List of rulers of the Yoruba state of Oyo

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Oyo, Oyo State, is the seat of the line of the rulers of Oyo. Their territory, a constituent rump state, is located in what is now Nigeria. Since the 1900 political absorption into Southern Nigeria of the kingdom that it once served as a metropolitan center, the traditional monarchy has been either a tool of British indirect rule or a legally recognised traditional polity within the republic of Nigeria.

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In the Yoruba language, the word 'oba' means ruler or king. It is also common for the rulers of the various Yoruba domains to have their own special titles. In Ọ̀yọ empire, the oba is referred to as the Aláàfin , meaning owner of the palace.

List of Alaafins of Oyo [1]

TenureIncumbentNotes
c.1300 Foundation of Oyo Empire
c. 1300 Oranyan , Alaafingrandson or some say son, of Oduduwa, founder of an Ife dynasty and ancestor to most kings of Yorubaland.
??? Ajaka , AlaafinSucceeded his father, Oranyan. He was said to be a peaceful and calm king, unlike his father, and brother, and his peacefulness caused his more angry and powerful brother to take over and overthrow him.
??? Shango , AlaafinAnother son of Oranyan, he was appointed by the Oyo Mesi after dethroning his brother, Ajaka, he reigned for 7 years, after which he became regarded as an orisha having been combined with Jakuta, an earlier orisha in Yoruba mythology
??? Ajaka (restored), AlaafinAjaka returned to the throne after the death of his brother.
??? Aganjusola , AlaafinLikely a younger son of Ajaka who succeeded his father. He was said to have tamed many wild animals, and he reigned for an incredibly long time. He is synonymous with the Yoruba deity of the same name
c. 1400 Kori , AlaafinSucceeded his father, Aganju, who died while he was still a child. The Kingdom was overseen by his mother, Iyayun as regent. He waged a war with the town of Ede. Under Kori, the city of Oyo Ile expanded to include the region referred to as metropolitan Oyo. He is also regarded to have reigned over 50 years making him the longest reigning Alaafin.
 ??? Oluaso , AlaafinSucceeded his father, Kori. He was said to be handsome and had up to 1,460 children by his hundreds of wives. O ni ki ogbogbo Oluaso, O le je iya Oluaso – is a saying often interpreted as he living a long but challenging life. Father of the royal dynasties of Ondo town and Ile-Oluji.
c. 1500 - c. 1542 Onigbogi , Alaafin Nupe expanded to occupy Oyo's capital, driving the Alaafin away from his capital in 1500. He fled to take refuge with the Borgu
c. 1542 Ofiran,AlaafinCrowned a King in exile after a period of regency by his Mother, Oba Adasobo. He is sometimes considered the 10th Alaafin when the regency of Iyayun and Adasobo are counted. He retook some of Oyo's original territory from the Nupe.
c. 1550 Eguguojo , AlaafinCreated Igboho as new capital.
1554 - 1562 Orompoto , AlaafinSister of Eguguojo, and first break of the Father-Son succession pattern since Aganju succeeded Ajaka. Drove many Nupe away from Oyo in 1555. Continued to record victories throughout her reign.
1562 - 1570 Ajiboyede , AlaafinStarts the First Bere festival under reign.
1570 - 1588 Abipa , AlaafinBorn 20 years after the Fall of Oyo-Ile. Rebuilt Oyo-ile back as capital after 80 years in 1580
1588 - 1599 Obalokun , AlaafinEuropeans bringing salt arrive in Oyo during reign of Obalokun. Period of effective expansion. Bringing the Ibolo to the east, and the Ibarapa to the west under direct Oyo control
???? to ???? Oluodo , AlaafinDrowned in the Niger River during a battle against the Nupe who were still threatening Oyo and undermining Oyo interest in the Okun region
???? Ajagbo , AlaafinFirst Alaafin to wear the Sesefun crown. He also created the Aare Ona Kankanfo title
???? to 1659 Odarawu , AlaafinFirst recorded Alaafin to get overthrown by the Oyo Mesi.
1659 - 1665 Kanran , AlaafinHe was killed during a mutiny of his army, after refusing to obey orders to commit suicide.
1665 - 1676 Jayin , AlaafinTyrant who was overthrown by Oyo mesi.
1676 - 1690 Ayibi , AlaafinOlusi's son, who was a minor. Basorun ruled as regent until he was of age. Then, he became tyrannical and was rejected by the Oyo mesi. During this time Allada was attacked twice, eventually coming under Oyo in 1698
1690 - 1692 Osiyago , AlaafinAssassinated after a dynastic dispute between his two heirs.
c. 1724 to 1735 Ojigi , AlaafinHe conquered the Dahomey Kingdom in 1730
c. 1735–1746 Gberu , AlaafinHe conferred Basorun title to his friend, Jambu, out of fear of the existing Basorun's power. Jambu then engineered Gberu's rejection and ruled as regent, then committed suicide as well.
c.1746 Amuniwaiye , AlaafinAssassinated by a personal enemy
c. 1746 to 1754 Onisile , AlaafinHe was rejected by the Oyo mesi.
July 1754 Labisi , AlaafinHe never formally ruled, and was instead on the 17th day of his installation ceremony compelled to commit suicide by Bashorun Gaa
July 1754 to October 1754 Awonbioju , AlaafinHe ruled for about 130 days, before being compelled to suicide by Bashorun Gaa
1754 to c.1768 Agboluaje , AlaafinHe was forced to commit suicide by Bashorun Gaa after refusing to declare war against the town of Ifonyin
c.1768 to 1774 Majeogbe , AlaafinBrother of Agboluaje
1774 to April 1789 Abiodun , AlaafinDefeated Bashorun Gaa with the support of Oyabi, the Aare Ona Kakanfo in 1774. The Egba got their independence during his reign
1789 to 1796 Awole Arogangan , AlaafinSon of Agboluaje, he installed Afonja of Ilorin as Aare Ona Kakanfo, a distant relative to the Oyo royal family. He was overthrown by Afonja and his army where he committed suicide by poison.
1796 to 1797 Adebo , AlaafinHe ruled for about 130 days, he died likely by suicide or murder
1797 Makua , AlaafinHe ruled for only two months
1797 to 1802vacant, vacantThe Bashorun Ashamu served as regent during this period
1802 to 1831 Majotu , AlaafinIs said to have been quite old when he ascended the throne. During his reign Ilorin seceded from Oyo and in 1823 Dahomey under Ghezo got their independence
1831 to 1833 Amodo , AlaafinIlorin invaded in 1833 and sacked the palace after a long siege
1833 to 1835 Oluewu , Alaafinthe Fall of Oyo empire after the Eleduwe war.
1837 to 1859 Atiba Atobatele (at new capital), AlaafinSon of Alaafin Abiodun. During his reign Oyo fled south to its current location, where it was known as "Oyo-Atiba." He maintained influence over cities like Ijaye and Ibadan by given titles to their leaders while continuing to call himself 'emperor' and maintained the claim to rule over Yoruba speaking areas even outside his influence. He is the common ancestor of all successive Alaafin of Oyo, and his thirteen sons make up the modern Oyo ruling house.
1859 to 1875 Olujide Adelu Agunloye , AlaafinEldest son of Atiba. He was chosen by Atiba to ascend the throne after him.
1876 to 12 November 1894 Adeyemi I Alowolodu , AlaafinA son of Atiba. He was the last independent Alaafin of Oyo. Signed Treaty with the British on July 3, 1888. On November 12, 1894, the town of New Oyo was bombarded and brought forcibly under British colonial rule.
12 November 1894 to 1905 Adeyemi I Alowolodu (as British Vassal), Oba
1905 to 1911 Lamidi Amubieya Agogoja (as British Vassal), ObaEldest son of Alaafin Adelu
1911 to 1944 Siyanbola Onikepe Oladigbolu I (as British Vassal), ObaSon of Agogoja
1944 to 1945 Regent (as British Vassal), Oba
1945 to 1955 Adeyemi II Adeniran (as British Vassal), ObaSon of Adeyemi I
1955 to 1956 Regent (as British Vassal), Oba
1956 to 1960 Bello Gbadegesin Oladigbolu II (as British Vassal), ObaSon of Alaafin Oladigbolu I
1960 to 1968 Bello Gbadegesin Oladigbolu II (as Nigerian Traditional Monarch), Oba
19 November 1970 to 22 April 2022 Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (as Nigerian Traditional Monarch), Oba
ALAAFIN OBA ADEYEMI III .jpg
Son of Alaafin Adeyemi II

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Alaafin of Oyo: Wo Alàáfin 43 tó jẹ́ láti ìgbà ìwásẹ̀ ṣáajú Lamide Adeyemi tó ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wàjà". BBC News Yorùbá (in Yoruba). 24 April 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
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