Songhai and Carolingian Empires By kkf 800 Gao was established 1110 Timbuktu was established 1468 Songhay Empire established by Sunni Ali. Took over Timbuktu and Gao 1493 Muhammed Ture, a Muslim, founded the Askia dynasty and took over Songhay Empire. 1530 Portuguese came to Timbuktu in search of wealth. Only one man survived. 1591 Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire conquered by Moroccans.