[Script Preview] Units of History - Malian Knights

I've excited to anounce we've been working on a series to explore the history of medieval africa through the tale of the Mali empire and its african knights. Below is the script draft:

Intro

Who are the Knights of Africa?

In the western world, the popular understanding of the Medieval Era is limited and caricatured. It casts its light on Europe with but a few flickering illuminations of the surrounding regions. This is the era of peasant archers, noble knights, viking Raiders, Crusaders, Saracens, and Mongols. What lies beyond is a veil seldom explored by media and education.

Today we shall seek to expand our understanding by crossing the Sahara into the realm of Medieval West Africa. It is here that Knights in great quilted coats and shining armour clashed in the forging of Empires. Among the most fearsome of these would be the Mandinka people who conquered a region as large as the Holy Roman Empire.

This was the Great Mali Empire whose most famous emperor, Mansa Musa, is remembered as world's richest man. Yet what goes unreported is the excellence of the Imperial Mali Army and its legendary cavalry.

In this series we shall cover their fascinating origins… equipment… training… tactics… and service history.

This is the story of the Golden Knights Of the Mali Empire.

The Lands of West Africa

Before we meet the Knights of Mali, let us first get acquainted with the land from which they came. We can begin with the climate and geography of West Africa.

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Sahara it is a vast region of comparable size to the western half of europe. Within lies a rich ecological landscape with distinct zones. At a macro level these are driven by the desert whose trade winds bring a dry season in the winter months while the ocean brings seasonal monsoons. Their effects are not uniform. Instead resulting in a gradation of climates with many local biomes.

Generally speaking the northern Sahel region features hot semi-desert and steppe conditions. In the center run the Sudanian savannas followed by the Guinean forest-savanna and finally the tropical rainforest coasts to the far south.

Beyond this, rivers provide further texture to the landscape while carving out channels to connect and divide the aforementioned geographic bands. In this respect, the Niger is the most important. Extending over 4,000 kilometers, it sweeps across West Africa in a wide, arcing fertile crescent. Along it can be found many life giving river valleys, tributaries, lakes and deltas. Of smaller stature but still great importance are the Senegal, Gambia, and Volta rivers.

Lastly we should mention some of the major resources of the area. This included many plant and animal derived products from the various coastal, forest, and savanna regions. There was also great mineral wealth in the form of copper, silver, and most notably gold which existed in vast, shallow deposits.

People and Horses

As should be imagined, this rich geography fostered an equally rich mix of cultures. Unfortunately a thorough examination of this subject, though well deserved, is beyond the scope of our episode. Generally speaking though, we can state that many local powers rose to prominence over the years by controlling and leveraging the region's important resources in furtherance of their own goals. Of particular importance was the acquisition of gold and the monopolizing of trans-saharan trade.

Among the first to achieve this objective were the Soninke [Soh-neen-keh] people who capitalized upon the transformative introduction of camels to the region in the 3rd century AD. From the ensuing 4th to 11th centuries, they would forge the vast Empire of Ghana. It left a lasting legacy of prosperity, urban development, and an adoption of Islamic traditions which had begun to filter south across the desert. Of most relevance to our story today would be the resultant blending of horsemanship cultures.

Native riding had already existed for centuries in West Africa. Here the various nomadic and pastoral peoples of the plains and plateaus had tamed local horses in accordance with their ways of life. Such breeds were smaller in stature, typically being ridden without a saddle and with a bit-less form of bridle. From the Islamic realms now came larger breeds, saddles, stirrups, and new horse armor. Thanks to this influence, horse ownership and equestrian skill increasingly came to serve as tokens of wealth and status in addition to having practical applications for travel, trade, and warfare.

One of the groups which fatefully embraced the horse to their advantage would be the Mandinka, a people who would emerge from the shadows of the Ghana Empire to eventually eclipse them in the forging of the great Mali Empire. We shall now focus on their story.

