Battle of Jenné: Difference between revisions

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the Mali Empire had been in near-constant state of decline. All of its periphery vassal territories had become independent states with some even challenging Mali's sovereignty, notably [[Songhai Empire|Songhai]].<ref>Oliver, page 431</ref> In 1591, the Songhai Empire was defeated at the [[Battle of Tondibi]] by a Moroccan expeditionary force. Thanks to the Moroccan's use of gunpowder weapons such as the arquebus and cannon, Songhai power was pushed back eastward across the Niger where they formed the smaller but still robust [[Dendi Kingdom]].<ref name="Thornton, page xix">Thornton, page xix</ref> With Songhai out of the way, the ruler of Mali Mansa [[Mahmud IV (mansa)|Mahmud IV]] set his sights on rebuilding his moribund empire.<ref name="Ki-Zerbo & Niane, page 75">Ki-Zerbo & Niane, page 75</ref> The first step in this grand plan would be to seize the valuable city-state of [[Jenné]], which controlled trade along the inland Niger valley.

 

Mansa Mahmud IV set about rallying his remaining provinces along with groups that had formerly been vassals of the Mali Empire. He sent out an envoy to his last two provinces of Binduku (Bendugu), Kala and Sibiridugu.<ref>Oliver, page 384</ref> Only two minor chiefs responded with a promise of aid in the upcoming battle. These were the kings, called “koi” in the Tarik es-Soudan of Farka or Fadku (part of Kala) and Ama.<ref name="Hunwick, page 234" /> Another minor leader who offered his assistance at the time was [[Hammad Amina]], a Fulbe chief ruling in Masina.<ref name="Hunwick, page 234">Hunwick, page 234</ref> Still, the mansa was able to raise a substantial army and marched on Jenné with the hopes of resuscitating his dying empire.<ref name="Hunwick, page 234" />

 

The trading emporium of Jenné was subject to the Moroccan pashalik of Timbuktu, named for the city where the Moroccan expeditionary force governed from.<ref name="Gray, page 161">Gray, page 161</ref> Previously, the pashalik had taken Jenné without a fight and preserved its king, [[Muhammad Kinba bin Isma’il]] on the throne under a Moroccan resident,<ref name="Gray, page 161" /> Governor Sayyid Mansur.<ref name="Hunwick, page 234"/> There are no details on what kind of troops were present when the mansa first began marching toward it, but once the governor was alerted, he sent word to Timbuktu for reinforcements. In response, Pasha Ammar sent a force headed by Qa’id [[al-Mustafa al-Fil]] and Qa’id [[Ali bin Abd Allah al-Tilimsani]], which included arquebusiers.<ref name="Hunwick, page 234" />