Ibrahim II (Ibrāhīm bin ʿUthmān[2]) wasmai (ruler) of theKanem–Bornu Empire in the early-to-mid 15th century, ruling approximately 1440–1444.[a] Ibrahim ruled during the "Era of Instability", a chaotic period of internal and external conflict in the empire.
Ibrahim was the son of amai named Uthman,[3] probablyUthman III Kalinumuwa.[4] The chronology of Ibrahim's reign is confused in the sources.[6] Thegirgam anddiwan (later Kanem–Bornu sources) attribute Ibrahim a reign of seven or eight years and designates him as the successor ofmaiAbdullah III Dakumuni and the predecessor ofKade III.[2][3][6] Kade's father was also named Uthman[3] and he may thus have been Ibrahim's brother.[4]
An account of the reigns of differentmais translated by the German explorerHeinrich Barth in the mid-19th century records that Ibrahim was placed on the throne by thekaigama (chief general) Abdullah Dighelma, who had been engaged in a civil war against Abdullah III Dakumuni. Upon Ibrahim's death, Dighelma is said to have made Abdullah III Dakumunimai again.[6] Barth also contradictorily records that Ibrahim was murdered by Kade III, who then seized the throne.[6] Regardless of the chronology, Ibrahim is said to have been an unpopular ruler, who did not keep a regular court and rarely, if at all, showed himself to the public, inspiring discontent among the people.[6] He is said to not have "covered the land in his majesty" and to have "listened to hearsay".[7]
Ibrahim ruled for seven or eight years.[a] Ibrahim died at Zamtam inBornu, north of modern-dayGamboru.[6][7]
^abcDifferent king lists (girgams) and chronicles translated in the 19th–20th centuries assign Ibrahim a reign of 7 years (Palmer) or 8 years (Barth,Urvoy). He is omitted in the lists ofLanderoin andNachtigal.[3] As a result of this, and due to different calculations for other mais, various dates have been given for his reign, including 1442–1450 (Barth), 1436–1443 (Palmer), and 1432–1440 (Urvoy).[3] Cohen (1966) considered a reign of 8 years most likely.[3] Later authors have also proposed different dates. Lange (1984) and Stewart (1989) both assigned Ibrahim a 8-year reign, dated to 1431–1439[4] and 1442–1450,[5] respectively. Bosworth (2012) assigned Ibrahim a 7-year reign, dated to 1433–1440.[2]
^The 14th and 15th centuries saw protracted civil wars between the rival Idrisid (descendants ofIdris I Nikalemi) and Dawudid (descendants ofDawud Nikalemi) branches of the Sayfawa dynasty.[1]
^Stewart, John (1989).African States and Rulers: An Encyclopedia of Native, Colonial and Independent States and Rulers Past and Present. McFarland & Company. p. 35.
