Origin.

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.

According to local tradition , the kingdom of Dahomey was founded by chief Taccodonou of the Foni speaking people.  He founded the capital at a place called Abomey.  This was after defeating and killing chief Da in 1625. He built a palace over the grave of Da and called this palace Dahomey.  Dahomey meant, the house on Da's belly.  It is from this palace that the kingdom got this name. Another tradition has it that Dahomey was founded by a Yoruba hunter known as Adimola.  This claim has support from the Yoruba and the Oyo of  West Africa.

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 people1650, 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. of the interior. By about

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.

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.

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.

Reasons for the Rise

A desire to create a strong state for defensive purposes. This was so in order to withstand Oyo's aggression.  Oyo on several occasions raided the Foni people for selfish reasons for example the Alafin of Oyo invaded Dahomey in 1726, 1728, 1729 and 1730.

To stop slave raids: The king of Alladah constantly raided Dahomey.  This forced the Foni people to come together in self defence and by doing so, they organised and established a  state of their own.

Able and courageous leaders: It expanded in all directions during the ruin of Agaja Trudo from 1708-1731.  He also conquered Alladah on 1724. And captured Porto Novo in 1729.   Even king Gezo of Dahomey freed the state from paying tributes to the Alafin of Oyo.  He also established diplomatic relations with Asante /Ashanti.

Strength of the army: It had a relatively large army consisting of full time soldiers (standing army). It also had a militia which could be summoned at any time.  Dahomey's army was believed to be the strongest organised and disciplined by the 19th century as Europeans observed.

A reasonable system of succession: The system dictated that only princes born of the royal wives during their father's ruin were the only ones eligible.  This minimizes succession disputes and civil war that were characterised of most African states.

Small and compact: Even at the peak of its power, did not exceed 100 miles from North- South and East-West 50 miles.  Therefore it was easy to administer and control.

Assured source of income: The kings collected market dues and custom duty.  They also denied it of wealth by encouraging people on areas of agriculture, palm oil plantation, art and craft industry.  All this increased Dahomey's revenue which helped to advance the administration of the empire.

Participation in the coastal trade: Dahomey played a leading role on the selling of slaves and ivory to European merchants at the coast.  In exchange, the kings got guns and ammunitions which were very important in equipping the army and making it small.

The policy of Dahomenisation:  All the conquered states were completely integrated into Dahomey and were made provinces of the kingdom.  In other words , the kings imposed the same laws and customs of Dahomey of these states.  He also appointed governors to these states.  It was therefore difficult for these Vassal states to break away since it was one state under one government.

A centralised system of administration: The system was highly efficient and the government was headed by an autocratic and semi-divine king.  The king commanded the loyalty of his subjects.

Lack if external attacks: During the rise and growth of the empire, Dahomey did not experience external threats until 1890's for example Oyo to the east was too pre-occupied with her own civil wars and states to the North and West were too weak and also lacked resources and organisation to invade Dahomey.  Even the coast , European rivalry prevented them to make a joint action to attack Dahomey.

Political organization: The Foni ruling dynasty had a unique system of administration, in West Africa.  The Foni had a strong efficient centralised system of government.  This was headed by the king.

The king exercised very strict control over the officials.  Below him were other higher chiefs, some of whom were members of the king's executive council.  Some of these officials were members of the king's executive council.  Some of these officials ruled the provinces having the minor chiefs who ruled villages.

The king was assisted by cabinet ministers for example the chief judge known as Mingi, the minister of finance known as Meu, minister of Agriculture known as Tokpo and foreign affairs known as Yerogan. The king also appointed women officials known as the Naye who were appointed in every province to inspect on the work of men officials.  They were supposed to report back to the king.

The empire of Dahomey was divided into six provinces each headed by a provincial chief.  The chiefs were responsible to the king for the administration of these provinces. They collected taxes solved minor disputes and contributed part of the state army.  Important cases would be sent to the king of Abomey.

Dahomey had a well organised and strong military force.  It became strong during the time of Agaja Trudo.  He introduced many innovations.  He also created a professional army comprising of men and women known as the Amazons. He armed his soldiers with fire arms, drums, flags and umbrellas of different colours  

These made the army look fear some and ruthless from a distance.  By 1845, it is estimated that Dahomey had 7,000 regular troops and 5000 soldiers in the reserve force.

The army was under a commander on chief who  resided at the king's palace at Abomey.  The army was an important political institution which contributed to the stability and welfare of the state.

