The following is an early attempt at a timeline for the history of the Hausa peoples of West Africa. Drawing on sources and publications commented upon or reviewed on this blog, I endeavored to create some sense of chronology for the sprawling world of pre-jihad Hausaland. In order to do full justice to this, I would have had to read and corroborate different oral traditions and translated chronicles, manuscripts or external textual sources to clarify, expand, and fully include the entirety of the Hausa world in their major developments. Alas, Hausa states like Katsina perhaps had a full chronicle or richer archive (said to have been destroyed during the Sokoto Revolution), but without much material, and with most of the surviving texts not translated into English or French, we were forced to do our best with the somewhat problematic dates in the Kano Chronicle. References to Hausa states from the Songhay world, Borno, Agadez, and North Africa occasionally helped, though we are still very much in the dark about the specifics of the early Hausa states. Needless to say, we will revisit and update this occasionally.
by c.650: Maranda, or Marandet, settled by this date. The city was a center for copper and the name, according to Hamdani, meant henna. The capital city of Gobir after they moved south of Air was also named for henna, while the name Gobir is said to resemble the Coptic word for henna.
868-884: Reign of the first ruler of the Tulunids in Egypt, who also closed the old trade route used by Nubians and Egyptians to the Maghrib and Sudan that traversed the Oases.
before 868/869: al-Jahiz in Iraq included the Marawa among the Sudan, along with the Abyssinians, Nubians, Fazzan and Zaghawa
872: al-Yaqubi mentions Maranda, possibly the earliest known Hausa state or town that was connected to trans-Saharan trade routes, as well as the Marawiyyun who were listed after Qaqu and before Maranda. Al-Yaqubi's brief account describes a kingdom of al-HBShH with a town called ThBYR, whose king is called MRH, next to the Qaqu, who lived under the yoke of the king of ThBYR. Kawkaw (Gao) appears to have dominated some of these kingdoms, including in its empire al-MRW (an extensive realm). In addition, al-Yaqubi referenced the kingdom of Malal, described as an enemy of Kanem, ruled by MYWSY. According to Hamani, there are many ruins of the ancient Azna people of at Amellal, east of Amandar, in Azawak.
-889/890: al-Yaqubi completed his Kitab al-buldan, which mentioned the Miriyyun, Zaghawiyyun, and Marwiyyun among the black slaves exported from Zawila
-c.903: Ibn al-Faqih mentioned Maranda and Marawa as locations on the trade route stretching from Ghana to Egypt
-c.956: al-Masu'udi described the Marka peoples as a group of Sudan in the west, after Kanem and before Kawkaw
-1030: al-Biruni included coordinates for Marawah
-c.1154: Maranda described by al-Idrisi as a populous town yet seldom visited because their merchandise is scare. Yet nomads stop there (from Kawar and Air?)
-1166-1182: Reign of Abdallah Bakuru of Kanem; Borno mahrams collected by Palmer mention his mahram granted to the Beni Mukhtar Tura in the Kawar (Dirku), and mention of conflict between Air (Ahir) and Dirku Tura
-c.1337-38: al-Umari's writings allude to a Berber sultan of Ahir (Air), who was considered greater than the Berber kings of Tadmakka and DMWshH
-1353: Ibn Battuta left Takadda, a city he described as exporting copper worked by slaves to Kubar. Sultan of Takadda, a Berber named Izar, was said to have been in a dispute with the Takarkari, another Berber sultans. Ibn Battuta later described Kahir as the country of the Karkari sultan, a grassy land where people buy sheep and dry the flesh, which is later exported to Tuwat
-Also, in 1353, an ambassador of Takadda's ruler at Biskara described the city as an importance stop for travelers to Mali
1355: Ibn Battuta's Rihla mentions Gobir as a non-Muslim kingdom importing copper and practicing human sacrifice
-1355-1380: Reign of Ali Murabalus in Katsina (probably too early)
-c.1349-1385: Reign of Ali Yaji in Kano, first Kano ruler to embrace Islam
-c.1388: Reign of Kaday Afnu of the Sayfawa dynasty (Afnu meaning "Hausa" in Kanuri)
-1390-1410: Reign of Kanajeji in Kano, said to have introduced lifidi armor, coats of mail and iron helmets
-1400s-Wangara Chronicle provides information on the arrival of Shaikh Zagaite in Kano
-1404/5-1424/5: Reign of Yunus as Sultan of Air
-1421-1422: Mai Uthman ibn Dawud reigned (Uthman K.l.n.ma), deposed by kaygama Nikali b. Ibrahim and yerima Kaday Ka'aku; died at Afnu Kunu (Kano)
-c.1421-1438: Dagachi, Borno prince, came from South Borno with men and mallams to Kano. Queen Amina of Zaria likely dominated much of Hausaland
-c.1438-1452: Borno attacked Asben/Air during this period, but couldn’t find water, ended by receiving tribute from lands west of Borno; Kano gave tsare to Borno
-before 1442: al-Maqrizi mentions Afnu and their king, Mastur (Afnu was Kanuri term for Hausa peoples). Neighboring Mastur's Afnu kingdom was another king, Manbu, and then the Kankuma people, then Kanku, then Abqaram, and then Yadi (ruled by Rabuma), followed by the king Hudami and the Inkirar tribe. In addition, Shadi, Mabna, Abham, Ata'na, Yafalam, and Makba, naked tribes, come next.
