The Battle of al-Mansuriyya: Saadian Ambition in the Sahara

In 1591, the Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur sent an expedition across the Sahara to conquer the Songhai Empire. This episode follows that campaign: from the preparation at Marrakech's cannon foundry to the march through Taghaza's salt mines, to the decisive battle at Tondibi where gunpowder met West African cavalry. We explore why al-Mansur risked everything, the role of the renegade commander Judar Pasha, and the aftermath that gave Morocco control of Timbuktu and the trans-Saharan gold trade. Plus, we consider the costs: a costly occupation, the decline of Songhai, and the Saadian dynasty's overreach. This is the story of Morocco's imperial moment in the deep Sahara. #Morocco #Saadian #Songhai #AhmadalMansur #JudarPasha #Tondibi #Taghaza #Timbuktu #transSaharan #goldtrade #cannons #camelcorps #Marrakech #Sahara #16thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo