Akure–Benin War

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Akure–Benin War
Part of the expansion of the Kingdom of Benin
King of Benin with Soldiers in late 1600s.jpg
Depiction of an Oba of Benin with Benin soldiers taken from Olfert Dapper's Description of Africa (1668)
Date1818
Location
Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
Result Benin victory
Territorial
changes		 Akure becomes a vassal state of Benin
Belligerents
Unidentified West African flag.svg Kingdom of Benin Araldiz Manno 259.png Akure Kingdom
Commanders and leaders

Unidentified West African flag.svg Osemwende, Oba of Benin
Unidentified West African flag.svg Chief Erebor, Ezomo of Benin

Contents

Unidentified West African flag.svg General Ologbosere, Ologbosere of Benin
Unidentified West African flag.svg Imaran, Imaran of Benin		 Araldiz Manno 259.png Arakale, Deji of Akure
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Benin wanted to reclaim the land and make Akure pay tribute, but Akure resisted. [1]

The Akure–Benin War of 1818 was a conflict between the Benin and Akure in what is now southwestern Nigeria. Its origins are connected to earlier political and cultural developments in the region, where Akure emerged from settlements associated with the Ife cultural sphere and later consolidated under Prince Omoremilekun, regarded in tradition as a descendant of Oduduwa. The relations between Benin and Akure prior to the conflict are recorded as stable.

Hostilities began after the killing of Chief Osague, a Benin emissary, by the Deji of Akure, Arakale. This incident, along with other disputes involving Benin subjects in the area, led to a Benin military expedition. The Benin forces were commanded by Chief Erebo, the Ezomo, General Ologbosere the Ologbosere, and the Imaran. Akure forces under the Deji resisted the advance. The Benin army approached Akure through multiple routes, and the destruction of the Deji's palace preceded the kingdom's capture. Akure was subsequently brought under Benin authority.

Akure's defeat resulted in the loss of its autonomy and the requirement that the Deji acknowledge the authority of the Oba of Benin, Osemwende, including the payment of tribute. For Benin, the campaign extended its influence and increased the resources available to the Oba.

Background

The Akure Kingdom traces its origins to Omoremilekun, a prince from Ile‑Ife whose arrival in the area led to the consolidation of several autonomous communities. He became the first Ajapada of Akure, establishing a ruling lineage that continued for generations. Early Akure history included periods of resistance to centralised authority, comparable to developments in early Ife, but Omoremilekun's leadership contributed to political cohesion within the kingdom. [2] [3]

Relations between Akure and the Benin Empire were generally characterised by diplomatic contact and cultural connections. Akure acknowledged the Oba of Benin through tribute, while the Oba maintained relations through emissaries. The stability of this relationship was disrupted by the events that preceded the Akure–Benin War. [4] [5] [6]

Causes

The Akure–Benin War of 1818 arose from a series of disputes that began with the killing of a Benin emissary and escalated into wider conflict. Chief Osague, a member of the Iwebo Chancellery of the Benin Palace, was sent to Akure in 1818 with the Chalk of Good Tidings to announce Oba Osemwende's accession in 1816. [a] Some accounts state that the Deji of Akure, Arakale, initiated a confrontation that resulted in Osague's death. [8] [9]

Other sources report that Osague had been sent to address Akure's installation of a Deji without Benin's approval. [10] Around the same period, a Benin trader named Ogonto was attacked in the Akure market, leading to disturbances in which several Bini residents were killed. [11] A similar incident at Igbara‑Odo resulted in further deaths and the destruction of property belonging to Bini inhabitants. [12]

Osague arrived in Akure wearing the regalia of a Benin chief and presented the Chalk of Good Tidings to Arakale. [9] A dispute later occurred between one of Osague's wives and a tobacco seller, which escalated into a broader conflict. [9] Osague was killed during the altercation, and his coral beads were taken by Arakale. [9] News of the incident reached Benin City, where the death of the Oba's emissary was recorded. [9] Oba Osemwende subsequently ordered a military expedition against Akure. [9] [13]

Course

The Benin expedition was organised under several senior military leaders, including three principal commanders and two front commanders, each responsible for different divisions and routes of advance. [14] The roles of Ezomo, Ologbosere, and Imaran were held by Erebor, General Ologbosere, and another commander. [15] [16] [17] Imadiyi and Oyodo served as front commanders. [15]

As the Benin forces advanced, they encountered resistance from the Akure army under the Deji. [18] The Benin commanders approached Akure through different routes. [19] Their operations extended to Akure, Ilawe, and Igbara‑Odo, pushing these areas northward along with the towns of Ewi. [20] The Benin strategy involved encirclement, countering Akure's defensive efforts. [20]

Benin forces captured Akure after an assault. [21] The Deji, Arakale, was executed, and his son Adésọ́rọ̀ (Osupa) was taken to Benin. [22] The Benin army suppressed resistance in the surrounding area. [23] Captives, livestock, and valuables were taken, and Akure was required to pay an annual tribute that included slaves, ivory, and coral. [24] [25] Akure thereafter became a vassal state under Benin. [26] [27]

Consequences

The war had long‑term effects on both Akure and Benin. In Akure, defeat resulted in the loss of autonomy and incorporation into Benin's political sphere. [28] The Deji was required to acknowledge the authority of the Oba of Benin and to provide tribute. [6]

For Benin, the campaign extended its influence over Akure and neighbouring areas. [29] Tribute and other resources from Akure increased the Oba's authority and revenue. [30]

