The Rise and Fall of the Kingdom of Dahomey

Описание: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Abomey plateau became the cradle of a new West African entity: the kingdom of Dahomey. Governed by the Fon or Agasuvi, this realm emerged from the Aja peoples, uniting various Aja communities under the rule of Abomey's kings. By the 19th century, Dahomey had carved out a reputation as one of West Africa's most formidable military powers. Its military might commanded both fear and admiration from neighboring states and left a lasting impression on European visitors.

Despite British efforts to end the slave trade, Dahomey's leadership actively participated in and defended this lucrative enterprise. The trade brought significant wealth and prosperity to the kingdom, and its leaders contended that they would not cease their involvement without a viable economic alternative. They even engaged with Queen Victoria, sovereign of the world's vastest empire, sniggering on the inadequacy of British proposed subsidies to compensate for the abolition of the slave trade revenues.

Foundation of the Kingdom
Dahomey's ascent from modest beginnings is deeply rooted in traditions that trace back to the Fon people, an offshoot of the Aja, originating from Tado, their ancestral home and migration hub. The narrative begins with Agassu, the progeny of a Tado princess. According to Abomey lore, Agassu was born of a leopard, a belief underscoring the belief that the rulers of Dahomey were imbued with the leopard's formidable spirit. Conversely, the Gun of Porto Novo offer a different origin, asserting Agassu's paternity as Adimola, a Yoruba hunter.

These contrasting accounts not only enrich the tapestry of Dahomey's history but also reflect the nuanced dynamics of its identity and psychology. They highlight the dichotomy between the Fon's assertion of staunch independence and the acknowledgment of Abomey's initial subordinate relationship to the Oyo Empire by the Gun.