Benin empire army book

The kingdom of benin was located near the southern coast of west africa in a region which is today southern nigeria the modern state of benin is further along the coast to the west and named after the bight of benin. Benin bronzes looted by the british returned to nigeria. Queen mother pendant mask iyoba edo peoples benin plaques at the british museum. The kingdom of benin, also known as the benin kingdom, was a precolonial kingdom in what. Other countries desired benins impressive arts and crafts as well as the exotic crops produced by its farmers. May 16, 2015 this is one of many videos to come that will provide detailed descriptions of various historical african states and empires that are neglected and ignored in todays society. Benin s army was powerful and the oba enjoyed his wealthy lifestyle in the many exquisite palaces and courts of benin city. Bbc travel the legend of benins fearless female warriors. In the late 15th century, the kingdom of benin located in presentday. The fall of benin kingdom, february 18, 1897 gamji. As noted above, benins military earthworks are the largest of such structures in the world, and benins rivals also built. Aisiens encounter with the british army in ologbo was probably the episode which was cryptically referred to in dr.

After the war, ewuare rebuilt much of the city of benin, reformed political structures in the kingdom, greatly expanded the territory of the kingdom, and fostered the arts and festivals. It is not to be confused with benin, the postcolonial nation state. The passages from such books or maps used are identified in all my references. For a number of years, the belgian armed forces have had an active programme of cooperation with benin, offering training and coaching, donating redundant military equipment and using the country for limited military exercises. There was however a permanent warcaptain or field marshall next in the rank to the oba. The bonfires are located far apart from one another, but you can see the fire when its lit. Great benin, written by ling roth, the museum curatorbrother of dr. Aug 18, 2018 the precolonial benin kingdom or empire was located in what is today southern nigeria. Take a virtual tour of the permanent benin exhibit at the national museum of african art, a portion of the smithsonian institute. The benin empire was a precolonial empire located in what is.

The great benin empire made remarkable achievements in those preeuropean years, in art, science, administration, technology, political organization, architectures, astronomy, town. One of the most important events in the recent history of nigeria was the fall of the benin empire. Benin empire edo empire 1400 1960 nigeria is a large state in western africa which opens out onto the south atlantic ocean. The kingdom of benin, located in the southern forests of west africa modern nigeria and. The alleged flag of the kingdom of benin is an unidentified west african flag which was discovered in the territory of the former kingdom of benin. The image, which shows the coast of benin on 22 october 2010, uses a combination of infrared and visible light to increase the contrast between water and land.

Roth, and published in 1903, only six years after the war. Benin empire began as a trading town, later a city, in nigeria. Now, well over a hundred years later, two of those statues have been. The empire of benin and its cultural heritage revealing. Ife, which flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries, emerged as a major power in the forested areas west of the niger and south of edo pendant maskedo pendant mask of the queen. After the war, ewuare rebuilt much of the city of benin, reformed political structures in the kingdom, greatly expanded the territory of the. Africa benin the world factbook central intelligence. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of benin military 2020 information contained here. Yorubas living in benin republic, which was formerly dahomey, on the east side, oranmiyan never bothered benin kingdom because of his son, and his son never looked for him. The territory is a mix of rainforest, dry forest, and mangrove swamp.

Jun 23, 2014 hundreds of bronze artworks created under nigerias benin empire were looted by the british army during an 1897 raid. Ewuare became king in a violent coup against his brother uwaifiokun which destroyed much of benin city. Report broken link if you like our content, please share it on social media. The kingdom came to a sudden end in 1897, when a british army invaded and made it part of the british. When fully mobilized, the benin army was capable of mustering 30,000 to 50,000 men, usually organized in nine brigades. The precolonial benin kingdom or empire was located in what is today southern nigeria. Numerous africans were sold to the new world from the benin river, one of the five slave rivers of the bight of benin. Benins army was powerful and the oba enjoyed his wealthy lifestyle in the many exquisite palaces and courts of benin city. Apr 25, 2017 aisiens encounter with the british army in ologbo was probably the episode which was cryptically referred to in dr. Smith, in his book titled kingdoms of the yoruba, after examining the early history of some principal yoruba towns, especially in and around oyo, and the westward expansion in the l7th century of benin kingdom with its number of subject towns on or near to the coast, which included lagos, went on to say this about lagos in particular. How and when did the benin empire and the oyo empire collapse.

In his book, the military system of benin kingdom, 14401897, by osarhieme benson osadolor, m. Great benin is an african kingdom that at its height was a vast empire that streched across western africa. The people developed some unique things as their civilization developed. Normal topic hot topic more than 15 replies very hot topic more than 25 replies locked topic sticky topic poll.

