Cayor
Cayor (; ) was the largest and most powerful kingdom (1549–1879) that split off from the Jolof Empire in what is now Senegal. Cayor was located in northern and central Senegal, southeast of Walo, west of the kingdom of Jolof, and north of Baol and the Kingdom of Sine. History. In 1549, the damel ("dammeel" in Wolof, often translated into European languages as "king") Dece Fu Njogu became independent from Jolof and set Cayor's capital at Mboul. The French, under governor Louis Faidherbe, annexed Cayor in 1868; Cayor re-established independence in 1871. France invaded again and annexed Cayor again  in 1879, when it ceased to be a sovereign state. The kingdom was extinguished in its entirety October 6, 1886. In addition to Cayor, the damels also ruled over the Lebou area of Cap-Vert (where modern Dakar is), and they became the "Teignes" (rulers) of the neighboring kingdom of Baol. Traditionally the damel himself was not purely hereditary, but was designated by a 4-member council consisting of: A great hero in Senegal history, for his defiance and battles against the French, was Lat Jor. He was defeated at the battle of Dekheule, and was deposed twice, in 1869  and 1879. He converted to Islam around 1861. The 30th and last damel of Cayor was Samba Laube Fal (1858–1886), killed at Tivaouane, Senegal. Culture. Cayor society was highly stratified. The damel and nobles (Garmi) were at the top of the hierarchy followed by free men (including villagers and marabouts) who were known as Jambur. Below the Jambur were the Nyenoo, members of hereditary and endogamous castes that were metalworkers, tailors, griots, woodcarvers, etc. The lowest group of the hierarchy consisted of Dyaam, or slaves. Slaves were generally treated well and those that were owned by the kingdom often exercised  military and political power. Since the 16th century, traces of Islamic influence were felt in the kingdom and in certain rituals among the nobility. Literate marabouts settled in the area from Mali or Fouta. With the conversion of Lat Jor to Islam, the inhabitants began to quickly adopt the religion as well. List of rulers. Names and dates taken from John Stewart's "African States and Rulers" (1989).