Askia Isma'il

Askia Ismail was the sixth ruler of the Songhai Empire from 1537 – 1539, and fourth from the Askia dynasty. He was the son of Askia Mohammad I, the founder of the Askia dynasty, and Maryam Daabu, a member of the Malian royal family captured in 1501.^[1]

Ismai'l
Askia
Predecessor	Askia Benkan (1531–1537)
Successor	Askia Ishaq I (1539–1549)
Born	c. 1510
Died	December 1539
Names Ismai'l ibn Mohammed al-Turi
Dynasty	Askia dynasty
Father	Askia Mohammad I
Mother	Maryum Daabu
Religion	Islam

Dynastic Struggles

Ismail, a younger son, joined an abortive rebellion against his brother Musa, and was sheltered by the Maghsharen-koi, the leader of the Tuareg community of Timbuktu, in the aftermath.^[2]: 432

He was recalled to court by Askia Mohammed Benkan, given the king's sister as a wife, and made to swear a public loyalty oath.^[3]: 322 Despite this, he plotted with his father, imprisoned on an island in the Niger river, to regain power.^[2]: 436 The conspiracy came to fruition in April 1537 when Benkan was encamped at a village called Mansur, site of the murder of his own predecessor Musa. Benkan’s captains turned against him and he was deposed by the Dendi-fari, who then proclaimed Ismail as Askia.^[3]: 326

Reign

Ismail's reign began inauspiciously, with a heart attack on his coronation day. In June 1537 he brought his father back from exile and was crowned again as khalifa.^[3]: 328 He campaigned against Bakabula in Gurma. He gave charge of the cavalry to Kurmina-fari Hammad and instructed them to chase and engage Bakabula until Ismail arrived. In the ensuing battle they lost over 900 horsemen. However they succeeded in killing Bakabula and were able to take a large amount of booty. Shortly afterwards, in December 1539, Ismail died.^[3]: 329

See

• Tarikh al-fattash – Chronicle giving the history of the Songhay Empire
• Tarikh al-Sudan – Chronicle giving the history of the Songhay Empire