Massina Empire

Caliphate of Hamdullahi
خلافة حمد الله
1818–1862
The Fulani Jihad States of West Africa, c. 1830.
The Fulani Jihad States of West Africa, c. 1830.
CapitalHamdullahi
Common languagesArabic (official)
Maasina Fulfulde, Bambara, Tamasheq
Religion
Islam
GovernmentCaliphate
Almami 
• 1818 – 1845
Seku Amadu
• 1845 – 1852
Amadu II
• 1852 – 1862
Amadu III
LegislatureGrand Council
Historical eraLate modern period; Fula jihads
• Founding of the Sultanate of Massina
c. 1400
• Battle of Noukouma
1818
• Disestablished
1862
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Bambara Empire
Pashalik of Timbuktu
Toucouleur Empire
Today part ofMali

The Caliphate of Hamdullahi (Arabic: خلافة حمد الله; Fula: Laamorde Maasina; Bambara: Massina Mansamara; French: Empire du Macina; also: Dina of Massina, Sise Jihad state), commonly known as the Massina empire (also spelled Maasina or Macina), was an early nineteenth-century Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa centered in the Inner Niger Delta of what is now the Mopti and Ségou Regions of Mali. It was founded by Seku Amadu in 1818 during the Fulani jihads after defeating the Bambara Empire and its allies at the Battle of Noukouma. By 1853, the empire had fallen into decline and was ultimately destroyed by Omar Saidou Tall of Toucouleur.[1]

The Massina Empire was one of the most organized theocratic states of its time on the African continent and had its capital at Hamdullahi. It was ruled by an almami with the help of a Grand Council that possessed the power to elect new rulers after the death of the previous one.[1] While, in theory, the almami did not have to be a member of the Bari family, but only someone who was learned and pious, every almami elected happened to be a son of the previous ruler.[2]

  1. ^ a b Brodnicka, Monika (11 January 2016). "Massina Empire". The Encyclopedia of Empire. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 1–3. doi:10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe388. ISBN 978-1-118-44064-3.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).