NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Dahomey

Dahomey was a kingdom in Africa, situated in what is now the nation of Benin. The kingdom was founded in the seventeenth century and survived until the late nineteenth century, when it was conquered by French troops from Senegal and incorporated into France's West African colonies. A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Western Africa (UN subregion) Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

History

The origins of Dahomey can be traced back to a group of Aja from the coastal kingdom of Allada who moved northwards and settled among the Fon people of the interior. By about 1650, the Aja managed to dominate the Fon and Wegbaja declared himself king of their joint territory. Based in his capital of Agbome, Wegbaja and his successors succeeded in establishing a highly centralized state with a deep-rooted kingship cult of sacrificial offerings, including a heavy emphasis on human sacrifices in large numbers, to the ancestors of the monarch. Human sacrifices were not only made in time of war, pestilence, calamity, and on the death of kings and chiefs, they were also made regularly in the annual custom, which was believed to supply deceased kings with a fresh group of servants. Four thousand Whydahs, for example, were sacrificed when Dahomey conquered Whydah in 1727. Five hundred were sacrificed for Adanzu II in 1791. The sacrifices for Gezo went on for days. Human sacrifice was usually done by beheading, except in the case of the king's wives, who were buried alive. Visitors to the historic site of Dahomey today can still see a throne built on human skulls, a mass grave dedicated to one of the king's wives, and two temples with mortar mixed with human blood. All land was owned directly by the king, who collected taxes from all crops that were produced. The Aja are a group of people living in Benin (former Dahomey). ... Allada is a town located in the Atlantique Department of Benin. ... Fon is a major West African ethnic and linguistic group in the country of Benin or Dahomey, and southwest Nigeria, made up of more than 2,000,000 people. ... Year 1650 (MDCL) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Aho Houegbadja was the third King of Dahomey. ... Abomey is a town in Benin, formerly the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dahomey. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Economically, however, Wegbaja and his successors profited mainly from the slave trade and relations with slavers along the coast. As Dahomey's kings embarked on wars to expand their territory, they began using rifles and other firearms traded with French and Spanish slave-traders for young men captured in battle, who fetched a very high price from the European slave-merchants. Under King Agadja (ruled 1708-1732) the kingdom conquered Allada, where the ruling family originated, thereby gaining direct contact with European slave traders on the coast. Nevertheless, Agadja was unable to defeat the neighbouring kingdom of Oyo, Dahomey's chief rival in the slave trade, and in 1730, he became a tributary of Oyo, though he still managed to maintain Dahomey's independence. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... It has been suggested that Break action be merged into this article or section. ... Dossou Agadja was the fifth King of Dahomey. ... // Events March 23 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth July 1 - Tewoflos becomes Emperor of Ethiopia September 28 - Peter the Great defeats the Swedes at the Battle of Lesnaya Kandahar conquered by Mir Wais In Masuria one third of the population die during the plague J... Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ... Oyo (OÌ£yoÌ£ in Yoruba orthography, pronounced ) is the name for a Yoruba city in modern-day Nigeria and also the loose empire which that city controlled in the 17th and 18th centuries. ... Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III (1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730-1754) Anna Ivanova (Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births April 16 - Henry Clinton, British general (d. ... Oyo (OÌ£yoÌ£ in Yoruba orthography, pronounced ) is the name for a Yoruba city in modern-day Nigeria and also the loose empire which that city controlled in the 17th and 18th centuries. ...

Even as a tributary state, Dahomey continued to expand and flourish because of the slave trade and later through the export of palm oil from large plantations that emerged. Because of the economic structure of the kingdom the land belonged to the king who had a virtual monopoly on all trade.

