Connected Histories

Timeline of Leo Africanus’ Life

About This Resource

The timeline of dates in the life of Leo Africanus (whose original name was Hassan al-Wazzan) accompanies Amin Maalouf’s fictionalized Leo Africanus. The photograph shows the city of Granada with the Alhambra palace.

Text

1489

Leo is born in Granada as Hassan al-Wazzan

1494

Leo/Hassan leaves Granada in exile to settle in Fez

1504

Leo/Hassan begins his travels with his uncle, a diplomat for the Sultan of Fez

1509-1512

Leo travels in West Africa

1517

Leo/Hassan visits Cairo and Istanbul, and makes the pilgrimage to Mecca

1518 – 1519

Leo is captured by Spanish pirates and given to Pope Leo X

1520

Leo is given his Christian name and baptized at the Basilica of St. Peters

1520-1524

Leo travels in Italy and writes various works

1526

Leo finishes the manuscript of The Description of Africa.

1550

Approximate year of Leo/Hassan’s death

Source

Maalouf, Amin. Leo Africanus. New York: New Amsterdam, 1992. Image credit: City of Granada The whole Alhambra, as seen from the mirador San Nicolas, Granada, Spain. Photograph by Jebulon, August 2012 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_whole_Alhambra_Granada_Spain.jpg under Creative Commons license.

How to Cite This Page

"Muslim Journeys | Item #298: Timeline of Leo Africanus’ Life", April 26, 2024 http://bridgingcultures-muslimjourneys.org/items/show/298.

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