the government promoting trade, education, and literacy. Dawud and his brothers received a good Islamic education.[6] Beginning with his father's deposition in 1528, the Songhai empire was shaken by a series of succession disputes until his brother Askia Ishaq I was peacefully elected Askia in 1539. [7] Dawud was appointed Kurmina-fari, a very powerful position ruling over the western half of the empire. When Askia Ishaq I was on his deathbed in 1549, close allies summoned Dawud from Tindirma so that he could be in Gao as the moment of succession. There was only one other claimant, who was supposedly killed by the intercession of a Muslim sorcerer.[6]

Reign

The Empire continued to expand under Daoud's peaceful rule, and saw little internal strife.[5] He reorganized the army and led successfuly campaigns against the Mossi, Borgu, and Mali Empire.[6]

Stability, security and religion were some of the main focuses for the Askia. Daoud used strategic marriages to promote loyalty and unity, both political and religious, on the part of vassal chiefs, religious leaders, and the merchants.[8]

Conflict with Morocco

In 1556–1557 troops of

Ahmad I al-Mansur of Morocco demanded the tax revenues from the salt mines. Askia Daoud responded by sending a large quantity of gold as a gift.[10] The salt mines were one of the main engines of commerce within the empire, and the fight over their control continued. Throughout these numerous raids, the Moroccan army began modernizing with the use of firearms, while the Songhai army failed to do so and relied on spears, arrows[11] and guerrilla warfare instead.[5]

Succession

Dawud placed his sons in positions of power in the empire, sidelining his half-brothers, sons of Askia Muhammad. After his death in 1582, succession disputes among them would severely weaken the empire.[12] This, along with the disparity in arms, would ultimately prove Songhai's undoing in 1591 when the empire was finally conquered by the Moroccan forces.[13]

Religion

Dawud was renowned for his devotion to Islam. He was well-versed in

Islamic law and memorized the Quran, and he respected and donated generously to Islamic scholars in Timbuktu. Nevertheless, pre-Islamic remained influential in Gao and other weakly Islamized parts of the empire.[14]

References

  1. ^ Kâti 1913, p. 217.
  2. ^ Tondibi is on the left bank of the Niger River, 46 km north of Gao at 16°38′46″N 0°13′44″W / 16.646°N 0.229°W / 16.646; -0.229.
  3. ^ Hunwick 2003, p. 184 n68.
  4. ^ Kâti 1913, p. 215.
  5. ^ a b c "Songhai empire." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2019. academic-eb-com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu/levels/collegiate/article/Songhai-empire/68696. Accessed 30 Nov. 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Levtzion 1977, p. 437.
  7. ^ Root, Mario. "Songhay Empire." Encyclopedia of Black Studies, edited by Molefi Kete Asante and Ama Mazama, SAGE Reference, 2005, pp. 435-436. Gale eBooks, Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.
  8. S2CID 154648283
    .
  9. ^ Hunwick 2003, p. 151.
  10. ^ Hunwick 2003, p. 155.
  11. ^ "Songhai Empire". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  12. ^ Levtzion 1977, p. 439.
  13. ^ "Fabled Land of Ancient Glories." allAfrica.com, 13 Sept. 2010. Gale OneFile: Economics and Theory, https://link-gale-com.queens.ezproxy.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A236981894/PPBE?u=cuny_queens&sid=PPBE&xid=d2100c0e. Accessed 30 Nov. 2019.
  14. ^ Levtzion 1977, p. 437-8.

Sources

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