-mid-1400s: Yusuf Bala Usman places Korau as king of Katsina
-1445-1493: Possible reign for Muhammad Korau of Katsina. May have participated in a joint attack on Kebbi with Sunni Ali of Songhay (Lange's theory). Also said to have been the first to erect a mosque (tradition)
c.1450: Migration of Gobirawa from Air to their southern location
-1452-1463: Fulani go to Borno, according to Kano Chronicle while Gwanja merchants arrived in Katsina, Kanuri came in larger numbers, and Asbenawa came to Gobir. Reign of Abdulahi Burja in Kano
-c.1460: Agadez built, according to Marmol, though Hamani cites traditions and evidence of an earlier Hausa or Gobirawa presence at Agades
-1459-1536: Life of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Muhammd Aqit b. Umar of Timbuktu, who visited Kano and Hausaland
-1463-1499: Reign of Muhammad Rumfa of Kano, many reforms introduced and al-Maghili came to Kano. War with Katsina for 11 years.
-1491/2: One of al-Maghili's letters addressed to Muhammad Rumfa of Kano
-1493: al-Lamtuni, probably from Air, wrote to al-Suyuti in Cairo
-c.1493: Letter form al-Suyuti to the rulers of Katsina and Agadez; reference to human sacrifice of slaves by Gobirawa when they are ill
-1493-1528: Reign of Askia Muhammad I of Songhay
-c.1494: Ibrahim was ruling in Katsina, said to have promoted Islam and corresponded with al-Suyuti.
-1498-1524: Reign of Ali in Katsina, who built walls and fortifications (Djibo Hamani's proposed dates)
-1499-1509: Reign of Abdulahi in Kano; Borno attacked Kano and Abdulahi and his mallams met with Borno's mai to humble themselves. Abdulahi said to have defeated Katsina and Zaria
by 1505: Zazzau had its first Muslim king
-1514: Askia Muhammad of Songhay attacks Katsina
-1514-1515: Askia Muhammad of Songhay conquers/annexes Air region
-1515-1516: Kanta Kotal, Kanta of Kebbi, revolts against Askia Muhammad
-1517/18: Askia Muhammad of Songhay campaigns against Kebbi
-c. 1529: Ali Fulan of Songhay flees to Kano
-1529/30: Death of qadi al-Tazakhti, a qadi of Katsina who had studied in Mecca and Cairo
-1533/34: Death of al-Balbali, scholar who had once taught in Kano and Katsina
-1553: Askia Dawud signed peace treaty with Kebbi
-1553/54: Songhay raid against Katsina by 24 horsemen, who are defeated by 400 Katsina cavalry forces
-c.1561: Borno-Kebbi War, Borno said to have fielded an army of 100,000 against Kebbi after Kebbi attacks on Air region, but Kebbi defeated Borno (yet Muhammad Kanta died after)
-c.1563-1565: Reign of Ibrahim Maje in Katsina
c.1565-1573: reign of Abubakar Kado in Kano, presence of people from Bagirmi and Logone ("Lagoni") in Kano. Katsina victory against Kano
-c.1565-1575: Reign of another Ibrahim in Katsina (Yusufu Bala Usman)
-1573-1582: Sarki Mohamma Shashere of Kano defeated by Katsina
-1575-1587: Reign of Muhammad Wari in Katsina
-1577: al-Nasir of the Awlad Muhammad dynasty in the Fazzan fled to Katsina, where he was well-received, after Ottomans annexed Fazzan
-before 1582: Merchant of Raguse who had traveled in West Africa for 7 years, reported to Anania that Kano was one of the three most important commercial centers in Africa (with Fez and Cairo) and the Portuguese had attempted to establish a comptoir there. Anania also reported constant wars between Kano and Katsina
-1582-1618: Reign of Mohamma Zaki in Kano; during his reign, Kano attacked and pillaged by the Kwararafa and the Kanawa fled to Daura. Katsina said to have attacked Kano during this period of Kwararafa threat but Kano later won
-1587-1600: Reign of Suleiman in Katsina
-after 1591: Ahmad al-Mansur of Morocco sends a letter to Kanta Dawud of Kebbi, discussing the post-Songhay order and complaining about Kebbi hosting rebellious Songhay
-c.1594/5: Birth of Abu Abdallah b. Masani b. Muhammad al-Barnawi al-Kashinawi in Katsina, to Borno parents
-1599-1613: Reign in Katsina of Maalam Yusufu, according to Katsina tradition. Borno said to have attacked Katsina in his reign.
