Fall of the Songhay Empire
As Askiya Muhammad's sons grew up, they began to quarrel and compete among themselves for power. When Askiya Muhammad was old and weak to rule the empire, one of his sons, Musa, overthrew him and took over the empire. But since Muhammad had numerous sons, these sons were angered and were craving for power as well. Askiya Musa had to fight his rival brothers to stay in power. He killed some of them in battle; others fled the empire. Finally, in 1531, some of the surviving brothers joined together and killed Musa in battle. His bloody reign had lasted only two years and nine months.
Musa's reign was succeeded by an another son of Muhammad Toure. The rivalry between the brothers for power still continued which led to a civil war. The civil war weakened the state of Songhay, creating bloodshed and lawlessness. Furthermore, the civil war encouraged the Sultan of Morocco to invade Songhay.
For many centuries Songhay had been involved in trans-Saharan trade with Morocco. Moroccan traders lived in Songhay, and Songhay merchants stayed in Moroccan cities. The kings of Morocco were well informed about Songhay and were attracted by its stories of wealth. For the weakened Songhay empire this was a dangerous situation because Morocco was at the peak of its power.
Sultan Mulay al-Mansur, king of Morocco, was a skillful ruler. He strengthened his kingdom through diplomacy and military campaigns that ended internal conflicts. His diplomats ensured good relations with foreign powers by giving rich gifts to other rulers. But this drained the Moroccan royal treasury. This is why Mulay al-Mansur decided to rebuild the Moroccan treasury by capturing Songhay's wealth.
About six months after it began its march, the Moroccan army crossed the desert, arriving in Songhay with only 1000 soldiers. Although larger than the invading Moroccan forces, the Songhay army was completely overwhelmed and defeated. Because their guns were superior to the spears and arrows of the disunited forces of Songhay, the Moroccan army won easily and captured most of Songhay.
Despite the victory of the Moroccan's invasion, the Morrocan army was not able to create a colony in Songhay. Many of the invaidng army died of diseases such as malaria and dysentry. Those who stayed in Songhay divided the country into smaller states, where they became dictators, or Arma, as they were called locally. By the end of the seventeenth century, the descendants of the Arma had already been assimilated into the local population.
The Moroccon invasion had devastated the Songhay people. The unity and organization of the Songhay state was undermined and the trans-Saharan trade was also disrupted. What was one a peaceful and prosperous land became a dangerous and povery-sticken place. By the eighteenth century, the great Songhay empire had dwindled to the small ancestral homeland along the Niger River, where their descendants live to this day.
Musa's reign was succeeded by an another son of Muhammad Toure. The rivalry between the brothers for power still continued which led to a civil war. The civil war weakened the state of Songhay, creating bloodshed and lawlessness. Furthermore, the civil war encouraged the Sultan of Morocco to invade Songhay.
For many centuries Songhay had been involved in trans-Saharan trade with Morocco. Moroccan traders lived in Songhay, and Songhay merchants stayed in Moroccan cities. The kings of Morocco were well informed about Songhay and were attracted by its stories of wealth. For the weakened Songhay empire this was a dangerous situation because Morocco was at the peak of its power.
Sultan Mulay al-Mansur, king of Morocco, was a skillful ruler. He strengthened his kingdom through diplomacy and military campaigns that ended internal conflicts. His diplomats ensured good relations with foreign powers by giving rich gifts to other rulers. But this drained the Moroccan royal treasury. This is why Mulay al-Mansur decided to rebuild the Moroccan treasury by capturing Songhay's wealth.
About six months after it began its march, the Moroccan army crossed the desert, arriving in Songhay with only 1000 soldiers. Although larger than the invading Moroccan forces, the Songhay army was completely overwhelmed and defeated. Because their guns were superior to the spears and arrows of the disunited forces of Songhay, the Moroccan army won easily and captured most of Songhay.
Despite the victory of the Moroccan's invasion, the Morrocan army was not able to create a colony in Songhay. Many of the invaidng army died of diseases such as malaria and dysentry. Those who stayed in Songhay divided the country into smaller states, where they became dictators, or Arma, as they were called locally. By the end of the seventeenth century, the descendants of the Arma had already been assimilated into the local population.
The Moroccon invasion had devastated the Songhay people. The unity and organization of the Songhay state was undermined and the trans-Saharan trade was also disrupted. What was one a peaceful and prosperous land became a dangerous and povery-sticken place. By the eighteenth century, the great Songhay empire had dwindled to the small ancestral homeland along the Niger River, where their descendants live to this day.