Askia Muhammad
Seized the Songhai throne, expanded the empire and reformed its government on Islamic lines; he is buried in the pyramid tomb at Gao.
| Lived | c. 1443 – 1538 |
| Known as | Emperor of Songhai |
| Birthplace or main place | Gao |
| Places on the map | Gao, Timbuktu |
GaoSee the world of Askia Muhammad in the interactive map
Who ruled these places in his lifetime
From the border maps nearest to each date; borders are approximate.
Events in his lifetime
| Year | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1464 | Sonni Ali comes to power and Songhai rises | Gao |
| 1468 | Sonni Ali of Songhai takes Timbuktu | Timbuktu |
Battles and sites of the time
- Elmina · 1482
Further reading
Contemporaries
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1452 – 1519 | Leonardo da Vinci | Painter and inventor |
| 1473 – 1543 | Nicolaus Copernicus | Astronomer |
| 1475 – 1564 | Michelangelo | Sculptor, painter and architect |
| c. 1478 – 1541 | Francisco Pizarro | Spanish conquistador |
| 1469 – 1527 | Niccolò Machiavelli | Political thinker |
| 1471 – 1529 | Krishnadevaraya | Emperor of Vijayanagara |
| 1471 – 1528 | Albrecht Dürer | Painter and printmaker |
| 1451 – 1506 | Christopher Columbus | Navigator |
| c. 1469 – 1524 | Vasco da Gama | Navigator |
| 1483 – 1546 | Martin Luther | Reformer |
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.