Zazzau

The most important source for the early history of Zazzau is a chronicle composed in the early 20th century from an oral tradition. It tells the traditional story of the foundation of the Hausa kingdoms by Bayajidda, an Arab adventurer from Baghdad, and gives a list of rulers along with the length of their reigns. According to this chronology, the original Hausa or Habe kingdom is said to date from the 11th century, founded by King Gunguma.E. J. Arnett, "A Hausa Chronicle" Journal of the Royal African Society 9 (1910)

This source also makes it one of the seven Hausa Bakwai states.

Zazzau's most famous early ruler was Queen (or princess) Amina, who ruled either in the mid-15th or mid-16th centuries, and was held by Muhammed Bello, an early 19th-century Hausa historian and the second Sultan of Sokoto, to have been the first to establish a kingdom among the Hausa.Muhammad Bello, Infaq 'l-Maysuur, chapter 7, translated Muhammad Shareef, (Sennar, Sudan,2008) http://www.siiasi.org/Chapter%207%20_Infaaq_.pdf

Zazzau was a collection point for slaves to be delivered to the northern markets of Kano and Katsina, where they were exchanged for salt with traders who carried them north of the Sahara.{{cite web

|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/655969/Zaria

|work=Encyclopædia Britannica

|title=Zaria

|access-date=2010-09-29}}

According to the history in the chronicle, Islam was introduced to the kingdom around 1456, but appears to have spread slowly, and pagan rituals continued until the Fulani conquest of 1808.

At several times in its history, Zazzau was subject to neighboring states such as Songhai, Bornu and Kwararafa.{{cite web

|url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=89181065

|title=Government in Zazzau, 1800-1950

|author=M. G. Smith, International African Institute.

|publisher=Oxford University Press

|year=1960

|access-date=2010-09-29}}

File:Zazzau palace Mosque 01.jpg

In December 1808 the kingdom was captured in the Fulani jihad.{{cite web

|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_native.html

|title=Traditional States of Nigeria

|work=WorldStatesmen.org

|access-date=2010-09-01}}

The Hausa (Habe) ruler had escaped to Abuja, where he established a state now known as the Suleja Emirate, retaining his independence and the title of "Sarkin Zazzau".

The ruler of the modern Zazzau Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau" or "Sarkin Zaria".

After the jihad, the culturally similar but pastoral or nomadic Fulani intermarried with the more settled Habe farmers, and the people of the Emirate today are generally known as Hausa–Fulani.

The government of the Zaria Emirate differed from other emirates created at this time in that offices were rarely hereditary, but were appointed based on merit or obligation.

Names and Dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989).{{Cite book|title=African States and Rulers|last=Stewart|first=John|publisher=McFarland|year=1989|isbn=0-89950-390-X|location=London|pages=297–298}}

Capitals (c. 1010 – c. 1578): Turunku, Wuciciri, Rikoci, Kawar{{Cite book|title=African States and Rulers|last=Stewart|first=John|publisher=McFarland|year=1989|isbn=0-89950-390-X|location=London|page=298}}

The kingdom's name changed to Zaria at the end of the 16th century.

Capital (c. 1578 – 1835): Zaria (originally founded in 1536 and named after Chief Bakwa's daughter Zaria){{Cite book|title=African States and Rulers|last=Stewart|first=John|publisher=McFarland|year=1989|isbn=0-89950-390-X|location=London|page=297}}

File:Nigerian Public Domain 725.jpg

The kingdom was taken over by the Fulani Empire in 1804 and became an emirate in 1835. The Hausa rulers went into exile and founded Abuja. The emirate was taken by the British in 1902.

Rulers of the independent Fulani emirate:

Rulers of the independent Fulani emirate:

1. Mallawa.
2. Barebari.
3. Katsinawa
4. Sullubawa

1. Sabon Gari
2. Giwa
3. Soba
4. Igabi
5. Ikara
6. Makarfi
7. Kubau
8. Kaduna North
9. Kaduna South
10. Kauru
11. Kudan
12. Zaria

• {{cite web

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11418542

|author =Dan Isaacs

|title =Nigeria's emirs: Power behind the throne

|publisher =BBC News

|date =September 28, 2010

|access-date=2010-09-29}}

{{reflist}}

Category:Nigerian traditional states

Category:Emirates of the Sokoto Caliphate