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Sunni Ali

Type Figure Region West Africa Time c. 1420–1492 Also known as founding ruler of the Songhai Empire

Founder and expander of the Sunni dynasty of the Songhai Empire, reigning 1464–1492;…

Timeline

  1. 1464–1473Gao · Songhai EmpireInherited the Songhai throne in 1464 and immediately launched conquests against neighboring tribes and city-states, gradually consolidating control over the middle Niger region.
  2. 1468–1473Timbuktu · Songhai EmpireAfter a siege lasting several years, captured the scholarly and trading hub of Timbuktu in 1468, then conquered Djenné and other places, bringing important West African trade routes and scholarly centers into the empire.
  3. 1480–1491Niger River basin · Songhai EmpireContinued expanding to the north and south, bringing the empire's territory to its height, controlling key trans-Saharan trade routes; Songhai became one of the most militarily powerful polities in West Africa at the time.
  4. 1492Gao · Songhai EmpireAfter his death in 1492, his young son Sunni Baro succeeded him; the Sunni dynasty was soon overthrown by Askia Muhammad, and the empire entered the Askia era.

Sources