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To secure legitimacy of his usurpation of the Sunni dynasty,Askia allied himself with scholars from Timbuktu and ushered in a golden age in the city for Muslim scholarship.He knew that a key strategy to keeping his power would be to keep the high priests of the government out of his business.
Askia The Great also known as
Muhammad Ture was a Soninke king of the Songhai empire in the late 15th century.
Askia developed relationships for trade with other nations like Portugal and other Mediterranean empires. He also encouraged children despite religion or racial make-up, to study abroad by attending Muslim universities in places like Europe and Asia.
The successor of Sunni Ali Ber, was much more astute than his predecessors had ever been.The intended successor of Sunni Ali was removed by rebelling islamic factions. Muhammed Toure (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 with majority of them having been wounded or killed. When Askia named himslef king, he called himself, "The Prince of Believers" and "The Caliph of Mussulmans"
He simplified and established harmony among the religious factions that were continually in conflict with one another. He established standardized trade measures and regulations, and encouraged learning and literacy,and universities that produced scholars,many of whom published significant books.
For all his efforts Sudan experienced a cultural revival it had never witnessed before,as a center of all things valuable in learning and trade.Askia went blind in his old age , and was removed from the throne in 1528 by his son Askia Musa, when he was about 80. He chose his brother ,Omar Konzagho, to act as his spokesperson so that no one directly saw Askias face.
Faria Mousa,revolted against his father ,forcing Askia to abdicate the throne.After 36 years of Faria ruling ,he died and the throne was succeeded by another son of Askia's named Benkan.Benkan was even more evil to his father than Faria was. He exiled Askia to an island on the Niger river and took possession of the entire palace. As the story goes Askia has a loyal son named Ismail who comes to visit him on the island ,Askia felt his sons muscular arm and asks him how is it possible that one so strong permitted his aged father to be "eaten by mosquitoes and leapt on by frogs?" Ismail replies that he has no money to make war,Askia directed him to a spot where he had hidden a large sum of gold. And telling him names of those who could be counted on for support, Askia dictated a plan of battle. Ismail was victorious and Askia returned to the palace, where he died in 1538 at the age of 96.