Mansa Musa: Lord of Mali Timeline

Mansa Musa: Lord of Mali 20

1280 Mansa Musa is born into the Keita dynasty of Mali Born around 1280 into the ruling family founded by Sundiata Keita Musa was born into the Keita royal line of the Mali Empire, descended from a brother of Sundiata. His birth year is uncertain and is usually estimated at around 1280.
1311 Mansa Musa acts as deputy while his predecessor sails into the Atlantic According to Musa's own later account, the previous mansa set off across the ocean and never returned In Cairo, Musa told officials that his predecessor had sent a large fleet into the Atlantic and then led a second expedition himself, leaving Musa in charge. The ruler never returned, and the account is preserved by the Arab scholar al-Umari.
1312 Mansa Musa becomes ruler of the Mali Empire Musa takes the throne as mansa, around 1312 After his predecessor failed to return, Musa became mansa of Mali. His accession is usually dated to around 1312, though some historians prefer 1307.
1324 Mansa Musa meets Mamluk Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad After hesitating over court protocol, Musa is received by the Sultan of Egypt Musa at first refused to kiss the ground before the sultan, but he agreed to prostrate himself before God. Al-Nasir Muhammad received him with honour and the two exchanged lavish gifts.
1324 Mansa Musa performs the hajj at Mecca The Malian king completes the pilgrimage and visits the holy cities Musa completed the pilgrimage rites in Mecca and visited Medina. He gave generous alms in the holy cities.
1324 Mansa Musa recruits the poet and architect Abu Ishaq al-Sahili An Andalusian scholar met in Mecca returns with Musa to West Africa In Mecca, Musa met Abu Ishaq al-Sahili, a poet from Granada, and persuaded him to come to Mali. Al-Sahili is credited with building projects for the mansa, including a royal audience hall.
1324 Mansa Musa sets out on pilgrimage to Mecca A huge caravan with thousands of attendants and great quantities of gold leaves Mali Musa left Mali for the hajj with a vast retinue of courtiers, soldiers and servants, carrying large amounts of gold. The journey would make him famous across the Islamic world.
1324 Mansa Musa's caravan crosses the Sahara The pilgrimage travels through the desert by way of Walata and Tuat The royal caravan crossed the Sahara along trans-Saharan trade routes. Its passage via Walata and the Tuat oases is recorded in later chronicles.
1324 Mansa Musa's spending depresses the value of gold in Cairo Malian largesse floods Cairo's markets with gold Musa and his entourage spent and gave away so much gold that its value in Cairo fell. Al-Umari, writing about twelve years later, reported that the price had still not fully recovered.
1324 Mansa Musa arrives in Cairo The Malian king camps near the pyramids before entering the Mamluk capital Musa reached Cairo in mid-1324 and camped near the pyramids at Giza. He stayed in the city for about three months before continuing to the Hejaz.
1325 Mansa Musa borrows from Cairo merchants on his return Having run short of gold, Musa takes loans at high interest On his way back through Cairo, Musa had exhausted his funds and borrowed from merchants there. Contemporary accounts say the loans were later repaid.
1325 Mansa Musa brings Muslim scholars back from the Hejaz Learned men return with the pilgrimage to strengthen Islam in Mali Musa returned from Arabia with Muslim scholars and descendants of the Prophet. Their arrival strengthened Islamic learning in the Mali Empire.
1325 Mansa Musa brings Timbuktu under Malian rule The Niger trading town becomes part of the Mali Empire Musa took possession of Timbuktu and visited it on his return from the hajj. Under Malian rule the town grew into a major centre of trade and scholarship.
1325 Mansa Musa orders a mosque built at Gao A mosque is raised in the Songhai capital to mark Malian rule The Tarikh al-Sudan credits Musa with building a mosque at Gao during his stay there. It added to his reputation as a patron of Islam.
1325 Mansa Musa visits Gao and takes Songhai princes as hostages The sons of the Songhai ruler are taken to the Malian court On his way home, Musa visited newly conquered Gao and received the submission of its ruler. The Songhai princes Ali Kolon and Sulayman Nar were taken to Mali as hostages.
1325 Mansa Musa's caravan suffers heavy losses in the desert Many of the returning pilgrims die on the journey home The return journey was hard, and many members of the caravan were lost to hunger, cold and exhaustion in the desert. Arab writers recorded the losses suffered on the way back.
1325 Mansa Musa's general captures Gao for the Mali Empire The Songhai capital on the Niger falls to Mali According to the Tarikh al-Sudan, Musa's general Saghmanja took the Songhai city of Gao while the mansa was away on pilgrimage. Mali's control now reached far down the Niger River.
1327 Mansa Musa commissions the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu The great mosque is traditionally credited to al-Sahili's design Musa commissioned the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, traditionally dated to around 1327 and credited to al-Sahili. Rebuilt many times, it is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1337 Mansa Musa dies The famed ruler of Mali dies and is succeeded by his son Maghan Musa died around 1337, though some sources give 1332. His son Maghan I succeeded him as mansa.
1337 Mansa Musa sends an embassy to the Marinid sultan of Morocco Mali opens diplomatic ties with Abu al-Hasan after his conquest of Tlemcen According to Ibn Khaldun, Musa sent envoys to the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hasan after Tlemcen fell to the Marinids. The two courts went on to exchange embassies.