Idris II Katakarmabe

Idris IIIefn|Some chronologies of Kanem–Bornu rulers omit the 14th-century Idris II Saradima, lowering the regnal numbers of later rulers of this name. This ruler is then considered Idris II. Some girgams (king lists) mistakenly identify him as Dunama. ), called Idris Katagarmabe Katakarnabi, Katakarmabi, Katakamabi, and Katagarmarambe. was mai (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the early 16th century, ruling approximately 1503–1525. (All king lists (girgams) and chronicles translated in the 19th–20th centuries (by Barth, Nachtigal, Landeroin, Palmer, Urvoy) agree that Idris ruled for 22 to 23 years.) The oldest known Kanuri written histories date to Idris's reign.

Life Idris was a son of mai Ali I Gaji. instead continuing to use his father's new capital at Ngazargamu. The center of the empire would thus remain in Bornu, west of Lake Chad. The Bilala became imperial vassals and were allowed to continue to govern Kanem as a province.

After his victory over the Bilala, Idris went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. In 1512, Idris sent an embassy to Tripoli. Heinrich Barth, a German explorer who visited Bornu in the 19th century, considered this embassy to indicate "elevated political views" of Idris compared to his predecessors.

Idris ruled for 22 or 23 years. He died at Walama and was succeeded as mai by his son Muhammad VI Aminami.

Contemporary accounts Idris was a contemporary of the North African diplomat and author Leo Africanus, who mentioned him in his writings. Leo mistakenly referred to Idris as Libran (Ibrahim), perhaps in confusion with one of Idris's predecessors of this name.

Later Kanuri authors mention the existence of a contemporary 16th-century narrative history of Idris Karagarmabe's reign, written by Masfarma Omar ben Othman, the oldest known history written by a Kanuri author. Masfarma Omar ben Othman's work is believed to be lost as no surviving copies or excerpts are known.