African Kingdoms

French Porto-Novo / French Dahomey (French Colonies) (Africa)
AD 1863 - 1894
Incorporating Porto-Novo Protectorate (1863-1865 & 1882-1893), Porto-Novo Colony (1893-1894), Dahomey Colony (1894-1911), Dahomey Colony & Dependencies (1911-1946), & Dahomey Overseas Territory (1946-1958)

West African States All Modern States All African States Early Africa (Intro) Egypt

In a history of Africa which can at times be difficult to uncover, some native states stand out, if only for the opposition they provided to European colonial efforts. It was the Portuguese who first reached West Africa out of all of Europe's emerging nation states. French colonial interest in West Africa began as the slave trade grew and France established itself in the New World in the form of New France.

All of the European powers began to enhance their links with African slave traders and, by the eighteenth century, slaves were an important element in trade which was being conducted in West Africa. The French established a trading port on the West African coast as early as 1659 - at St Louis in today's Senegal in what became the early colonial holding of 'French Senegal'.

French involvement in West Africa, however, did not substantially increase until later in the nineteenth century, and its participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade was always less significant. The French came to focus on gum arabic, groundnuts (or peanuts), and other raw materials which originated in the interior.

Porto Novo (Ajache Ipo) became an imperial French protectorate in 1863, having taken it from the area of control of the kingdom of Dahomey. Emperor Napoleon III soon abandoned it but it was re-established in 1882. Those main European powers which were actively vying for control of large parts of Africa signed the Berlin Act in February 1885. This formalised the process for the eventual partition of Africa.

The act provided guidelines by means of which each power could proceed to define its territories. French Sudan was formed in 1890 to control the greatly-expanded French Senegal colony. The re-established Porto Novo protectorate became the 'Porto-Novo Colony' in 1893 just as France was defeating Dahomey in battle.

The entire colonial holding was rebranded in 1894 to incorporate the entire Dahomey kingdom under the title of 'Dahomey Colony'. That was held until it became autonomous in 1958, and then independent in 1960. Today this forms the basis of much of Benin.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward Dawson, from the John De Cleene Archive, from History of West Africa, J F Ade Ajayi & Michael Crowder (Longman, 1985), from Encyclopaedia Britannica (Eleventh Edition, Cambridge (England), 1910), from African States and Rulers, John Stewart (McFarland, 2005), from The New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Rex Collins, London, 1991), from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), from All Africa: All Its Political Entities of Independent or Other Status, Elisa Daggs (Hastings House, 1970), from Historical Dictionary of Dahomey (People's Republic of Benin), Samuel Decalo (Scarecrow Press, 1976), and from External Links: Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Genealogical Gleanings (dead link), and French in West Africa, Ali B Ali-Dinar (Ed, African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania).)

1863

Porto Novo (Ajache Ipo) becomes the French 'Porto-Novo Protectorate'. Emperor Napoleon III soon abandons it (although it is re-established in 1882) but Glele of Dahomey signs treaties with the French who have previously acquired a concession in Ajache Ipo from its ruler.

1863 - 1865

French agent of the protectorate of Porto-Novo.

1863 - 1865

The French are successful in negotiating with Glele, receiving a grant for a customs and commerce concession in Cotonou. Glele resists British diplomatic overtures though, distrusting their manners and their anti-slavery activities.

Dahomey's female warriors were dubbed 'Amazonians' by Europeans who saw them, being known for their ferociousness and prowess in combat, and for being protectors of the ahosu

Despite the formal end of the slave trade and its interdiction by European and New World powers, Glele continues slavery as a domestic institution within Dahomey. His fields are primarily cared for by slaves, and slaves are becoming a major source of ceremonial 'messengers to the ancestors' (sacrificial victims).

1882 - 1883

French resident of the protectorate of Porto-Novo.

1883

French resident.

1883 - 1884

French resident.

1884

French resident.

1884 - 1886

French resident.

1886

French resident.

1886 - 1887

French resident.

1887

French resident.

1887 - 1888

French resident.

1888 - 1889

French administrator.

1889

French resident.

1889 - 1891

French resident for the second time.

1891 - 1893

Former French resident, promoted to lieutenant-governor.

1892 - 1894

From their base in what, from 1893, is the Porto-Novo Colony the French begin take control of Dahomey during the Dahomey War, having already separated Dassa. They use mainly African troops, quite possibly from neighbouring tribes which are only too happy to end the kingdom's dominance of the region.

West Africa in the second half of the nineteenth century was a place of development, with large tribal empires existing or arising during the period (click or tap on map to view full sized)

Abomey, the capital, is burned in 1892 and the ruler, Behanzin, surrenders himself in 1893. The French establish the Dahomey Colony as a protectorate after detaching Allada as a separate protectorate.

1893 - 1894

French lieutenant-governor of Porto-Novo Colony.

1894 - 1899

French lieutenant-governor & governor Dahomey Colony.

1894 - 1958

With the last independent ruling ahosu removed and exiled by France and a pliable vassal ruler put in place, Dahomey is incorporated along with many other West African states into the French West Africa colony.

1899

French acting governor.

1899 - 1900

French acting governor.

