Zaria, initially known as Zazzau, was the capital of the Hausa kingdom of Zazzau.
 Zazzau is thought to have been founded in 1536 and later was renamed after Queen Zaria.
Human settlement predates the rise of Zazzau, as the region, like some of its neighbors, had a history of sedentary Hausa settlement, with institutional market exchange and farming.

Zaria was the most southern of the Hausa city-states.
It was a trading destination for Saharan caravans as well as a prominent city in the Hausa slave trade.
In the late 1450s, Islam arrived in Zaria by the way of its sister Habe cities, Kano and Katsina.
 Along with Islam, trade flourished between the cities as traders brought camel caravans filled with salt in exchange for slaves and grain.
The city-state's power peaked under Queen Amina whose military campaigns established a tributary region including the kingdoms of Kano and Katsina.
At the end of the 16th century, after Queen Amina's death, Zaria fell under the influence of the Jukun Kingdom and eventually became a tributary state itself.
Between the fifteenth and sixteenth century the kingdom became a tributary state of the Songhai Empire.
In 1805 it was captured by the Fulani during the Fulani Jihad.
British forces led by Frederick Lugard took the city in 1901.

A French hostage of the Islamist group Ansaru, held captive at Zaria, escaped in 2013 and reached a police station in the city.

In December 2015, Nigeria's military was reported to have killed 300 Shia Muslims and buried their bodies in a mass grave.
Although the government denies the event, it has been described as a Massacre.

Zaria produced many politicians in Nigeria which include:
Arch.
Namadi Sambo, Alh.
Umaru Dembo, Alh.
umaru dikko, Alh.
Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Alh.
mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Mal.
Nasr El-rufa'i, Alh.
Basheer Sa'idu, Hon.
Mustapha Bawa, Hon.
Iliyasawa Kassim, Comr.
Aliyu Sulaiman Abubakar (Abba Assanawee), Mohammed Kabir Ajuji, Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmad, Hon.
shehu Nuhu Babajo, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmad, Dr. Abbas Tajuddeen, Hon.
Lawal Jibrin and e.t.c
Zaria, initially known as Zazzau, was the capital of the Hausa kingdom of Zazzau.  Zazzau is thought to have been founded in 1536 and later was renamed after Queen Zaria. Human settlement predates the rise of Zazzau, as the region, like some of its neighbors, had a history of sedentary Hausa settlement, with institutional market exchange and farming.
Zaria was the most southern of the Hausa city-states. It was a trading destination for Saharan caravans as well as a prominent city in the Hausa slave trade. In the late 1450s, Islam arrived in Zaria by the way of its sister Habe cities, Kano and Katsina.  Along with Islam, trade flourished between the cities as traders brought camel caravans filled with salt in exchange for slaves and grain. The city-state's power peaked under Queen Amina whose military campaigns established a tributary region including the kingdoms of Kano and Katsina. At the end of the 16th century, after Queen Amina's death, Zaria fell under the influence of the Jukun Kingdom and eventually became a tributary state itself. Between the fifteenth and sixteenth century the kingdom became a tributary state of the Songhai Empire. In 1805 it was captured by the Fulani during the Fulani Jihad. British forces led by Frederick Lugard took the city in 1901.
A French hostage of the Islamist group Ansaru, held captive at Zaria, escaped in 2013 and reached a police station in the city.
In December 2015, Nigeria's military was reported to have killed 300 Shia Muslims and buried their bodies in a mass grave. Although the government denies the event, it has been described as a Massacre.
Zaria produced many politicians in Nigeria which include:
Arch.Namadi Sambo, Alh. Umaru Dembo, Alh. umaru dikko, Alh. Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Alh. mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Mal. Nasr El-rufa'i, Alh. Basheer Sa'idu, Hon. Mustapha Bawa, Hon. Iliyasawa Kassim, Comr. Aliyu Sulaiman Abubakar (Abba Assanawee), Mohammed Kabir Ajuji, Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmad, Hon. shehu Nuhu Babajo, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmad, Dr. Abbas Tajuddeen, Hon. Lawal Jibrin and e.t.c
Zaria