As one of West Africa's principal slave states, Dahomey became extremely unpopular with neighbouring peoples. The kings of Dahomey sold their war captives into transatlantic slavery, who otherwise would have been killed in a ceremony known as the Annual Customs. Historian Walter Rodney estimates that by c.1770, the King of Dahomey was earning an estimated £250,000 per year by selling captive African soldiers and even his own people to the European slave-traders. Most of this money was spent on British-made firearms (of very poor quality) and industrial-grade alcohol. Dahomey was finally conquered by France in 1892-1894. Most of the troops that fought against Dahomey were native African, and it has been surmised by several historians that neighbouring tribes, particularly the Yoruba, were only too happy to bring about the Kingdom's collapse in favour of liberal French rule. Every year in the Kingdom of Dahomey, a huge festival in honor of the ancestors was organized called the annual customs. In the customs, the king would assemble the entire court, foreign dignitaries, and the populace. ... Walter Rodney (March 23, 1942 - June 13, 1980) was a prominent Guyanese historian and political figure. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Yoruba (YorÃ¹bÃ¡ in Yoruba orthography) are a large ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in Africa; the majority of them speak the Yoruba language (ede YorÃ¹bÃ¡). The Yoruba constitute approximately 21 percent of Nigerias total population,[1] and around 30 million individuals throughout the region of...

In 1958, Dahomey became an autonomous republic, and from there, it would gain full independence in 1960. The Republic of Dahomey changed its name to Benin in 1975. Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

In 1971, American novelist Frank Yerby published The Man From Dahomey, a historical novel set partially in Dahomey, which does a good job of unfolding Dahomean culture to the reader. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... Frank Garvin Yerby (September 5, 1916 - November 29, 1991) was an African American historical novelist. ...

References and notes

1. The Ewe-Speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast of West Africa, A.B. Ellis, Benin Press, 1965, pp. 177-138.

Kings of Dahomey

Gangnihessou, or Ganye Hessou, is the first of the tradional twelve kings of Dahomey. ... Year 1620 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Dakodonou was the second King of Dahomey. ... Year 1620 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... // Events January 10 - Archbishop Laud executed on Tower Hill, London. ... Aho Houegbadja was the third King of Dahomey. ... // Events January 10 - Archbishop Laud executed on Tower Hill, London. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... Houessou Akaba was the fourth King of Dahomey. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... // Events March 23 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth July 1 - Tewoflos becomes Emperor of Ethiopia September 28 - Peter the Great defeats the Swedes at the Battle of Lesnaya Kandahar conquered by Mir Wais In Masuria one third of the population die during the plague J... Dossou Agadja was the fifth King of Dahomey. ... // Events March 23 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth July 1 - Tewoflos becomes Emperor of Ethiopia September 28 - Peter the Great defeats the Swedes at the Battle of Lesnaya Kandahar conquered by Mir Wais In Masuria one third of the population die during the plague J... Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ... Tegbessou was the sixth King of Dahomey. ... Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... Kpengla was the seventh King of Dahomey. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Agonglo was the eighth King of Dahomey. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1797 (MDCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Adandozan was a King of Dahomey (now Benin), technically the ninth, though he is not counted as one of the twelve kings. ... 1797 (MDCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... King Ghezo (right), with his son the future King Glele in 1863 Ghezo was the ninth King of Dahomey (now Benin), considered one of the greatest of the twelve historical kings. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Badohou, who took the throne name Glele, is considered (if Adandozan is not counted) to be the tenth King of Dahomey (now Benin). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Behanzin in 1894 Behanzin (d. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

