Mansa Musa I was a ruler in Africa in the 1300s. He is known as the richest man in history. Reports say that his wealth was around $400 billion. That’s right, he was a billionaire back then. Because of his wealth, he was called the ‘King of Kings’.
Some people believe that money can’t bring happiness. Even if this is true, it’s hard to forget someone when they are rich. Wealthy people often show off their wealth because it allows them to live a luxurious life. The emperor was no different, he also showed off his wealth.
Who was Mansa Musa?
Mansa Musa was an African ruler born in 1280. He became the emperor in 1312. His father’s name was Faga Leye and his mother’s name was Kanku. He ruled for 25 years and during his reign, the Mali empire grew significantly. Countries like Mali, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Guinea in Africa were under his rule.
Information about Musa comes from Arabic sources written after his famous hajj. These sources include the writings of Al-Umari and Ibn Khaldun. During his hajj, Musa befriended officials like Ibn Amir Hajib in Cairo. They learned about him and his country and later shared this information with historians like Al-Umari.
Additional information about Musa can be found in two 17th-century manuscripts written in Timbuktu, the Tarikh Ibn al-Mukhtar[c] and the Tarikh al-Sudan.
According to the Tarikh al-Fattash, Musa’s wife’s name was Inari Konte.
Mali Empire
During the Middle Ages, Mansa Musa was the emperor of the Mali Empire, an Islamic state in West Africa. His wealth was believed to be greater than that of any person alive today.
The Mali Empire, under his rule from 1312 to 1337, included areas that are now Ghana, Timbuktu, and Mali.
Musa’s immense wealth came from the large amounts of salt and gold. He also gained wealth from trading slaves and ivory.
Musa brought scholars like the Andalusian poet Abu Ishaq al-Sahili from the wider Muslim world to Mali. As a result, Timbuktu became a center of Islamic learning. One of the well-known construction projects during his reign is the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu.
Mansa Musa’s Journey to Mecca
Mansa Musa decided to go on a Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325. This pilgrimage is one of the five main pillars of Islam. Musa was so generous that he gave away his gold along his path to Mecca. This act made his kingdom known to the world.
During his journey, Musa built a mosque every Friday. Musa’s famous 6500 km trip to Mecca with a caravan of 60,000 people is one of the reasons for his fame. It was one of the largest caravans to ever cross the Sahara.
The caravan took a whole day to pass. It included thousands of servants carrying over 20 tonnes of gold, along with horses, elephants, mules, and camels. The group included 8,000 courtiers, 12,000 servants, and 100 camel loads of pure gold. He was so rich that even his servants wore fine Persian silk and brocades.
Musa’s Hajj pilgrimage was so famous that several well-known historians, including Ibn Battuta, documented it. As a devoted Muslim, Musa built several mosques during his rule.
It is assumed that this huge procession was held to show off his wealth and the thriving economy of Mali, but this cannot be confirmed. Even though his intent is still unknown, this caravan was included in a map – the 1375 Catalan Atlas – because it was so large.
Throughout his life, Musa established many more mosques, madrassas, and other educational institutions and universities. As the wealthiest and most powerful Mansa of Mali, Musa’s reign is often seen as Mali’s golden age.
Billion-Dollar Journey of Faith and Gold with Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa is known as the richest man in history. During his Hajj, a religious journey, he might have carried around 18 tons of gold. This amount of gold would be worth over US $1 billion in 2024. He even spread stories that gold grew like a plant in his kingdom.
Mansa Musa was not only famous for his wealth but also for his kindness and generosity.
The Mali Empire, which was one of the largest empires in West Africa, had a big influence on the region. It helped spread its language, laws, and customs, shaping the culture of West Africa today.
The Economic Crisis in Egypt
Mansa Musa’s donation of gold led to a major economic crisis in Egypt. While on his journey to Mecca, Musa, gave away so much gold to the poor that it caused poverty throughout Egypt. The value of gold dropped so much across the country that the economy collapsed.
Mansa Musa’s Death
Mansa Musa is believed to have died in 1325, shortly after returning from Mecca. The exact date of his death is not known. It is also unknown what happened to all his treasures.
During his reign, Musa became one of the most powerful rulers of his time and greatly expanded the reach of his trade ports. The stories of his large convoy have left a lasting impression that continues to be shared long after his death.