Rise of the Mandinka

The Mandinka were an ethnic subgroup of the broader Mande [Mahn-Day] peoples who had made their home in the south western lands of today’s Mali and Guinea. It was reportedly rich in forest and wild game which gave rise to several prominent tribal group's and eventually city states. Much of this early history has been lost to us but it seems that during the peak of the Ghana Empire, around the 10th century AD, this region may have fallen under its sway or even become a governed province with a power center located around the city of Ka-Ba.

However in the late 11th century Ghana's grip would loosen. Facing internal weakness due to drought and overgrazing, the Empire proved less able to maintain control of its key regions and resources. In this self-reinforcing down spiral, control of Saharan trade was seized by the northern Almoravids while the various territories of the Empire now splintered apart. The final death blow was struck around the end of the 12th century when former subjects, the Sosso [Soh-soh] people, rose up in revolt to conquer the capital of Kumbi Saleh [Coom-bih Sah-lay].

In the aftermath, this successor group would continue its expansionary campaigns which claimed 9 Kingdoms of the former Ghana Empire. These wars eventually put them on a collision course with the Mande people who had reformed as a loose federation of clans. While a “Mansa” or king of kings was technically elected to lead them, his power and the unity of the realm was quite weak at the time. This allowed the Sosso [Soh-soh] to begin picking off the Mandinka chiefdoms one by one.

Oral history from this period recalls the harsh rule of a Sosso King by the name of Soumangorou Kante [Soo-man-goo-ru Can-teh]. He beheaded rivals, persecuted subjects, and threatened to conquer the entire region in bloody war. Against him would now rise Sundiata Keita [Sun-ya-ta Key-tah], an exiled Mandinka prince, who rallied an alliance of smaller Kingdoms to fight against the Sosso [Soh-soh]. At the head of this force would ride the assembled might of the southern realm’s heavy cavalry. Their charge would prove to be the decisive moment in the formation of the Mali Empire and its vaunted core of knights. But before we continue with this story, let us now take a closer look at these Mandinka cavalry.

Equipment

The horses would have either been the smaller African breeds such as the local Sahel Ponies, Barbs, and Dongolas or the larger, imported variants such as the Arab horse. In either case, male stallions were typically used for warfare though female mares were said to have been favored on night raids owing to their quieter nature when around other horses. Such females were reportedly kept in rural areas for free grazing and breeding while their male counterparts were stabled. Here they would be fed grass and cereals by a logistics staff while being taken care of by a team of specialists. The scale of such operations were quite large. The ancient Kings of Ghana for instance reportedly had 3 attendants for each of their 1,000 horses in addition to many more equestrian laborers, trainers, and managers.

Clearly horses were prized assets. As such they would be well protected in battle. This could take various forms, ranging from a partial chest guard to a full covering of the head, neck, body, hindquarters, and legs. The degree of coverage and material used would be a reflection of the owner’s wealth. That being said, a standard defensive outfit seems to have relied on the lifidi, a type of quilted vest stuffed with cotton-like kapok fibers. Records and recreations highlight their intricate colors and patterns. Chanfrons and more extensive coats of leather appear to have been slightly more expensive while chainmail variants were top-of-the-line gear. Some cases of metal plate armor are even recorded but these were apparently exceedingly rare. Horseshoes, we should mention, were notably absent.

In terms of saddles, early riders may have gone without them. However during the Islamic era the West African peoples adopted a high-peaked version similar to their northern counterparts. It was made of leather-covered wood with padded cushions. This was placed atop additional cloth layers on the horse's back and affixed with girth and chest straps. Stirrups then hung to either side by leather straps while reins, often garlanded with dyed fiber triangles, led to the headstall which was adorned with additional decorative elements. These augmented the prestige and intimidation factor of these warhorses. The end result was a stunningly beautiful showcase of West African craftsmanship.

As for the cavalrymen themselves, service was restricted to the wealthy and their dependents. This was as much for social reasons as it was for purely economic ones. Afterall maintaining a horse and its kit was prohibitively expensive for most. However those who could afford it would also have been in a position to equally well equip themselves.

For defense this meant wearing quilted cotton or leather gambesons covering their entire body. These provided robust defense against slashes and arrows in a lightweight package which was easily repaired and, most importantly, breathable in the suffocating weather conditions. That being said, it was also common for affluent nobles to use chain mail shirts. Additionally, iron helmets topped with plumes or hair were quite common. Shields may have even been used sporadically.

