Bornu Empire

Bornu Empire was an empire in Lake Chad basin (North and West Africa) that lasted from c. 1387 to 1893 CE, about 506 years. Its people spoke Nilo-Saharan languages (Kanuri, Songhai, Nubian, Luo, Maasai).

The Sayfawa kingdom refounded west of Lake Chad. Idris Alooma used Ottoman musketeers to dominate the central Sudan. The al-Kanemi family ruled from 1846 until Rabih az-Zubayr conquered it in 1893.

See Bornu Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 1387 to 1893 CE

Duration

506 years

Type

Empire

Region

Lake Chad basin, North and West Africa

Language family

Nilo-Saharan

Capital

Ngazargamu, later Kukawa

Came from

• Kanem Empire c. 700 to 1387 CE

Became

• Rabih az-Zubayr's state 1893 to 1900 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

• 1482 Portuguese build Elmina
• 1529 Battle of Shimbra Kure
• 1591 Battle of Tondibi
• 1700 Peak of the Atlantic slave trade
• 1798 Napoleon invades Egypt
• 1804 Usman dan Fodio's jihad
• 1869 Suez Canal opens
• 1884 Berlin Conference

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE
• Mamluk Sultanate 1250 to 1517 CE
• Songhai Empire 1464 to 1591 CE
• Kingdom of Benin c. 1180 to 1897 CE
• Kanem Empire c. 700 to 1387 CE
• Oyo Empire c. 1400 to 1836 CE
• Ife c. 1000 to 1420 CE
• Hafsids 1229 to 1574 CE
• Funj Sultanate of Sennar 1504 to 1821 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa

Questions