Askiya
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Askiya also spelt Askia was the title of the rulers of the Songhai Empire of what is today Mali and Dendi Kingdom of modern Niger. The origin of the title comes from an episode in history when General Muhammad Ture seized the throne of the Songhai Empire from the last Sonni Dynasty ruler. The outraged daughter of the deposed monarch cried out "askiya", meaning "usurper" in the Songhai dialect. The ruler took the personal jab as his royal title and passed it down to all later rulers of the Songhai Empire. When the empire was destroyed by Moroccan forces in 1591, the Askiya Dynasty moved to the Songhai homeland of Dendi where they continued to rule in the same style if not under the same circumstance.
