Pre-1500 — Ancient settlement#
Hausa and Fulbe agriculturalists settle the Rima valley; pre-jihad Gobir, Zamfara and Kebbi are the regional powers.
1500 — 1804 — Pre-colonial polities#
Gobir (capital Alkalawa) is one of the Hausa Bakwai and the central player in 18th-century Hausaland.
1804 — 1903 — The long 19th century#
Shehu Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817), a Toronkawa Fulani scholar, launches the Sokoto Jihad in 1804 after his hijra from Degel to Gudu and the Battle of Tabkin Kwatto (21 June 1804). The fall of Alkalawa (1808) ends the Gobir dynasty. Usman founds the Sokoto Caliphate (1809), the largest pre-colonial African state in the 19th century, comprising 30 emirates. His son Muhammad Bello founds Sokoto town (1809) as capital; his brother Abdullahi founds Gwandu as western capital. See Sokoto Caliphate Jihad and Sokoto Jihad.
After Sultan Attahiru I flees Sokoto, the British WAFF under Sir Frederick Lugard takes Sokoto on 15 March 1903; Attahiru I is killed at the Battle of Burmi (27 July 1903) with c. 600 of his followers. Lugard installs Muhammad Attahiru II and proclaims the British Protectorate. See Northern Protectorate 1900.
1900 — 1960 — Colonial provinces#
Sokoto Province (1903) within Northern Nigeria. Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto), a great-great-grandson of Usman dan Fodio, becomes Premier of the Northern Region (1954–66) and is assassinated in the January 15 1966 Coup.
1960 — present — State creation chain#
- 1967 — North-Western State (capital Sokoto).
- 3 Feb 1976 — Sokoto State (capital Sokoto).
- 27 Aug 1991 — Kebbi hived off.
- 1 Oct 1996 — Abacha hives off Zamfara State.Northern Abandonment Cycle