Samori Ture

ModernEmperorWassoulou Empire1830 — 1900

Mandinka empire builder who fought French for 16 years.

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Quick Facts

Born

1830

Died

1900

Country

Wassoulou Empire

Era

Modern

Occupation

Emperor

Score Overview

Military (10%)67

Political (20%)60

Influence (20%)58

Legacy (20%)56

Leadership (15%)72

Strategy (15%)70

Total Score62.1

Samori Ture — Complete Timeline

1882 AD

Battle of KankanWar◆ Major

Samori Ture's forces defeated a French column near Kankan, marking the beginning of the Mandinka resistance against French colonial expansion in West Africa. This victory established Samori as a major military leader and delayed French control over the region.

French Colonial WarsResistanceBattle

Impact: regional

1887 AD

Treaty of BissandougouPolitical Action◆ Major

Samori Ture signed a treaty with France establishing the Niger River as the boundary between his Wassoulou Empire and French territories. The treaty temporarily halted French advances but was later violated by the French, leading to renewed conflict.

DiplomacyColonial TreatiesBoundary

Impact: regional

1891 AD

Scorched Earth RetreatWar◆ Major

Facing superior French forces, Samori Ture ordered a systematic scorched earth retreat eastward from his capital Bissandougou. His army destroyed villages and crops to deny resources to the French, relocating the empire's center to the Kong region.

Military StrategyRetreatDestruction

Impact: regionaldestructive

1898 AD

Capture of Samori TureWar

French forces captured Samori Ture near Gu

CaptureExileEnd of Empire

Impact: regionaltragic