-c.1600-1618: Reign of Usman Nayinawa in Katsina (Usman Tsagarana, according to Djibo Hamani)
-early 1600s: Town of Illela founded by Asben immigrants (part of Katsina kingdom)
-c.1601: Katsina intervened in the civil war of Agades to support Muhammad al-Mubarak
-1615: Ahmad Baba replies to a North African about which West African populations can be legally enslaved. He references Kano and Katsina as similar kingdoms sometimes in war, taking captives.
-1618-1623: Reign of Mohamma Zaki in Kano, who defeated invading Katsina forces
-1618-1636: Reign of Muhammad Toyarero of Katsina (Djibo Hamani). Remembered in tradition that Katsina became an intellectual center and market for books in Arabic (regnal years 1695-1705 in another source, too late)
-1623-1648: Reign of Kutumbi of Kano. Victory against Katsina earlier on, but died after battle with Katsina near the end of his reign
-1626/27: Awlad Muhammad prince Muhammad b. Juhaym raised an army and retook the Fazzan after living in exile in Katsina
-1636-1641: Reign of Muhammadu Wari of Katsina (1625-1637 regnal years according to another source). Kwararafa said to have attacked Katsina.
-1649-1651: Reign of Shekkarau in Kano, who made peace with Katsina
1639-1677: Reign of Mai Ali b. Umar of Borno, who was praised in poem by Dan Marina for his victory against the Kwararafa
-1641-1671: Reign of Muhammadu Uban Yara in Katsina; conflict with Zamfara during his reign. Execution of Maghani who disturbed trading caravans from Kano during his reign
-1648: King Katumbi of Kano died during conflict with Katsina
-1659: Writing of poem by Dan Marina in praise of the Katsina ruler
-1661-1675: Kanta Maliki of Kebbi's reign, decadence in Kebbi
-1667: Borno-Tuareg war; Borno prince Medicon sold into slavery after Agadez attacked Borno, but Mai Ali b. Umar was able to have the Pasha of Tripoli find and liberate Medicon; death of Katsina scholar Dan Masina (who also wrote a short work on the Yoruba), who died in the fifth year of Katsina ruler Salman (Suleiman)'s reign
-Death of Dan Masanih, Katsina scholar
c.1670-1703: reign of Dadi in Kano; Kwararafa wars resulted in the Kwararafa taking the capital.
-c.1671: Kwararafa attack on Kano
-1671-1684: Reign in Katsina of Muhammadu Jan Hazo; Kwararafa attack on city failed due to intervention of prayers of Dan Masina.
-c.1672: Kwararafa attacks Kano and Katsina
-1672-1680: Evliya Celebi was in Egypt, where he presumably gathered information on the Hausa (Afnu). Per Celebi, the Hausa included 7 tribes but only 1 was Muslim
-1674: Sultanate of Agadez conquers Ader/Adar after defeating Kebbi
-1679: Kel Ayar raid on Borno
-1680-1689: Reign of Soba of Gobir (Djibo Hamani), conflict with Katsina
-1681: Prince Akanfaya of Agadez went on third pilgrimage
-1682: Awlad Muhammad sultan of Fazzan fled to Katsina
-c.1685: Katsina victory against Gobir
-1685: Agadez war with Zanfara; Agabba of Agadez returns to Adar
-1687: Muhammad al-Mubarak of Agadez died during epidemic, succeeded by Agabba
-1689: Successful counterattack of Muhammad Agabba (Agadez Sultanate) against Gobir; Awlad Muhammad ruler fled to Katsina
-1698/99: Sultan al-Nasir of Fazzan went to Agades
-c.1702-1728: Reign of Karyawiga in Katsina
-August 1711: Death of Prefect of Borno Carlo Maria di Genova near Katsina. Never reached Borno or the allegedly Christian Kwararafa
-1715: Awlad Muhammad ruler fled to Katsina
-c.1720-1730: A Katsina faqih among the group who tried to mediate between Darfur sultan Muhammad Dawra and his son, Musa Anqarib.
