The
Askiya Dynasty, also known as the
Askia Dynasty, ruled the
Songhai Empire at the height of that state's power. It was founded in 1493 by
Askia Mohammad I, a general of the Songhai Empire who usurped the
Sonni Dynasty. The Askiya ruled from
Gao over the vast Songhai Empire until its defeat by a Moroccan invasion force in 1591. After the defeat, the dynasty moved south back to its homeland in the Dendi region of modern
Niger. There they established the
Dendi Kingdom and ruled until the beginning of the 20th century.