King Agadja

Dossou Agadja was the fifth King of Dahomey. He succeeded Houessou Akaba, and ruled from 1708 to 1732.

Akaba's only son, Agbo Sassa, was only ten years old when Akaba died, so as Akaba's brother, Agadja took the throne to become the fifth king. He refused to let Agbo Sassa reclaim the throne when he came of age and forced him into exile.

Agadja's reign was characterized by continual warfare. The Yorùbá soldiers of the kingdom of Oyo defeated the army of Abomey; Agadja parlayed peace terms including the payment of tribute. For the next hundred years, the Kingdom of Abomey paid the King of Oyo an annual tribute in young men and women destined for slavery or death in ceremonies, as well as cloth, guns, animals and pearls.

The kingdom of Abomey grew during Agadja's reign, however; it conquered Allada in 1724, and in 1727 conquered the kingdom of Savi, including its major city, Ouidah. Agadja's victory over Ouidah came in part as a result of his use of a corps of women shock-troopers, called Dahomey Amazons by the Europeans after the women warriors of Greek myth, in his army. The Amazons became a dynastic tradition. When Abomey conquered Savi and Ouidah, it gained direct access to the sea and took over the lucrative slave trade with the Europeans. As a result, Agadja's symbol is a European caravel boat.

Agadja was succeeded by Tegbessou.

Economic organization: Dahomey largely depended on agriculture and the majority of the people were farmers.  The farms were mostly maintained by war captives who were retained as slaves.

Another source of income for Dahomey was through trade. Most of the king's revenue came from the coastal trade with the Europeans.  They exchanged slaves, ivory and palm oil for fire arms, glass wear, beads and iron products.

Dahomey also had some industries, which reputed for production for good quality products e.g. calabashes, wood curvings, cotton weaving and spinning and iron working.

Besides the above, Dahomey also derived revenue by taxing the salt makers, grave diggers and also taxed on the livestock in the kingdom. More taxes also were imposed on the imports and exports.

Social Organisation: The strength of the kingdom was not only derived from its political and economic prosperity but also from its social sector.  The people of Dahomey worshiped royal ancestors and were united by the annual festival at Abomey.

The king ordered regular census of people and livestock in each province.  This was done at each military campaign.  During this census, the king made his subjects feel like one unit.

With the coming of Europeans of the 19th century, some of the people on Dahomey joined the new religion and were converted to Christianity.  This continued to be people's was of life up to today.

The Decline of the Empire

Persistent civil wars: This was common with the Egba people.  Gelele's attempt to avenge the death of his father was total failure.  In 1861, he invaded the Egbas of Abeokuta and he was decisively defeated.

Weakness of the army: In 1861, the army of Dahomey was almost wiped out by small pox epidemic. The reminants of the army were easily defeated by the Egba army and even then the same had been responsible for the death of king Gezo in 1858.

Slave trade:  In the 19th century, the empire of Dahomey was seriously ravaged by slave raids e.g. the neighbouring sates constantly raided the empire and took most of the able bodied men and women which undermined Dahomey's ability to defend it self. It had lost most of its human resource.

Decline in the economy:  Dahomey's trade was disrupted and agriculture also came to a stand still because of the constant slave raids and external attacks.  We should note that this was the main source of revenue for the empire.

European imperialism:  This was the final blow to the existence of the empire.  In fact Dahomey's effort to tighten its French.  Dahomey was invaded and conquered and declared a protectorate under the French in 1893. It was in the same year that king Behanzin was over thrown.

Why the Empire Survived.Despite the threats from Oyo and European merchants, Dahomey was able to survive up to the end of the 19th century.  A number of reasons have been advanced to explain Dahomey's survival.

Able leaders: Dahomey was fortunate to have courageous such as Agaja, Gezo, Behanzin, Tegbesu etc.

Efficient system of government: The kingdom had an elaborate system of succession towards the throne.  It was well equipped and highly profession and it was composed of both men and women who were known as the Amazon.    

Lack of serious external threats: Oyo and Asante had declined.  Even the Europeans at the coast were afraid and not united to engage Dahomey because of its strong army.

The policy of Dahomenisation: The conquered states were assimilated and integrated in Dahomey.  They took up the laws and customs of Dahomey.  Thus they were Dahomenised.

An absolute monarchy: the king was supreme, strong and controlled all political and military appointments in the empire.

A strong economy:  This was based on the coastal trade with Europeans, art and craft industry, agriculture and taxes from markets and property.