Early history According to legend, Sounsan, the first capital of Kaarta was founded near
Mourdiah around 1635 by Sunsana, son of Niangolo. His son Massa was famously productive both on the farm and in the bedroom, expanding his power and holdings by marrying his many daughters to men who would come fight for him and raiding his neighbors. In 1710 rule passed to his son Benefali (r. 1710-1745), who fought a long war against the rising power of
Bitòn Coulibaly and the
Segou Empire. Benefali's son Foulakoro (r. 1745-1754) besieged Mourdiah, whose inhabitants begged for aid from Coulibaly. He came to Kaarta with an army, defeated Foulakoro, and captured him. The
faama of Kaarta soon died in captivity.
Re-Founding Kaarta was re-established by Sey Bamana Coulibaly, who had fled Segou in 1754. Deniba Bo ruled from 1758-1761.
Faama Sira Bo (r. 1761-1781) led a re-emergence of Kaarta as a regional power, establishing a permanent capital at Diangounté and vassalizing
Diarra in 1777 and
Khasso, as well as raiding
Beledougou and
Bambuk. Sira Bo was succeeded by Desse Koro, who was defeated in battle by
Mansong Diarra. Bodian Moriba (r.1818-1832) re-asserted the kingdom's power, made peace with Segou and moved the capital to
Diangounté.
Fall to the Toucouleur The kingdom was destroyed as an independent force in 1854 by El Hadj
Umar Tall's
jihad. He seized Nioro, and put the Faama Mamady Kandian and his entire family to death, ending the Massassi dynasty. After his death, his son
Mokhtar Tall was made governor of the region. He rebelled against his older brother
Ahmadu Tall in 1869, but was ultimately defeated and imprisoned in 1873. He was replaced by
Muntaga Tall. In 1885, encouraged by overtures from the French, Muntaga rebelled in turn, but was forced to commit suicide when Ahmadu besieged Nioro.
French Colonel
Louis Archinard later conquered the entire territory of the former Kaarta kingdom in 1890, which was formally annexed into
French West Africa in 1904. ==Government==