Ottoman – Sokoto Relations during the 19th Century: An untold History

Abstract

Despite the existing gap in the research literature concerning potential connections between the Sokoto Caliphate and Istanbul during the 19th century, recent findings from Ottoman archives in Turkey and Libya reveal a intricate interplay between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire. Accordingly, this relationship was not only multifaceted but also crucially hinged on the intersection of religious, political, and economic spheres. New evidence indicates that both Sokoto and the Ottomans shared a common perspective on caliphal legitimacy during the early 19th century, and this transformed into political and economic relations in the late century.