Char Bouba war facts for kids

The Char Bouba War (also called the Mauritanian Thirty Years' War or the Marabout War) was a major conflict. It took place between 1644 and 1677. The war happened in areas that are now Mauritania, Western Sahara, and the Senegal river valley.

It was fought between two main groups. On one side were the Sanhadja Berber tribes. They were led by a Muslim leader named Nasr ad-Din. On the other side were Maqil Arab tribes, especially the Beni Hassan. They were supported by the traditional rulers of the Wolof states and the French.

The war was also led by Sidi Ibrahim Al Aroussi and his sons. They were part of the Hassani tribe. They wanted to conquer the Berber areas in Mauritania. They also wanted to reach Bilad as-Sudan (meaning "the Land of the Blacks") in Senegal and Mali.

The Arab tribes won the war. This led to the Arabization of Mauritania and Western Sahara. This means Arab culture and language became more common there.

Why the War Started: The Background

The Sanhaja Berber tribes were once very powerful. They helped create the Almoravid dynasty. But after this dynasty fell, the Sanhaja became divided and weak. Stronger Sanhaja clans started demanding payments from weaker ones.

Some weaker groups chose to focus on Islamic learning instead of fighting. These groups were called the Zawaya, or Maraboutic tribes. They became known for their religious knowledge. The stronger warrior clans, who cared less about religion, were called the Hassan.

Later, Arab nomads called the Hassan arrived in the region in the 1400s. They became the dominant group. A new society formed with the Hassan, the Zawaya, and other smaller groups.

The Hassan rulers often demanded tribute (payments) from the Zawaya. This money was supposed to be for protection. But the Hassan often failed to protect the Zawaya. This caused problems for Zawaya trade and farming. Because of this, the Zawaya saw the Hassan as not following Islamic rules. They believed fighting them was justified.

Economic problems also made things worse. The Hassan were mostly nomads, and the Zawaya were farmers along the Senegal River. The French set up a trading post at Saint-Louis in 1659. This changed trade routes, pulling trade towards the Atlantic Ocean. This hurt the traditional trade along the Senegal River.

The French trading post also reduced the supply of workers and food for the desert groups. These groups, especially the nomadic Arabs, relied on food from the farmers along the Senegal River. Berber society was caught between the moving Arab tribes and the loss of trade.

In the Senegal river valley, the trade in enslaved people caused a big crisis. The rulers of kingdoms like Denianke, Waalo, Jolof, and Cayor were involved in this trade. This caused social problems. A group of Muslim scholars called the Torodbe became important. They supported Nasr ad-Din against the traditional rulers.

Nasr ad-Din's Holy War (1673–1674)

Nasr ad-Din's Teachings

A Zawaya scholar named Ashfaga became very well-known. He was later called Nasr ad-Din. He started by asking people to change their ways. As his movement grew, he began calling for a new Islamic state.

Nasr wanted a state that was fair and united, above tribal differences. He took titles like "our master" and "protector of the faith." He demanded loyalty from all Zawaya leaders. His government aimed to bring order and spread Islamic teachings.

War in Senegal

Nasr's movement began as a religious reform. He sent messages to the rulers in the Senegambia region. He asked them to follow Sharia law more closely. He also asked them to stop raiding and enslaving their own people.

These rulers, who were already Muslim, ignored his requests. So, Nasr's preaching turned into military action. By focusing on the states south of the Senegal river, Nasr avoided early fights with the powerful Hassan. He also gained control of important trading posts along the Senegal. This helped him financially.

Nasr promised to end constant raids and the large-scale export of enslaved people. Many local Muslims and farmers joined his cause. In Futa Tooro, people rose up against their rulers. The religious leaders, called marabouts, quickly took control.

