African Kingdoms

Kingdom of Dahomey / Dahomania (Benin)
AD 17th Century - 1894

Situated in Western Africa, the kingdom bore its name until 1975, when it was neutrally renamed the Republic of Benin to appease the large number of ethnic groups which formed part of the relatively new state. Dahomey bore no relation to the Benin Empire. Dahomey was the kingdom of the Fon people, one of the groups which formed the new Benin state.

The Kingdom of Dahomey was formed by a mixture of various local ethnic groups on the Abomey plain. Various tribal groups, possibly forced to move due to the slave trade, coalesced around a highly centralised, strict military culture which was aimed at securing and eventually expanding the borders of the small kingdom. It also practised human sacrifice in large numbers and traded captives to the slave traders who prospered along its coastline.

by c.1650

A group of Aja from the coastal kingdom of Allada had previously moved northwards to settle amongst the Fon people of the interior, and by this date they have gained dominance and declare a kingdom.

? - 1620

Gangnihessou

Declared the founding of the kingdom.

1620 - 1645

Dakodonou

1645 - 1685

Houegbadja / Wegbaja

1685 - 1708

Akaba

1708 - 1740

Agadja

Agadja conquered the kingdom of Allada,

1730

Despite conquering his ancestral homeland in Allada, the king is unable to defeat the neighbouring kingdom of Oyo, and Dahomey becomes tributary to it, although in all other respects it retains its independence.

1740 - 1774

Tegbessou

1774 - 1789

Kpengla

1789 - 1797

Agonglo

1797 - 1818

Adandozan

1818 - 1856

Ghezo

by 1850

Dahomey increasingly loses its status as the regional power.

1856 - 1889

Glele

1889 - 1894

Behanzin

1892 - 1894

The French begin take control of the territory during the Dahomey War using mainly African troops, quite possibly from neighbouring tribes only too happy to end the kingdom's dominance of the region.

1894

Dahomey is incorporated into France's West Africa colony.

1958

The state is granted autonomy as the Republic of Dahomey, followed by full independence two years later.

1975

After almost continuous strife following independence, the new Marxist government renames the country the People's Republic of Benin.