Baguirmi

Baguirmi

 or Bagirmi

Former sultanate, now part of southwestern Chad. Located southeast of Lake Chad, it was probably established in the 16th century. The king ruled from the capital city of Massenya. Though the 17th century brought prosperity as a result of the slave trade, Baguirmi became a pawn in conflicts between rival empires to the east and west. It was repeatedly sacked in the 19th century and ultimately came under French control in the late 19th century.