Origin There are a number of conflicting theories about the deep past of the Senegal River valley, where the Kingdom of Takrur would take root. The formation of the state may have taken place as an influx of
Fulani from the east settled in the Senegal valley.
John Donnelly Fage suggests that Takrur was formed through the interaction of
Berbers from the
Sahara and "Negro agricultural peoples" who were "essentially
Serer". The outsiders may, however, have been
Soninke rather than Berber, and the native population may have already spoken Fula. Regardless, the region has been an ethnic melting pot from the earliest traceable periods up to the present, although Fula have come to dominate in more recent centuries. Historian Andrew Clark writes that the state may have been founded as early as 100 CE. The founding dynasty was called Dya'ogo. Traditional historians disagree on their origin and ethnic background (assuming a relationship can be drawn at all with ethnic labels as understood today). They were blacksmith-kings, and supposedly introduced iron-working and ore extraction to the region.
Manna Dynasty A
Soninke clan under Mamadu Sumaare, originally from
Wagadu, conquered Takrur in the 9th or 10th century, establishing the Manna dynasty and gradually melding into the local culture. They may have been Nyakhates from
Diarra, Soumares from
Guidimakha, or Jaabis. Takrur was first mentioned in Arab sources in the 9th century under the name "Zaghi b. Zaghi." In 1035 king
War Jabi introduced
Sharia law, becoming the first ruler to officially adopt Islamic orthodoxy in the
Sahel. During his reign he launched a
Holy War against the King of Silla, subjugating them and converting the people to Islam. He died around 1040-1041 and was succeeded by his son,
Lebi ibn War Jabi, who would go on to start an alliance with the newly established
Almoravid Dynasty to counter the power of the
Ghana Empire. Having fought alongside
Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni at the
battle of Tabfarilla, Lebi may have provided more military help and financial aid to the
Almoravids, helping conquer up to Morocco and
Al-Andalus. 4,000 black cavalrymen, of possible Takruri origin, were critical to the Almoravid victory at the 1086
Battle of Sagrajas in
Al-Andalus. This alliance was maintained for most of the next 200 years. During this period Takrur held a dominant position in regional trade, controlling a series of trading posts and cities linking the salt mines of
Awlil on the coast north of the mouth of the Senegal to the interior. It's ruler during this time is praised for his strength and justice. In the 12th century,
Silla, a vassal of Takrur, went to war against
Wagadu. Its decline meant that Takrur was able to exert more control over the trade routes moving gold from
Bambouk to desert-side markets.
Serer Exodus When Islam and Sharia was introduced to the Kingdom by
War Jabi, it led to the
persecution of the local Serers. The
lamanic class, whose role also included the safeguarding of their
traditional Serer spirituality, are believed to have been at the forefront of resisting Islamization, partly to preserve their religion, but also their power and wealth as landowners. It was common for early Arab writers such as Al Bakri to refer to "non-believers" of Islam in their works as
lamlam, lemlem, or
damdam which may be a corruption of the Serer title
lamaan. The persecution of the Serers in the 11th century led to their first generally accepted exodus from Tekrur, moving southwards. During the 13th century, a civil war broke out. The descendants of the Serers who chose to remain decided to migrate southwest, first to the
Ferlo, and then to
Siin and
Saloum rather than be converted to Islam. Professor Trimingham notes that, in the region, Takrur became the first to adopt Islam, but in so doing, completely lost its Serer identity.
Vassalage and decline The 13th century was a period of political crisis in Takrur. The last Manna king, Cengaan Sumaare, is remembered as a bloodthirsty tyrant who was overthrown by his own people. The western parts of the kingdom became independent. Around 1286, the
Mali Empire conquered Takrur and put it under a military dictatorship ruled by
farba (governors), remembered locally as the Tonjon dynasty. Mali's power in the region diminished in the 14th century, however, and the Fula Lam Termess and Lam Taaga dynasties were able to take power. The region may also have been controlled by the
Kingdom of Diarra. Takrur was conquered by the
Jolof emperor
Tyukuli N'Diklam in the 15th century, who split the region between multiple
farba. By 1506, however, the
Burba's authority was weakening, and the
farba fell to fighting amongst themselves.
Koli Tengella, a Fula warlord native to Takrur but coming from
Futa Jallon, conquered the area in 1521 and set up the
Denanke dynasty. This would last until 1776 when the Fouta Revolution, led by Muslim
clerics, took over the kingdom and the house of Denanke was brought down.
Timeline Dates are approximate and often disputed by different sources or authors. ==Economy==