-1721: Muhammad Agabba of Agadez dethroned by brother al-Amin, fled to Adar and ruled among the Itisen from Birni-n-Ader until 1738
-1726: Tuareg of Air war with Gobir
-1730: al-Kashnawi, famous 18th century scholar, performed the pilgrimage to Mecca
1731-1743: Reign of Mohamma Kumbari in Kano, whose exactions on traders led to many Arabs relocating to Katsina in the 1730s. Sarkin Kano also said to have imported firearms through Nupe and fought with Gobir, led by Sobah. Borno launched campaign against Kano but battle averted (may have occurred during reign of Mai Ali b. al-Hajj Dunama)
-1732: Death of al-Mustafa in Yandatu, center for learning in Katsina kingdom (Gonja Chronicle)
1733: Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Fulani al-Kishwani composes a work on magic squares
-1734-1747: Reign of Gima in Katsina
-1737-1764: Ibrahim Babari ruler of Gobir, during his reign Alkalawa established as capital. Raids on Katsina, Kano, and other lands
-1738: Death of Agabba, sultan of Adar
-1738/9: Attestation of Dar Kofa in Tunis
-1740: Kel Owey Tuareg invade the palace of Agadesand slaughter many people
-1741: Death of Muhammad al-Katsinawi in Egypt, who studied in Borno. Noted for his writings on magic squares, astrology and other topics.
-c.1743-1764: Ruler Baabaari of Gobir. Attacked Katsina unsuccessfully.
-1743-1753: Alhaji Kabe of Kano in hostility with Gobir (led by Barbari)
-1746-1759: Etsu Jibril of Nupe, promoted Islam
-c.1755-1767: Reign of Wari Maikore in Katsina
-c.1759: Bilma War between Tuareg of Air and Borno, resulting in Tuareg of Agadez confederation becoming the dominant player in the movement of Kawar salt to Hausaland; Agadez Chronicles also report the Sultan attacking Gobir with Kel Owey.
-1764: Gobir sacks Zamfara capital
-1766: Appearance of a "Gambary" runaway slave in Saint-Domingue ad (Gambari being the Yoruba term for Hausa)
-c.1768-1778: Rule of Karyagiwa in Katsina, who defeated Gobir
-1768-1777: Sarkin Kano Baba Zakki said to be first Kano ruler with a guard of musketeers
-1771-1789: Sarkin Gobir Bawa Jan Gwarzo considered by some to have invented the tradition of Coptic origins for the Gobirawa and refused to send tribute to Borno
-1773: Niebuhr's account of Hausaland collected in Copenhagen mentions various towns in the Katsina state
-1774: Early appearance of Hausa runaway slave ad in Saint-Domingue (Haiti); Katsina expedition to Mafara
-c. 1778-1796: Reign of Agwaragi in Katsina. Revolt during his reign led by Bawa Bahago was crushed with the aid of Gobir
-1779: Hausa presence among enslaved Africans in Louisiana attested
-1780s: Earliest known Kel Owey settlement on the trade route from Ahir to Katsina established at Magami
-1780s-1790s: Wealthiest trader in Porto Novo was Pierre Tamata, a Hausa former slave educated in France
-1788: Gobir-Katsina hostilities, with Katsina the victor. Sarkin Katsina Agwaragi endeavored to make peace with the next Gobir ruler, Yakuba. Lucas reported salt trade from Kawar to Katsina
-1795: War between Katsina and Gobir indicated in the Agades Chronicles
-1799: Horneman reported that Katsina paid tribute to Borno
-by 1800: Many in Agades had moved south to Hausaland
-c.1801: King Gozo of Katsina assassinated
-1801: Katsina defeated Gobir
-c. 1805-1806: Reign in Katsina of Mahmud, overthrown by jihadist Umar Dallaji
-1807: kaid of the Muslims of Kumasi, a native of Katsina, assisted in the Asante campaign against the Fantees
-1808: Alkalawa, capital of Gobir, destroyed
-1817: Philip Finlay, Hausa of Gobir and soldier in the West India Regiment, produces a short text in ajami, in Trinidad
-1834: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq of Jamaica's biography translated into English, including details of his Katsina mother
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