Reigned 1312-1337
Ruler Of Mali

Man and Legend. Mansa (emperor) Kankan Musa is widely regarded as one of the wealthiest rulers in the medieval world, largely because of his lavish spending during his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324. Among his own subjects, he was known as an able ruler who enlarged the territory of Mali to its greatest extent and restored order and prosperity to an empire that had gone into decline after the death of its founder, Sundiata, in 1255.

Restoration of a Dynasty. Musa was a member of the Keita dynasty, a direct descendant of Sundiata. During the period that followed Sundiata's rule, only Sakura, a slave of the royal household who had usurped the throne in 1285, had been an effective ruler. After Sakura was assassinated on his way from Mecca, around 1300, the throne was returned to the Keita dynasty.

Political and Economic Challenges. By the...