15th century – 15th century
Djolof and the Senegal River coast
Prince Bemoi was a Djolof ruler who governed on behalf of his brother, Burba Birao, during the 1480s. He moved the seat of government toward the coast, pursued intensified trade with Portugal, exchanged gifts with King John II, and accepted missionaries. After a revolt killed Birao, Bemoi sought Portuguese protection, was taken to Lisbon and baptized, but died after a dispute with the commander of a Portuguese expedition intended to restore him.
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The Story
In the 1480s, Prince Bemoi ruled the Djolof Empire in the name of his brother Burba Birao. He shifted the seat of government from its traditional inland location to a site closer to the coast, seeking to place the central government nearer the growing commercial opportunities created by Portuguese navigation and trade on the Senegambia.
Bemoi exchanged gifts with the Portuguese king, John II, and agreed to receive missionaries. His policy attempted to secure the benefits of Atlantic commerce for the burba rather than allowing coastal vassals to capture the wealth and political power generated by trade. The initiative placed Djolof's succession politics directly into a relationship with Portuguese interests.
Princes opposed to this policy revolted in 1489 and killed Burba Birao. Bemoi escaped and sought refuge with his Portuguese allies, who took him to Lisbon. There he was received with great ceremony by John II and baptized, becoming a Christian political client whose restoration was expected to strengthen Portuguese influence in Djolof.
The Portuguese king sent a military expedition to restore Bemoi and ordered its commander to build a fort at the mouth of the Senegal River. The project collapsed after a dispute between Bemoi and the commander, who accused him of treachery and killed him. His death precipitated the disintegration of Djolof by undermining the attempt to centralize coastal trade around the burba.
15th century – 15th century
Djolof and the Senegal River coast
Prince Bemoi was a Djolof ruler who governed on behalf of his brother, Burba Birao, during the 1480s. He moved the seat of government toward the coast, pursued intensified trade with Portugal, exchanged gifts with King John II, and accepted missionaries. After a revolt killed Birao, Bemoi sought Portuguese protection, was taken to Lisbon and baptized, but died after a dispute with the commander of a Portuguese expedition intended to restore him.
Continue exploring
The Story
In the 1480s, Prince Bemoi ruled the Djolof Empire in the name of his brother Burba Birao. He shifted the seat of government from its traditional inland location to a site closer to the coast, seeking to place the central government nearer the growing commercial opportunities created by Portuguese navigation and trade on the Senegambia.
Bemoi exchanged gifts with the Portuguese king, John II, and agreed to receive missionaries. His policy attempted to secure the benefits of Atlantic commerce for the burba rather than allowing coastal vassals to capture the wealth and political power generated by trade. The initiative placed Djolof's succession politics directly into a relationship with Portuguese interests.
Princes opposed to this policy revolted in 1489 and killed Burba Birao. Bemoi escaped and sought refuge with his Portuguese allies, who took him to Lisbon. There he was received with great ceremony by John II and baptized, becoming a Christian political client whose restoration was expected to strengthen Portuguese influence in Djolof.
The Portuguese king sent a military expedition to restore Bemoi and ordered its commander to build a fort at the mouth of the Senegal River. The project collapsed after a dispute between Bemoi and the commander, who accused him of treachery and killed him. His death precipitated the disintegration of Djolof by undermining the attempt to centralize coastal trade around the burba.
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