The Sultanate of Agadez (var. Sultanate of Aïr) is a traditional polity of the Aïr region centered in the city of Agadez, at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in north central Niger. It was founded in 1449 by the Tuareg, then conquered by the Songhai Empire in 1500. After the defeat of Songhai in 1591, the sultanate regained independence. It suffered a steep decline in population and economic activity during the 17th century. It was conquered by the French in 1900.

[edit] References

• Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997) ISBN 0810831368 pp.24-27.
• Jim Hudgens, Richard Trillo, Nathalie Calonnec. Rough Guide to West Africa (4th ed.). Rough Guide, (2003) ISBN 1843531186 pp. 983

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