Nasr's army, strengthened by Torodbe recruits, defeated the ruler of Waalo. They replaced him with a new leader who supported Nasr. They also invaded the Kingdom of Jolof and Cayor. In Cayor, a powerful woman named Yacine Bubu first helped overthrow the ruler. But when the new ruler was killed by the clerics, she sought help from another kingdom against the marabouts.

War with the Hassan Tribes

After his victories in Senegal, Nasr focused on strengthening his Islamic state. He started collecting the zakat (a religious tax) from tribes north of the Senegal river. One of these tribes, the Bubba, asked Hadi, the Emir of Trarza, for help. This led to the war being called Shurbubba, or "the war of Bubba."

The Hassan tribes were united against Nasr. Most of the fighting was done by the Emirate of Trarza. Other Arab groups also helped. Most Zawaya tribes supported Nasr, but some stayed neutral or even helped the Hassan. One Zawaya scholar even said Nasr had no right to collect the zakat.

Nasr's forces and Hadi's forces fought three battles. The Zawaya won all three. But Nasr was killed in the last battle in August 1674. Many of his close followers also died.

Nasr's Successors and the Fall of the Islamic State

After Nasr's death, the Zawaya chose al-Faqih al-Amin as their new leader. Al-Amin tried to make peace with the Hassan. An agreement was reached: the Hassan would respect the Zawaya's religious authority. In return, the Zawaya leader would give up political power, including collecting zakat.

However, most Zawaya still wanted to fight. They did not agree with compromising with the Hassan. So, they removed al-Amin from power. They then chose Qadi Uthman as their new leader. Uthman had been one of Nasr's closest companions.

Uthman brought back the policy of fighting and not negotiating with the Hassan. He also started collecting the zakat again from weaker tribes. These weaker groups resisted. They joined together and asked Hadi for support. Hadi's forces then destroyed the Zawaya's tax collection group.

Uthman was later killed fighting the Wolof. After him, three more leaders tried to lead the Zawaya, including Nasr ad-Din's brother, Munir ad-Din. But the Zawaya's Islamic state was eventually defeated. It was overwhelmed by the combined forces of the Hassan and the rebelling tribes.

In Senegal, the marabout movement had stopped almost all trade at Saint-Louis. As the Zawaya's power weakened, the French helped the old rulers regain their power. With French support, the new rulers betrayed the Muslims. Soon, kingdoms like Jolof, Cayor, and Futa Toro were back under their former rulers.

What Happened After: The Consequences

For the Berbers

The Berber tribes lost the war completely. They had to give up their weapons. They also had to pay a special tax to the warrior Arab tribes for protection. The Hassan warriors gained rights to use Zawaya resources, like milk from their herds and water from their wells. Zawaya also had to host passing Hassan warriors for three days.

The Zawaya groups were also divided among the Hassan. Each Hassan group had its own Zawaya. Even though they lost, the war made the Zawaya's religious teachings stronger. These teachings then spread to other nearby countries.

The Arab victory also led to widespread cultural and language changes. Berber tribes started speaking Arabic instead of their own Tamazight and other Berber languages. They adopted the Hassaniya dialect of the Beni Hassan. This dialect is still the main language in Moorish Mauritania and Western Sahara.

In the Senegal River Valley

After their victory, the Trarza and Brakna Moors became a permanent force in the Senegambia region. They constantly pressured their neighbors to the south. They also controlled the profitable gum trade.

With the old Wolof and Fula rulers back in power, the trade in enslaved people increased. Wars and raids between kingdoms became very common. The common people suffered the most from these attacks and raids. They increasingly turned to Islam as a way to challenge the established rulers.

After their defeat, some Torodbe people moved south. They founded a new state called Bundu. Others continued to Futa Jallon. The Marabout War made Islamic preaching more militant. It also created stronger connections between Berber and Torodbe groups. These changes helped start new conflicts that eventually led to the Fula jihads.

See also

• Mauritania
• Moors and Sahrawi
• Morocco
• Western Sahara
• Waalo
• Fula jihads
• Successors of the Jolof Empire