Maghan I

Maghan I of Mali

Maghan I (also spelled Maghan) was a mansa (king or emperor) of the Mali Empire, succeeding Mansa Musa I around 1337. He was the son of Musa I and is sometimes referred to as Maghan I ibn Musa.

His reign is generally characterized by a weakening of the empire's authority compared to the era of his father. While accounts vary, sources suggest a period of instability and decline following the death of Mansa Musa, potentially due to Maghan I's perceived ineffectiveness as a ruler. Arab chroniclers like Ibn Khaldun wrote that Maghan I inherited a rich and vast empire but was unable to maintain its cohesion or administrative control.

Internal strife and challenges to the empire's borders arose during his reign. Specific details about the nature and extent of these challenges are often debated among historians due to conflicting and limited sources. What is generally agreed upon is that Maghan I's rule represented a turning point towards the eventual fragmentation of the Mali Empire.

He was eventually succeeded by his uncle, Suleiman, possibly due to a perceived need for a stronger ruler to stabilize the empire. The transition to Suleiman marked a further shift away from the direct line of Musa I in the Malian royal succession. The length of Maghan I's reign is not precisely known, but it is typically placed around four years.