CHAPTER XXI ASKIA MOHAMMED ABOU BEKR SoNNi Ali was succeeded by his great minister, Mohammed Abou Bekr — not without fighting. There was a minority who upheld the claim of one of Sonni All's many sons, and two great battles were fought near Gago. The second battle decided the question without any further doubt, and Mohammed ascended the throne, supported by the good wishes of every important section of the people. He seems to have felt himself fully justified in thus taking the supreme power, and it is said that the title by which he and the dynasty that he founded were known for the next hundred years had its rise in his calm acceptance of the position. After the battle in which the fate of Sonni All's dynasty was decided, the news of Mohammed's accession was brought to the daughters of Sonni Ali. They received it with a cry of " Askia ! " or **the Usurper!" The incident was related to him, and instead of showing any resentment, he said, '* By that title I will be known."

By his command his sovereignty was accordingly proclaimed under the title] of "Askia Mohammed Abou Bekr," and Askia became the royal title of the Songhay kings until their empire was overthrown by the Moors.

Sonni Ali had conquered an empire. The great work of the Askias was to organise it, and to bring it to a condition of peace, prosperity, and cultivation, which was little suspected as existing in the heart of the Soudan during that century which witnessed in Europe the expulsion of the Moors from Spain, the crusade of Charles V. against the Saracens, the victory of Lepanto ISI