Idris III Katagarmabe
Mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Idris III[b] (Idrīs bin ʿAlī[3]), called Idris Katagarmabe[3][c] and Idris Alimi,[2] was mai (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the early 16th century, ruling approximately 1503–1525.[a] Idris is most famous for his military campaigns against the Bilala, which marked the recovery of Kanem, the empire's ancient heartland.[1][4][6] The oldest known Kanuri written histories date to Idris's reign.[9]
c. 1503–1525[a]
Walama, Bornu
| Idris III Katagarmabe | |
|---|---|
| Mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire | |
| Reign | 16th century (22–23 years) c. 1503–1525[a] |
| Predecessor | Ali I Gaji |
| Successor | Muhammad VI Aminami |
| Died | c. 1525 Walama, Bornu |
| Spouse | Zainab |
| Issue | Muhammad VI Aminami Ali II Zainami |
| Dynasty | Sayfawa dynasty |
| Father | Ali I Gaji |
| Mother | Aisa |
Life
Idris was a son of mai Ali I Gaji.[1][6][9] His mother was named Aisa.[9] Idris became mai in the early 16th century, succeeding his father.[3][4] Idris's father had stabilised the empire after a period of internal strife that began with the loss of Kanem, the empire's former heartland, to the Bilala in the 14th century.[4] Ruling from Ali's new imperial capital of Ngazargamu, Idris inherited a good position to restore the empire's power and prestige.[4] Later royal chronicles considered Idris to have been a "worthy son and successor of Ali".[8]
Shortly after becoming mai, Idris went on a military campaign against the Bilala in Kanem.[8] During this campaign, Idris defeated the Bilala ruler Dunama bin Salma in battle at Gharni Kiyala, forcing Dunama to flee to "distant places".[4] After this victory, Idris triumphantly entered Njimi, the original capital of the Kanem–Bornu Empire.[4][8] On his return journey to Bornu, Idris learnt that Dunama's brother A'dim bin Salma had usurped power over the Bilala.[8] Idris thus returned to Kanem and defeated A'dim in battle at Jugulgul.[4] Idris occupied Njimi[8] for a second time and forced A'dim to swear an oath of fealty in the ancient capital.[4] Idris chose not to return the imperial capital to Njimi,[10][11] instead continuing to use his father's new capital at Ngazargamu.[12] The center of the empire would thus remain in Bornu, west of Lake Chad.[7][13] The Bilala became imperial vassals and were allowed to continue to govern Kanem[4][8] as a province.[11]
After his victory over the Bilala, Idris went on a pilgrimage to Mecca.[4] In 1512, Idris sent an embassy to Tripoli.[2][8] Heinrich Barth, a German explorer who visited Bornu in the 19th century, considered this embassy to indicate "elevated political views" of Idris compared to his predecessors.[8]
Idris ruled for 22 or 23 years.[a] He died at Walama[8] and was succeeded as mai by his son Muhammad VI Aminami.[3][9]
Contemporary accounts
Idris was a contemporary of the North African diplomat and author Leo Africanus, who mentioned him in his writings.[1] Leo mistakenly referred to Idris as Libran (Ibrahim), perhaps in confusion with one of Idris's predecessors of this name.[1]
Later Kanuri authors mention the existence of a contemporary 16th-century narrative history of Idris Karagarmabe's reign, written by Masfarma Omar ben Othman,[8][9] the oldest known history written by a Kanuri author.[9] Masfarma Omar ben Othman's work is believed to be lost as no surviving copies or excerpts are known.[4][8]
Notes
- All king lists (girgams) and chronicles translated in the 19th–20th centuries (by Barth, Nachtigal, Landeroin, Palmer, Urvoy) agree that Idris ruled for 22 to 23 years.[9] Due to differing dates and calculations for other mais, various dates have been given for his reign, including 1504–1526 (Barth), 1503–1526 (Palmer), 1507–1529 (Urvoy), 1465–1488 (Landeroin), and 1492–1515 (Nachtigal).[9] Stewart (1989) dated Idris's reign to 1504–1526[7] and Bosworth (2012) dated Idris's reign to 1503–1525.[3]
- Some chronologies of Kanem–Bornu rulers omit the 14th-century Idris II Saradima, lowering the regnal numbers of later rulers of this name. This ruler is then considered Idris II.[1] Some girgams (king lists) mistakenly identify him as Dunama.[2]