Wadai Sultanate

Origins Prior to the 1630s, the region was ruled by the Tunjur kingdom, established around the 15th century. The Arab migrants to the area for trade which became Wadai claimed to be descendants of the Abbasid Caliphs, specifically from Salih ibn Abdallah ibn Abbas. Yame, a Maba leader brought Islam to their people after he himself embraced Islam, Arab migrants settled in Debba, near the future capital of Ouara (Wara). Abd al-Karim secured and centralized his power in the area by marrying the Tunjur King Daud's daughter, Meiram Aisa, and then forming other marriage pacts with local dynasties and tribes, such as the Masalit and Dajo tribes. Abd al-Karim built his capital at Wara and founded the Kolak dynasty, and made Islam the state religion despite most commoners following traditional religions. After Abd al-Karim's death, Wadai's history was marked by civil wars and hostile relations with Bornu and Darfur. Wadai's wealth came from slave trading and the procurement of slaves in raids. Under Ya'qub's rule Wadai suffered a terrible drought. Ya'qub's son, Joda, expanded the state southwards and into the Tunjur heartland of Mondo. Sabun further extended his rule south to Dar Sila and Dar Runga. Around 1809/10 a new trade route to the north was found by a traveller from Jala, linking Ennedi, Kufra and Jalu-Awjila to Benghazi, and Sabun outfitted royal caravans to take advantage of it. This freed Wadai from being economically dependent on Bornu and Darfur. Colonial period and post-independence The Wadai Sultanate was reconstituted under French suzerainty in 1935, with Muhammad Urada ibn Ibrahim becoming Kolak, or sultan. It became a part of the independent Republic of Chad on the day of the country's independence in 1960. The sultanate continues to exist as a non-sovereign monarchy in Chad and its current Kolak since 2019 is Cherif Abdelhadi Mahdi. Unrelated to his predecessor who had been suspended, Mahdi was appointed by the Chadian government, which many viewed as interference in tradition. In January 2022 the government suspended the sultan's powers, igniting protests, however they were regranted in April 2023. == Military ==

Under Abd al-Karim Sabun in the early 19th century, Wadai forces were equipped with chain mail and firearms. In the 1840s–50s, Wadai possessed 300 guns. The figure went upwards to 4000 flintlock muskets by the 1870s. Sultan Ali (1858–1874) hired Turkish and Egyptian mechanics to cast 12 bronze and small caliber cannons. These cannons lacked carriages and Gustav Nachtigal concluded in the 19th century that they were ineffective. Wadai could deploy about 5–6000 cavalry of which a third of the cavalry men wore quilted armor whiles several more wore steel armor. Infantry could amount up to 56–60,000. The army was divided into two wings and a centre with the Sultan located behind the centre. The Sultan was protected by shield bearers who bore iron shields as well as "the troop of path makers" who cleared way for the Sultan's mobility through the bush. There existed the korayat who were mostly armed with lances. The aqid stood at the centre with royal slaves armed with muskets. Evidence exists for the use of explosives in warfare such as the siege of Massenya in 1870. Under directions from a man of Bornu, the army of Sultan Ali (1858–1874) buried a copper-coated basket full of gunpowder near the walls of Massenya. The basket was connected to the Wadai camp by gunpowder wrapped in cloth and further covered with dirt. The cloth was lit from its end leading to an explosion of the mine and the breach of Massenya's walls. Tactics Wadai forces were noted by French sources for their poor gun handling and insufficient training. In 1902, a French source from Dar Kuti states the Wadai army preferred to go on offence with cavalry and rely on firearms only for defense. Another source within that period documented that Wadai soldiers; Outflanking and encirclement were documented as a tactic of Wadai for the first time in 1908. == Gallery ==

File:Wadai sultanate map.png|Wadai sultanate east of Lake Chad around 1890s File:Rabih az-Zubayr 1896.png|Wadai sultanate, Rabih az-Zubayr's empire, Senussi and other state entities in the region, 1896 File:La ville d'Abéché, vue du poste Français (cropped).jpg|View of Abéché, with buildings constructed by the last sultan of Wadai, 'Asil Kolak. Photo after French annexation, == See also ==