1899

Civilian governorship of French Sudan is temporarily ended when the entire colony is reorganised so that eleven of the southern districts are parcelled out to various French coastal territories, including Dahomey, French Guinea, and Ivory Coast.

Despite the loss of Commandant Lamy, in 1900 the French managed to join up all of their West African possessions at the Battle of Kousséri, which took place on the banks of the River Chari, dividing modern Chad and Cameroon

The remainder is split into two administrative regions: those of Middle Niger and Upper Senegal, which are subservient to the authority of other French colonies.

1900 - 1906

French governor.

1906

French acting governor.

1906

French acting governor.

1906 - 1908

French governor.

1908

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1908

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1908 - 1909

French governor.

1909 - 1911

French governor.

1911

French governor.

1911 - 1912

French lt-governor 'Dahomey Colony & Dependencies'.

1912

French acting lieutenant-governor until promotion.

1912 - 1917

French lieutenant-governor.

1914

Having jointly guaranteed in 1839 to support the neutrality of Belgium, when the country is invaded by Germany, Belgium's allies, Britain, France, and Russia, are forced to declare war at midnight on 4 August against imperial Germany and Austria in what becomes known as the Great War or First World War.

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia and the German empire inspects his troops on the eve of war in 1914, a war which none of the tributary German principalities had any chance of escaping

German armies head towards Paris before being halted and retreating to what becomes the Western Front just inside French territory. The French army includes units from its various colonial territories, including Algeria, 'Upper Senegal & Niger', and Tunisia.

1917 - 1919

French acting lieutenant-governor until promotion.

1918

A ceasefire is agreed with the remnants of the Austro-Hungarian empire by British, French, and Italian forces on 3 November. Germany, now alone, sees its emperor abdicate on 9 November, and an armistice is agreed to come into effect on the eleventh hour of 11 November, signalling the end of the war, although many less widespread wars continue as a result of the upheavals caused by it.

Troops from French West Africa participated in the Great War of 1914-1918, often in supporting roles behind the lines, although these Tirailleurs Senegalais are clearly equipped for combat

1919 - 1928

French lieutenant-governor.

1928 - 1929

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1929 - 1931

French lieutenant-governor.

1931 - 1932

French lieutenant-governor.

1932

French lieutenant-governor.

1932 - 1933

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1933 - 1934

French lt-gov. Also in Somaliland, West Africa, & Madagascar.

1933

The French colony of Upper Volta (modern Burkina Faso) is dissolved and the territory is merged into French Sudan (now restored to use in favour of 'Upper Senegal & Niger'). By now the colony's general rain-fed agriculture is being supplanted in places by cotton-growing ventures. These are made possible thanks to new irrigation projects in various locations.

Vodun people are practitioners of the Vodun religion which primarily is found amongst the Aja, Ewe, and Fon peoples of West Africa, particularly in countries such as Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria

Ultimately the ventures largely fail because farmers refuse to be relocated to these new farms without being given ownership of the land, something which the colonial administration refuses to permit.

1934 - 1935

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1935 - 1937

French lieutenant-governor.

1937

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1937 - 1938

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1938

French acting lieutenant-governor for the second time.

1938 - 1940

French governor. Also in Somaliland, & Madagascar.

1939 - 1944

The Nazi German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 is the trigger for the Second World War. With both France and Britain pledged to support Poland, both countries have no option but to declare war on 3 September.

Nazi-led German troops are shown here progressing in good order through a Polish town on the first day of the invasion, 1 September 1939

After a lightening march through the Netherlands and Belgium, France is occupied by the Nazi war machine in 1940, ending the 'Third Republic'. Vichy (Fascist) rule is allowed as a puppet state in southern France (and Algeria). The French protectorate in Vietnam ends, while in 1942, Britain takes temporary control of the Madagascar colony.

1940

French acting lieutenant-governor.

1940 - 1943

Vichy French lieutenant-governor.

1943 - 1946

Vichy French lieutenant-governor.

1944 - 1947

A provisional government is established in France following the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944. During the existence of the provisional government, in 1943 Lebanon gains full independence from France, in 1945 France re-establishes its protectorate in Vietnam (which lasts until 1954), and Syria gains independence in 1946. Change is also coming to French Sudan.

This photo shows British or allied troops establishing a beachhead during the Battle of Madagascar - Vichy French control of the island was about to be replaced by British and then Free French control, heralding a seeming return to the status quo

1946 - 1948

French acting-governor of Dahomey Overseas Territory.

1948 - 1949

French governor.

1949

French governor.

1949 - 1951

French acting-governor.

1951 - 1955

French governor.

1955 - 1958

French governor.

1958

French acting-governor.

1958

French acting-governor, before promotion.

1958 - 1960

French high commissioner of autonomous Dahomey.

1958 - 1960

The Dahomey Overseas Territory is granted autonomy, followed by full independence two years later. A period of instability follows, with Marxism-Leninism being adopted as the official ideology of the new republic of Dahomey.

Coutougou Herbert Maga became the first president of the newly-independent republic of Dahomey in 1960, and was removed from office in 1963 as part of the first of a series of largely bloodless coups in the country