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The Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Kingdom or Benin Kingdom, was a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom was "one of the oldest and most developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa". It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD, and lasted until it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897.
Igodomigodo is the original name of the Benin Empire used by its own inhabitants.
The Kingdom of Ugu is a kingdom that exists in Nigeria, in what is now Edo State. The Edo State is also called Benin, though it is not to be confused with the country. The Kingdom of Ugu originated out of Igodomigodo in Nigeria.
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The Igbesanmwan is a hereditary guild of ivory carvers in the Benin Kingdom, a pre-colonial African state located in present-day Edo State, Nigeria. Members of the Igbesanmwan guild hold the responsibility of crafting ivory items, including masks, tusks, staffs, leopards, and various other symbols denoting royal authority and eminence, for the Oba (king) and the royal court. In addition to their ivory craftsmanship, the Igbesanmwan possess proficiency in working with a range of other materials, such as wood, brass, and coral. This guild is recognised as one of the most ancient and esteemed in Benin, with their artistic work being widely appreciated for its aesthetic appeal and technical mastery.
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The Battle of Ekiokpagha was a military conflict that took place in 1255 AD on the Plains of Ogboka, near Benin City, between Ewedo and Ogiamien III, the head of a royal family in the Benin Empire. The battle was a result of a power struggle between the two parties, who had different claims to the throne and territory of Benin. Oba Ewedo was victorious and established his palace at the site of the battle. Ewedo recognized Ogiamien III as a chief under Ewedo's kingship. The battle and its aftermath have been reenacted in the coronation rituals of the subsequent Obas of Benin, as a symbol of the historical and traditional enmity between the Oba and the Ogiamien family.
A Short History of Benin is a non-fiction book by Jacob Egharevba, first published in 1934 by the Church Mission Society Press in Lagos. The book offers a historical perspective on the Benin Empire, a pre-colonial African state now part of Nigeria. The book is an English version of the author's earlier work in Edo, Ekhere Vb' Itan Edo, which was published in 1933. The book explores the beginnings, culture, and political structure of the Benin Empire, as well as the events leading to its British invasion and Ovonramwen's exile in 1897. It also includes a chronology of the Obas (kings) of Benin from the 13th to the 20th century.
Ehengbuda served as the eighteenth Oba (monarch) of the Benin Empire, with a reign from c. 1578 AD – c. 1606 AD. He was the son and successor of Orhogbua, the first Oba to establish contact with the Europeans. Ehengbuda expanded the Benin Empire to the west and east, and strengthened its control over several tributary states. He also interacted with the Portuguese and the English, and received gifts such as a telescope from them. His death in a maritime storm while returning from a visit to his colony in Lagos marked the end of the era of warrior kings in Benin history, as the subsequent Obas delegated the command of the military to their chiefs.
Ohuan, originally known as Prince Odogbo, was the nineteenth Oba of Benin who ruled from circa 1606 AD to 1641 AD. He was the only son of Ehengbuda, and he succeeded his father after his death. He is known for his unusual birth story, his rebellion against his Iyase Ogina, and his expansion of the Benin Kingdom through warfare. He died without an heir, leading to a succession crisis and a decline of the kingdom.
Olua was the fourteenth Oba of Benin who reigned from c. 1473 AD – c. 1480 AD. He was the second child of Ewuare. Olua's reign is noted for his actions and the establishment of the Itsekiri kingdom through his son Iginuwa.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Osadolor 2001, p. 77-78.
- ↑ Izevbigie 1978, p. 124.
- ↑ "Obas of Benin Kingdom". EdoFolks. 24 February 1935. Retrieved 6 December 2023.