Sultanate of Agadez

The Sultanate of Aïr (also Asben ) is a company founded in the 15th century Sultanate, previously controlled a territory of the order of Bavaria in the north of present-day Republic of Niger. Its capital is Agadez. It used to play a significant role in the trans-Saharan trade. Today, the Sultan has, however, only representative functions.

Location and extent

The historical territory of the Sultanate of Aïr ranged between 15 and 20 degrees north of the town of Agadez in the south to the north Tintellust city on an area of ​​about 250 km (east-west ) x 300 km ( north-south). Thus, it comprised the bulk of the Aïr Massif. According to reports, took a north- south crossing of the empire seven days.

History

The Sultanate's capital of Agadez, was founded, according to tradition in 1449 by Berbers. About 50 years later, the area came under the rule of Songhai eich. During this time the city had about 30,000 inhabitants and developed them an indispensable stopover for caravans on the route between Timbuktu and Kano on the one hand and between the Hausa States and the oases of Ghadames and Ghat (north of the desert ) on the other. This caused learned the whole land flourished, which ended with the conquest of the Songhai eich by Morocco in 1591.

In the following years came Agadez and the entire Sultanate under the control of the Tuareg. Due to the wealth potential of the region developed in the area of the Sultanate of one type strains Federation. During this time the population of Agadez fell significantly. Around 1850, talking travel reports of only 8,000 inhabitants.

The first European visitors in modernity in the Sultanate of Aïr were two Franciscans ( OFM), who were traveling as missionaries. In 1850, the German explorer Heinrich Barth reached the area and made it after his return to Europe by the first scientific description of its geography and history known.

Around the year 1900, the sultanate came under the control of France, which expanded from Algeria and from Senegambia to the south and west as part of its colonial policy. Since then, the Sultan of Aïr de facto only representative and advisory function, but no real political power more, which did not change with the establishment of the Republic of Niger.

Policy

Head of State of the Aïr was residing in Agadez Sultan. He had no absolute power, because he was elected by representatives of the Tuareg tribes ruled, but always from the same clan, from which they were believed to come from Istanbul.

The ruling houses of Aïr Kanem -Bornu cultivated contacts with.

Economy

The Sultanate of Aïr benefited primarily from the caravans that crossed the country on their way from Black Africa to Algeria and Fezzan, there appealed for rest and food aufstockten.

In addition, Heinrich Barth reported also by fertile valleys and oases, which were based on an extensive farming. Besides palms figs, cereals and tropical fruits were cultivated. In addition, certainly livestock took place. Barth also specifies a rich fauna ( antelope, rabbits, pigs, monkeys, jackals ), so that there were opportunities for hunting.

From the city of Agadez, the production of leather goods and a distinctive wood crafts is reported.

The city Tintellust was in 1850 as the most important city of the empire, although the political power was concentrated in Agadez.