- Cayor
The Kingdom of Cayor (1549-1879) was the largest and most powerful kingdom that split off from the Empire of
Jolof (Diolof), in what is nowSenegal . Cayor was located in north and central Senegal, southeast ofWaalo , west of the kingdom ofJolof and north ofBaol and theKingdom of Sine .In
1549 , the king, or "Damel ",Detie Fu Ndiogu , became independent fromJolof (Djolof). The capital was atMboul . After the French conqueredWaalo , governorLouis Faidherbe annexed Cayor in1868 , but Cayor got its independence restored in 1871. It was defeated and annexed again in1879 and ceased to be a sovereign state. The kingdom was extinguished in its entirety October 6, 1886.In addition to Cayor, the Damels also ruled over the
Lebou area atCap-Vert (where modernDakar is), and they became the "Teignes" (rulers) of the neighboring kingdom ofBaol .Traditionally the Damel himself was not purely hereditary, but was designated by a 4-member council consisting of:
* the Diawdine Bul, hereditary chief of the Dyambour (free men)
* the Tchialaw, chief of the canton of Dianbagnane
* the Botale, chief of the canton of Ndiop, and
* the Badgie, chief of the canton of Gategne.A great hero in Senegal history, for his defiance and battles against the French, was
Lat Dyor Diop (Lat Dior) He was defeated at the battle of Dekheule, and was deposed twice, in 1869 and 1879. He converted to Islam around 1861.The 30th and last Damel of Cayor was Samba Laobe Fall, killed at
Tivaouane , Senegal.ee also
*
Jolof Empire
*History of Senegal
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