Abubakar Liyatu
| Abubakar Liyatu | |
|---|---|
| Mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire | |
| Reign | 14th century (0–1 years) c. 1368–1369[a] |
| Predecessor | Uthman II |
| Successor | Idris II Saradima and Dunama III |
| Died | c. 1369 "Shefiyári", Kanem |
| Dynasty | Sayfawa dynasty (Dawudid[b]) |
| Father | Dawud Nikalemi |
Abubakar (Abū Bakr bin Dāwūd[2]), called Abubakar Liyatu[3][4][5] (meaning "Abubakar the Illustrious"[6]), was briefly mai (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-14th century, ruling approximately 1368–1369.[a]
Life
Abubakar was a son of mai Dawud Nikalemi.[3] Abubakar became mai in the mid-14th century,[2] succeeding his cousin Uthman II.[3] Uthman had died in battle against the Bilala, who were invading the empire from the east.[5] Abubakar likewise fought against the Bilala and was killed in battle by the invaders after mere months[a] on the throne.[5] The site of Abubakar's death is recorded as Shefiyári (or variations thereof, such as Sefiari N'gazriwan) in Kanem.[5][8] Abubakar was succeeded as mai by Idris II Saradima and Dunama III, who may have ruled together.[2]
Notes
- ^ a b c King lists (girgams) and chronicles translated in the 19th–20th centuries assign Abubakar a reign of 0 years (Palmer), 9 months (Barth), or 1 year (Urvoy, Nachtigal, Landeroin).[3] Due to differing dates and calculations for other mais, various dates have been given for his reign, including 1392 (Barth), 1386 (Palmer), 1371–1372 (Urvoy), 1338–1339 (Landeroin), and 1369–1370 (Nachtigal).[3] Cohen (1966) considered a reign of one year most likely.[3] Lange (1984) dated Abubakar's reign to 1381–1382,[7] Stewart (1989) dated it to 1392–1394,[4] and Bosworth (2012) dated it to 1368–1369.[2]
- ^ The 14th and 15th centuries saw protracted civil wars between the rival Idrisid (descendants of Idris I Nikalemi) and Dawudid (descendants of Dawud Nikalemi) branches of the Sayfawa dynasty.[1]
References
- ^ Lange, Dierk (2012). "Ali Gajideni". Dictionary of African Biography. Oxford University Press. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
- ^ a b c d Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (2012) [1996]. The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. Edinburgh University Press. p. 126. ISBN 0-7486-2137-7.
- ^ a b c d e f Cohen, Ronald (1966). "The Bornu King Lists". Boston University Papers on Africa: Volume II: African History. Boston University Press. pp. 58, 63, 81.
- ^ a b Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers: An Encyclopedia of Native, Colonial and Independent States and Rulers Past and Present. McFarland & Company. p. 146.
- ^ a b c d Barth, Heinrich (1857). Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa: Being a Journal of an Expedition Undertaken under the Auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the Years 1849–1855. Longmans. p. 640.
- ^ Palmer, Richmond (2019) [1928]. "LVI.–List of Mais of Bornu down to 1808 A.D. with Approximate Dates". Sudanese Memoirs. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-60370-9.
- ^ Lange, Dierk (1984). "The kingdoms and peoples of Chad". In Niane, Djibril Tamsir (ed.). General history of Africa, IV: Africa from the twelfth to the sixteenth century. University of California. p. 261. ISBN 978-92-3-101710-0.
- ^ Palmer, H. R. (1926). History Of The First Twelve Years Of The Reign Of Mai Idris Alooma Of Bornu (1571–1583) (Fartua, Ahmed Ibn). p. 113.