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Askia Muhammad
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Accomplishments
In 1493, after Askia, who was one of Sunni Ali’s military generals at the time, began to believe he was better suited to be ruler than Sunni Ali’s chosen successor Askia, mounted the throne by overthrowing the intended successor and engaging in one of the bloodiest battles in the kingdom’s history. Over 150,000 men fought in this war with majority of them having been wounded or killed. When Askia named himself king, he called himself, The Prince of Believers.
About
Askia Muhammad also known as Askia The Great, was a Soninke king of the Songhai empire in the late 15th century. Askia Muhammad strengthened his country and made it the largest country in West Africa's history. At its peak under Muhammad, the Songhai Empire surounded the Hausa states as far as Kano (present day Nigeria) and much of the territory that had belonged to the Mali Empire in the west. His policies resulted in a rapid expansion of trade with Europe and Asia, the creation of many schools, and he made Islam an integral part of the empire.
First Day as King
Askia simplified his newly-won empire and established harmony among the religious factions that were continually in conflict with one another. He orchestrated a program of expansion and consolidation that extended the empire from Taghaza in the North, to the borders of Yatenga in the South; and from Air in the Northeast to Futa Tooro in Senegambooties. Instead of organizing the empire along Islamic lines, he tempered and improved on the traditional model by instituting a system of bureaucratic government that was unparalleled in the Western Sudan region. In addition, Askia established standardized trade measures and regulations, and initiated the policing of trade routes. He also encouraged learning and literacy, ensuring that Mali's universities produced the most distinguished scholars, many of whom published significant books.