Askia Muhammad I

Askia Muhammad I, called Askia the Great (1443–1538), was born Muhammad Ture and rose as a general under the Songhai ruler Sunni Ali. In 1493 he overthrew Sunni Ali's successor, Sunni Baru, for failing to uphold Islam, and founded the Askia dynasty. He made the hajj to Mecca in 1496, whose prestige strengthened his position.

He extended Songhai from Taghaza to the Hausa cities, created a provincial bureaucracy, standardized taxes and trade, and made Islam the religion of the ruling class. His son Askia Musa deposed him in 1528, and he died in 1538.