For offense, soldiers carried a variety of ranged and close quarters weapons. With regards to the former, the Mandinka famously employed the bow and arrow while on foot. This tradition was carried over by some mounted troops. Indeed it was Ibn Battuta who described nobles of the Malian court as riding with a bow in one hand and quivers of arrows on their back. However it does not appear that this practice resulted in a horse archer dominated force as might be found among the Mongols or Sassanids. Rather javelins were the preferred ranged weapon for most cavalrymen. These tamba [tam-bah] were carried in quivers of 10 to 20 at a time. Mandinka riders were extremely proficient at skirmishing with them to the point that a 17th century European explorer compared their speed and punch to that of musketballs.

For close quarters, riders would carry sabres, axes, clubs, and even hooks for dehorsing opponents. However the most feared weapon was the lance. These were around 2 to 3 meters long which could be used to spear opposing cavalrymen or ride down infantry.

Blacksmithing

While some of this gear was traded for or imported, the Mandinka were well positioned to supply themselves. This was a result of their superior metallurgy and an early adoption of iron working. Such practices yielded not only technological but also sociological developments.

For instance, in their society, blacksmiths held important positions of influence. Thought to wield a spiritual power called nyama [neea-mah], the result of their craftsmanship was zealously coveted by the ruling class. Blacksmithing was thus reserved to specific specialized families who held close ties with the nobility. From such a position they were able to gain significant rights and privileges from the state. Crucially this meant access to raw materials, timber fuel, and labor with which to power their industry. In exchange these Blacksmiths supplied the leaders with metal weapons and agricultural tools, allowing the mandinka to field large, well equipped armies with relative ease and speed.

Training and Tactics

But the strength of the Mandinka army came not just from its equipment. Training was equally as important.

Overall we must understand that for the greater part of its history, the Mali Empire lacked a standing army. Forces were instead raised on an as-needed basis through conscription of free men from the general population. Thus training was largely a personal in-house affair.

This was reinforced by the socio-cultural dynamics of the clan or extended family which lay at the bedrock of many African societies. It was a matter of honor and social standing for men to distinguish themselves as warriors and in particular to uphold their family name. This belief is exemplified by how Mandinka fighters took great pride in arming themselves. Bows, sabres and lances were often passed down as family heirlooms.

However there were particular regions and families which were well known for their martial traditions. Places like Kaabu [Kaa-bu] in Senegambia, for instance, was famous for its warriors, attracting many young men to travel there to develop their combat skills.

With respect to cavalrymen, such troops would have come from the upper echelons of society and thus already enjoyed higher levels of personal training. Equine training in particular though was the matter of specialists. Such skills were often found among veterans and clan elders who could tutor aspiring Knights. Other times specialists would be imported from regions with a history of horsemanship.

In terms of specific horse riding techniques this came in many forms which were readily mastered by the Mandinka. For instance while novices learned simple mounting and dismounting, masters learned how to leap on and off their horses at a gallop. While novices learned the basic gaits, masters learned more sophisticated movements like the ambling gait or various acrobatic leaps and airs. While novices led their steeds with reins, masters simply commanded them with whistles and were followed around by their horses like dogs.

Combat specific training was also emphasized. The Mandinka trained extensively to throw their javelins with great speed and precision against both mounted and foot targets. Here they are said to have been able to engage in lengthy single combat, skirmishing in graceful loops while deftly picking up spent javelins from the ground to continue the fight uninterrupted. Close quarter skills were also learned as were distinct methods of raiding. For instance, we hear that the Mandinka were even known to use their shields to erase horse footprints thus concealing their tracks from enemies whilst on the move.

All of this would have been reinforced in times of peace by equestrian ceremonies and festivals. Here Knights would test their mettle in a variety of competitions such as horse dancing which is attested to in later centuries and which can still be seen in West Africa today.