Benin's campaign was supported by additional forces, including contingents from the Ikerres in eastern Yorubaland and from the Esan chiefdom of Irrua. [31] The Onojie of Uromi's assistance was acknowledged by the Oba, who granted him inheritance rights over the property of childless individuals in Uromi. [9] After Akure's subjugation, Benin commanders Imadiyi and Oyodo established a base at Otun, which facilitated further operations in the Ekiti region and other parts of eastern Yorubaland. [32] [30] These campaigns brought several towns under Benin authority, with Ekiti rulers required to acknowledge the Oba through tribute. [9]

Legacy

In 1834, several years after the Akure conquest, the Oba of Benin released Adésọ́rọ̀, the son of Arakale, from captivity and appointed him Deji of Akure. [32] He assumed the title Osupa I (Osupa lati Ado wa) and was given responsibilities linked to Benin's administration of the Ekiti region. [32] A man named Orhuon (Orhuonkedo)—identified in some accounts as the figure known in Akure history as "Osuon," a son of Oba Ausi—had earlier declared himself Deji but died by suicide after learning of Osupa I's arrival with representatives of the Oba. [9]

A cannonball preserved at the Benin City National Museum—possibly linked to the destruction of the Deji's palace—is referenced in the writings of Jacob Egharevba. [33]

See also

Explanatory notes and references

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ The Chalk of Good Tidings was a ceremonial token sent by each newly enthroned Oba of Benin to vassal rulers and village chiefs as a symbol of authority. Acceptance signified loyalty, while refusal—along with failure to meet the twice‑yearly levy of provisions—was treated as rebellion and could lead to reprisals. [7]

Citations

  1. ↑ Adeniran 1991, p. 83–95.
  2. ↑ Owadasa 2019, p. 56.
  3. ↑ Adepegba 1986, pp. 77–92.
  4. ↑ Akintoye 1969, pp. 539–553 [544], "It seems possible that in the distant past, before the rise of Benin as a great kingdom, dynastic relationship between Akure and Benin resulted from their contacts.".
  5. ↑ Usman & Falola 2019, p. 159-240.
  6. 1 2 Ogbeide 2018, p. 179, "With the success of the campaign, the Ekitis renewed their 'allegiance to the Oba of Benin and the payment of tribute was maintained until the British occupation in 1897.' There is evidence that the Deji of Akure played a crucial role for the Oba of Benin, in enforcing the payment of the tribute.".
  7. ↑ Green 2015, p. 43.
  8. ↑ Adegbulu 2010, p. 90, "Relations between Benin and Akure seem to have ebbed during the reign of Arakale (1769–1818) when a Benin ambassador called Osague was killed in Akure.".
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Egharevba 1968, p. 44.
  10. ↑ Akintoye 1969, p. 552, "At Akure, a chief (Chief Osagwe) sent to chastise the people for installing a Deji without first seeking the sanction of the Qba of Benin, was murdered...".
  11. ↑ Akintoye 1969, p. 552, "About the same time, an assault on a Benin trader named Ogonto in the Akure market led to violent disturbances in which a number of Edos were killed.".
  12. ↑ Akintoye 1969, p. 552, "At Igbara-Odo, an incident similar to the latter occurred, leading to the murder of many Edos and the burning of their belongings.".
  13. ↑ Akintoye 1969, p. 552, "These incidents led to the Benin invasions of the early nineteenth century in which guns were massively used.".
  14. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 178, "The Benin army was led by three top war commanders namely, the Ezomo, the Ologbosere and the Imaran, and two other Front Commanders – Imadiyi and Oyodo.".
  15. 1 2 Ogbeide 2018, p. 178.
  16. ↑ McCall & Bay 1975, p. 176, "According to tradition, the ukhurhe was first used during the time of Ezomo (the highest ranking chief)".
  17. ↑ Rotimi 2017, p. 420, "Ologbosere is one of the most powerful and influential chiefs in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi's cabinet".
  18. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 178, "Somehow, the war also turned out to be a punitive expedition to deal with the Deji of Akure who not only revolted against the Oba, but ordered the murder of chief Osague ...".
  19. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 200, "As Egharevba writes, the Ezomo went by way of Okearo, the Ologbosere by Okelisa and the Imaran by Isikan and Isinkin.".
  20. 1 2 Ogbeide 2018, p. 200.
  21. ↑ Egharevba 1968, p. 44, "and the town was taken by assault.".
  22. ↑ Akintoye 1969, p. 552, "At Akure, the Deji was captured and beheaded and his son Osupa taken in captivity to Benin.".
  23. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 178, "The Benin soldiers successfully suppressed the Akure revolt.".
  24. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 132, "Slaves were among the tribute paid to the Oba of Benin.".
  25. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 27, "Benin a more vigorous state, and placed in the position of subduing her neighbours. The purchase of firearms initially depended on exchange for slaves, cloth and ivory.".
  26. ↑ Adegbulu 2010, pp. 88, "Thus, at the inception of Akure as a vassal community, Benin elements were already trading in the area. ".
  27. ↑ Adegbulu 2010, pp. 93, "Benin had had to suppress acts of rebellion from her vassals-Owo, Akure, Ipele, Ise, etc, on grounds of tribute payment, which Benin reacted to militarily.".
  28. ↑ Usuanlele & Falola 1994, pp. 303–318.
  29. ↑ Olugbadehan 2006, pp. 83.
  30. 1 2 Ogbeide 2018, p. 179.
  31. ↑ Ogbeide 2018, p. 179, "They were considered to have died in active service. Their success in the Akure War, however, was due to the support of additional contingents of soldiers and logistics from the Ikerres in eastern Yorubaland, and from Irrua – an Esan chiefdom.".
  32. 1 2 3 Egharevba 1968, p. 45.
  33. ↑ Roese & Smith 2000, pp. 75.

Bibliography

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