African Kingdoms

Brakna (Mauritanian Tribal State) (Africa)
c.AD 1600 - 1934?

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The continent of Africa forms a vast collection of varying communities and cultures. North Africa is very different to sub-Saharan Africa, but Mauritania sits across the two boundaries. Located at the western end of the Sahara, it has absorbed a great deal of North African influence whilst also being deeply connected with West Africa by being situated at the north-western corner of this geographical divide.

The Mauritania region was converted to Islam in the ninth century, probably through contact with the powerful Aghlabids of Ifriqiyya, but the various tribes here were rarely united or powerful. An interlude of about a century in the typical in-fighting was the result of the rise of the native Almoravid empire. This united the entire north-western corner of Africa from AD 1061 onwards but it was overwhelmed by the rival Almohads in the mid-twelfth century.

The Brakna tribal confederation was located in what is now Mauritania. It was founded before about AD 1600 by the Awlad 'Abd Allah lineage of the Awlad Hassan dynasty. Contemporary states included Taganit and Trarza.

That lineage was replaced as emirs around 1790 by the Awlad Siyad line, and this is where records begin of rulers. Today's Brakna region of Mauritania descends from this formation, being placed in the country's south-west, with a capital at Aleg.

The state's paramount chiefs were classed as emirs, meaning 'princes' in the Islamic empire's ranking categories of local rulers. Information about actual rulers are minimal and not especially detailed. Nothing is known about those emirs who ruled before about 1790.

This state emerged into a north-western corner of West Africa which had experienced regional boom and bust under the Almoravids between 1061-1147, but which had since lapsed into regional obscurity following the Almoravid eclipse by the Almohads after 1147. Along with the Trarza confederation to its west it dominated the River Senegal region.

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(Information by Peter Kessler and the John De Cleene Archive, from The Cambridge Ancient History, John Boardman, N G L Hammond, D M Lewis, & M Ostwald (Eds), from The History of Islam (Vol 2), Akbar Shah Najeebabadi (Revised Edition), from The New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Rex Collins, London, 1991), from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), from Urban Africa; Histories in the Making (Africa's Urban Past), David M Anderson & Richard Rathbone (Eds), and from External Links: Saharan and trans-Saharan contacts and trade in the Roman era, Dr Caitlin R Green, and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Mauritania (Rulers.org).)

c.1790

The ruling Awlad 'Abd Allah lineage of the Awlad Hassan dynasty is now replaced after having governed the Brakna confederation since its founding before 1600. The Awlad Siyad lineage of the same encompassing dynasty takes command.

The only surviving part of Almoravid Marrakech aside from the Bab Doukkalaa gate is this small fragment of the sultan's palace of AD 1110

1766 - 1800

Emir of Brakna.

1800 - 1818

Brother? Emir of Brakna.

1818 - 1841

Son. Emir of Brakna.

1841 - 1843

Emir of Brakna. Opposed by Muhammad al-Rajal.

1842 - 1851

Emir of Brakna. Initially in opposition to Sidi Mukhtar.

1851 - 1858

Son. Emir of Brakna.

1858 - 1893

Son. Emir of Brakna.

1893 - 1903

Emir of Brakna.

1903 - 1904

Emir of Brakna. Effectively deposed by France.

1903 - 1904

Sheik Mahl Aynin remains in a state of rebellion between 1903-1910, even while the colonial French downgrade the emir's authority in 1904, effectively de-recognising it. The sheik continues his rebellion against direct French rule.

Despite the loss of Commandant Lamy, in 1900 the French managed to join up all of their West African possessions at the Battle of Kousséri, which took place on the banks of the River Chari, dividing modern Chad and Cameroon

1903 - 1910

In opposition to France.

1905

The regional tribal confederations of Adrar and Trarza come under French control from 1900-1920 while the Taganit tribal confederation may also be French-dominated from 1905. Mauritania has already become a French civil territory (in 1904), part of French West Africa.

1910 - 1912

Hamid al Hayba wuld Muhammad continues the rebellion against the French while they treat Brakna as a constituent holding within their colonial territories.

1910 - 1912

In opposition to France.

1912

The French nominally restore the authority of the emir of Brakna. It is Hamid al-Hayba wuld Muhammad, their leading opposition figure, who becomes the confederation's new emir with a new dynastic house in the form of the al-Qalqami.

Spahis formed light cavalry regiments for the French armed forces during the Great War, being recruited from as far afield as Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkey, with a regiment of them surviving in today's French armed forces (albeit with horses swapped for tanks)

1912 - 1919

Emir of Brakna. Former head of opposition.

1919 - 1934

Son of Mustafa Murabbih Rabbuh. Emir of Brakna. Fate unclear.

1934

The 'pacification' of Mauritania, as it has been styled by the French military, had continued until 1912, but a final battle to subdue a Reguibat band takes place in 1934.

This is the year in which governance ends by Muhammad al Mustafa Murabbih Rabbuh wuld Muhammad. Mauritania achieves independence in 1960, by which time Brakna is one of its constituent regions.