DAHOMEY EMPIRE (1600-1904)
The Kingdom of Dahomey was an African kingdom (located within the area of the present-day country of Benin) that existed from about 1600 until 1904, when the last king, Béhanzin, was defeated by the French, and the country was annexed into the French colonial empire. Dahomey developed on the Abomey (its capital city) Plateau amongst the Fon people in the early 17th century and became a regional power in the 18th century by conquering key cities on the Atlantic coast.
It had good Kings, titled as “Ahosu” such as; Do-Aklin, Dakodonou, Houegbadja and Agaja who built the Royal Palace of Abomey.
FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF THE DAHOMEY EMPIRE IN THE 18th C
1. Growth of centralized and powerful monarchy
2. Boyul succession system was effective
3. Strong army
4. Good leadership of King Gezo and later Agaja
5. Control of Slave trade, the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade gave tax and guns to the kings of Dahomey.
FACTORS FOR THE DECLINE OF DAHOMEY
1. The fall of trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.
2. Colonialism in West Africa and ultimate conquest by the French.
