Kingdom of Benin
Kingdom of Benin Otedo | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The extent of Benin in 1625 | |||||||
| Status | Independent until 1897, currently a non-sovereign monarchy within Nigeria | ||||||
| Capital | Edo | ||||||
| Common languages | Edo | ||||||
| Religion | Edo Religion, Catholic Christianity | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Oba | |||||||
• 1180–1246 (first) | Eweka I | ||||||
• 1888–1897 | Ovonramwen[a] | ||||||
• 2016–present | Ewuare II[b] | ||||||
| History | |||||||
• Oba monarchy replaces Ogiso monarchy | 1180 | ||||||
• Conquered by the United Kingdom, integrated into Niger Coast Protectorate | 1897 | ||||||
• Ovonramwen dies in exile, his successor Eweka II rebuilds the monarchy under British suzerainty | 1914 | ||||||
| Currency | Cowries[1] | ||||||
| |||||||
The Kingdom of Benin[2] or Empire of Benin,[3][4][5] also known as Great Benin, is a traditional kingdom in southern Nigeria.[6] It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin,[7] 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;[8] it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897, but endured as a non-sovereign monarchy.[9]
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the empire reached the height of its prosperity, expanding its territory, trading with European powers, and creating a remarkable artistic legacy in cast bronze, iron, brass, carved ivory, and other materials.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Fage, J. D. (1980). "A Commentary on Duarte Pacheco Pereira's Account of the Lower Guinea Coastlands in His "Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis," and on Some Other Early Accounts". History in Africa. 7: 67. doi:10.2307/3171656. JSTOR 3171656.
- ^ "What was the Kingdom of Benin?". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Martin, J. P. (6 February 2017). African Empires: Volume 2: Your Guide to the Historical Record of Africa. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4907-7981-2.
- ^ Oronsaye, Daniel Nabuleleorogie (1995). The History of Ancient Benin Kingdom and Empire. D.N. Oronsaye. ISBN 978-978-33276-1-0.
- ^ DK (20 April 2023). History: The Definitive Visual Guide. Dorling Kindersley Limited. ISBN 978-0-241-64318-1.
- ^ Bradbury, R. E. (16 August 2018), "Continuities and Discontinuities in Pre-colonial and Colonial Benin Politics (1897–1951)", Benin Studies, Routledge, pp. 76–128, doi:10.4324/9781351031264-4, ISBN 978-1-351-03126-4, S2CID 159119713, retrieved 27 January 2023
- ^ "The kingdom of Benin". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Strayer 2013, pp. 695–696.
- ^ "The Kingdom of Benin | National Geographic Society". education.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 19 December 2022.