See also

Category: Dahomey The Dahomey (or Fon) are a nation located in Benin, Africa. ... List of Rulers of the Fon state of Danhome (Agbome) (Dahomey) Danhome known to Europeans as Dahomey (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Ahosu = King Sources http://www. ... The Dahomey Amazons were a Fon all-female military regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin) which lasted until end of the 19th century. ... Image File history File links Blason_France_moderne. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Map of the first (light blue) and second (dark blue â€” plain and hachured) French colonial empires France had colonial possessions, in various forms, from the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. ... Map of the first (light blue) and second (dark blue â€” plain and hachured) French colonial empires France had colonial possessions, in various forms, from the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... The Algerian bay (view from the west). ... Arguin is an island off the west coast of Mauritania in the Bay of Arguin, at 20° 36 N., 16° 27 W. It is 6 km long by 2 broad. ... Location of French West Africa French West Africa (French: ) was a federation of eight French territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), CÃ´te dIvoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Dahomey (now Benin). ... French Sudan (Fr. ... Map showing the Volta river in Upper Volta Upper Volta (French: ) was the name of the African country now called Burkina Faso. ... French Togoland was a France Mandate territory in West Africa, which later became the Togolese Republic. ... James Island is an island in the Gambia River, 30 km from the river mouth and near Juffure, The Gambia. ... Location of French Equatorial Africa. ... // First settled by Mbuti, Congo was later settled by Bantu groups that also occupied parts of present-day Angola, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of the Congo, forming the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those states. ... Oubangui-Chari, or Ubangi-Shari, was a French territory in central Africa which later became the independent country of the Central African Republic on August 13, 1960. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Grand Comore Grand Comore (off-white) in relation to Comoros (light brown) Grande Comore (also known as Ngazidja and Ngasidja, and erroneously as Njazidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. ... Map of MohÃ©li MohÃ©li, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... The Republic of Djibouti gained its independence on June 27, 1977. ... 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French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... In October of 1887, the French announced the formation of the Union Indochinoise (Union of Indochina), which at that time comprised Cambodia, already an autonomous French possession, and the three regions of Vietnam (Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina. ... Annam, literally meaning Pacified South, is a region of central Vietnam that fell under Chinese rule in 111 BC as Annan (å®‰å—). Known locally as Trung Bá»™, meaning Central Boundary, it was formerly a kingdom the size of Sweden with its capital at Huáº¿. It had been seized by the French... Cochin China (also known as Cochinchina or in French, Cochinchine) was the southernmost part of Vietnam beside Cambodia. ... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... French colonial flag of the Alawite State The Alawite State (Arabic: â€Ž), also known in French as Alaouites, after the locally dominant Alawite sect of Shia Islam, was a French mandate territory in the coastal area of present-day Syria after World War I.[1] // The collapse of the Ottoman... Flag of the Republic of Hatay. ... Kwang-Chou-Wan (å»£å·žç£), or Kwangchowan, was a small enclave on the south coast of China conceded by China to France as a leased territory. ... Look up Oceania in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The New Hebrides are an island group in the South Pacific that now form the nation of Vanuatu. ... French and other European settlements in India. ... French overseas departments and territories The French Overseas Departments and Territories (French: dÃ©partements doutre-mer and territoires doutre-mer or DOM-TOM) consist broadly of French-administered territories outside of Europe. ... A collectivitÃ© doutre-mer (in English Overseas Community) or COM, is an administrative division of France. ... Saint-Barthélemy is a French island located in the Caribbean at 17°54N 62°50W . ... The Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin (French: CollectivitÃ© doutre-mer de Saint-Martin) is a new collectivitÃ© doutre-mer of France that will come into being in early 2007, encompassing the northern parts of the island of Saint Martin currently part of the overseas department of Guadeloupe. ... ÃŽle Amsterdam IPA: (meaning Amsterdam island, after the Dutch capital) is a French island in the Indian Ocean located at . ... Map of St. ... Orthographic projection centred over the Iles Crozet The Crozet Islands (French: ÃŽles Crozet or officially Archipel Crozet) are a sub-antarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean, part of the French Southern Territories. ... Basic data Administrative status: district Country: French Southern and Antarctic Lands Capital: Port-aux-FranÃ§ais Population: ca. ... AdÃ©lie Land is the portion of the Antarctic coast between Pourquoi Pas Point at 66Â°12S, 136Â°11E and Point Alden at 66Â°48S, 142Â°02E, with a shore length of 350 km and with its hinterland extending as a sector about 2600 km toward... Location of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean: â€¢ 1 : Bassas da India â€¢ 2 : Europa Island â€¢ 3 : Glorioso Islands â€¢ 4 : Juan de Nova Island â€¢ 5 : Tromelin Island (KM : Comoros, MG : Madagascar, MU : Mauritius, MZ : Mozambique, RE : RÃ©union, YT : Mayotte) The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (French: ÃŽles Ã‰parses... Overseas region (French: RÃ©gion doutre-mer), is a recent designation given to the overseas departments which have similar powers to those of the regions of metropolitan France. ...

Contents

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References and notes

Kings of Dahomey

See also

History