As for tactics, early Malian history reflects the use of heavy cavalry being placed in the center to batter enemy lines with frontal assaults while archers and spearmen protected the flanks. Later reports however see this order of battle inverted, perhaps as anti-cavalry tactics were adopted. In such battles, archers protected by spearmen in the center would be used to skirmish with and soften the enemy center. Meanwhile the cavalry would work the flanks of the enemy to strike them from the side or envelop them from the rear.

Organization

With this understanding in mind, let us now discuss how such a force was organized for war.

The Malian army fell under the overall control of the ruling “Mansa”. However the field commander, be it the king or his subordinate, would bear the title of “Mari” or prince.

In the early days it was to his banner which rallied the 16 clan leaders known as the “ton-tigi” or quiver masters. These high nobles were expected to personally lead units of cavalry which were composed of lesser nobles and their retinue. These soldiers held the status of “horon” or freeman. The size of such units likely varied but may speculatively have been organized in a decimal fashion.

Infantry forces meanwhile were led by officers known as “kèlè-koun” or war heads who commanded units known as “kèlè-bolo” or war arms. Once more their exact size is unknown though each unit's strength was likely a reflection of the manpower of their home region.

As for the size of an early Malian army, we may only speculate. Together the 16 ton-tigi may have mustered about 3,000 riders. Supporting them were the various native and allied infantry units which are said to have far outnumbered the cavalry. If we assume about a 5 to 10 times multiplier then we get a force of roughly 20,000 foot troops. Of these some later sources reference a ratio of three archers to one spearman. Should this be the case then we have a theoretical army of 3,000 cavalry, 15,000 archers, and 5,000 spearmen. Again, highly speculative in nature but probably in the ballpark.

Such was the force which the Mandinka Prince Sundjata [Sun-ya-ta] may have led to confront the Sosso King Sumanguru [Soo-man-goo-ru].

Service History

Their clash is recorded in the ancient oral tradition of the Epic of Sundjata. No singular version exists but we shall nonetheless do our best to reconstruct a narrative.

Around 1235 AD a vast invasion force of infantrymen descended upon the south to put down the upstart prince and his alliance. However they seem to have been caught unprepared on open ground. Sundjata's heavy cavalry smashed them with a mighty charge, decimating those caught underfoot and sending the army fleeing.

Enraged by this unexpected and humiliating defeat, King Soumangorou rode out to face the southern forces himself. Wary of the Mandinka cavalry, he chose a narrow valley as a battlefield. Here he hoped to bait the vainglorious prince into a charge where he could then be surrounded.

His tactic worked at first as Sundiata set off with a predictable frontal attack. However when Soumangorou’s cavalry rode off to outflank the prince’s forces, they fell into a counter trap. Archers covering the flanks now unleashed a deadly rain of iron, fire, and poison tipped arrows upon them. With the assault stalled and disorganized, Sundiata’s cavalry rearguard found easy prey. These reserves swept down upon the Sosso [Soh-soh] ranks, causing them to buckle and the entire army to retreat.

Yet Sundiata chose not to chase after their fleeing enemy, perhaps to prevent his own forces from breaking formation and losing cohesion. The astute young leader waited some days before reengaging the Sosso encamped near present day Bamako [Bah-mah-ko], where the fateful Battle of Kirina would take place.

Here Sundiata’s cavalry once more charged headlong against their Sosso’s counterparts, successfully pushing them back. Nonetheless, Soumangorou retaliated with his entire reserve forces, greatly outnumbering the Mandinka. The Sosso counterattack brought them to the verge of capitulation. It all seemed to be leading to a crushing defeat for the southerners. That is until legend tells that Sundiata himself sought out Soumangorou.

The Prince fought his way close enough to the enemy king to loose a clean arrow shot. It flew true through the air, striking its target. The oral chronicle tells us that a wounded Soumangorou fled from the battlefield, never to be seen again. Upon witnessing this, his army broke and with it the Sosso Empire. In the aftermath prince Sundiata would go on to claim it as his prize and found the Mali Empire.

Outro

In our next episode we shall explore how he and his successors built one of the greatest realms of its age. In particular we will seek to understand how its army evolved over the years and what great feats would be achieved by the glorious Knights of this golden Empire.