From its base located in what is now nigeria, it became a large empire and by around the fifteenth century some sources say that it stretched from sierra leone to as far as congo. Jul 24, 20 one of the most important events in the recent history of nigeria was the fall of the benin empire. Precolonial political administration of the benin empire. Benin, one of the principal historic kingdoms of the western african forest region fl. The art of the kingdom of benin, not to be confused with the republic of benin, is most widely known for its bronze plaques. However, in africa, it is also known for its divine kings, mystical and magical warriors, native doctors, priests, wizards and witches. The benin empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in. The rise and fall of a mighty forest kingdom roese, peter m. His son eweka is regarded as the first oba, or king, of benin, though authority would remain for many years with a hereditary order of local chiefs. The benin kingdom was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of west africa, it was formed around. The guinness book of records 1974 edition described the walls of benin. Most of the people within the benin empire were edo. Lagos was in fact founded by a benin army and continued to pay tribute to the oba of benin until the end of the 19th century.

Its remnants lie in modernday benin, which occupies a. This study introduces the concept military system, discusses problems of sources. Later they began trading slaves too, providing benin with a great source of wealth. The oba of benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the edo people and all edoid people and head of the historic eweka dynasty of the benin kingdom. The origin of benin and its early rulers kingdom of benin. This is one of many videos to come that will provide detailed descriptions of various historical african states and empires that are neglected and ignored in todays society. Mar 5, 20 opia benin empire s knightly sword, the opia, was held by high ranking officers of the army. They lacked armor on the lower half of their body because that was covered by the chariot.

After ad 1700, benin kingdom began to decrease in both wealth and power. Felix roths account of the benin punitive expedition, as reported in the book. Rawsons troops captured, burned and looted benin city, bringing to an end the west african kingdom of benin. The use of iron and development of its technology in benin kingdom has had influences in the statebuilding process. Then in 1897, the city was destroyed by british soldiers looted. Feel free to submit interesting articles, tell us about this cool book you just read, or start a discussion about who everyones favorite figure of minor. Benin arose as a citystate in the late 1100s or 1200s and expanded into a larger kingdom or empire in the mid1400s.

It began in bce times and was not conquered until the 1800s by the british. Mar 5, 20 opia benin empires knightly sword, the opia, was held by high ranking officers of the army. The flag is believed to have been brought to the united kingdom by admiral f. Benin was a powerful kingdom in west africa from around 0 c. The details of all the battles and skirmishes during this campaign are beyond the scope of this article but will be the subject of a forthcoming book. What made this shape so popular is its ability to slice and pull as it cuts.

Then the next location sees the fire and lights their own, continuing the message to the next location. The kingdom of benin has produced some of the most renowned examples of african art. Royal arts of a west african kingdom art institute of chicago. It is entirely separate from the republic of benin, which was then known as dahomey. The oba a title used for the king of benin was the theoretical and political leader of the empire with absolute authority no one dares to challenge. The benin empire was a precolonial empire located in what is now southern nigeria. The ancient benin homeland not to be confused with the modernday and unrelated republic of benin, which was then known as dahomey has been and continues to be mostly populated by the edo also known as benin ethnic group. The benin empire was one of the oldest and most highly developed states in the coastal hinterland of west africa, dating perhaps to the eleventh century ce, until it was. At least there was no record of history of any transaction between father and son. Opia benin empires knightly sword, the opia, was held by. Late in the th century, royal power began to assert. At about 2pm on february 18, 1897, benin city, capital of independent benin kingdom, fell to troops commanded by british officers. According to tradition, at the beginning of the 17th century three brothers vied for the kingdom of allada, which, like neighbouring whydah now ouidah, had grown rich on the.

The majority of its population lives on the small southern. Heavy rains flooded parts of west and central africa in the rainy season of 2010, and among the hardesthit countries was benin. Over 50 amazing facts you never knew about the great benin. How and when did the benin empire and the oyo empire.

It should not be confused with the modernday country called benin, formerly called dahomey. On the 19th and 20th, houses of major chiefs were burnt after being looted. The benin armed forces fab forces armees beninoises constitutes the army, navy, air force, and national gendarmerie of benin. The benin kingdom situated in southcentral nigeria dates to approximately 900 a. The oyo empire collapsed around 1835, while the kingdom of benin was crushed by the british in 1897. The history of the great benin empire as a nation is the record of a state that was established 2300yrs before any contact was made with european inferior nation. The fascinating kingdom of benin ancient africa for kids. The oyo and benin empires demise arent connected, apart from sharing similar economic and social factors. The igbo and the benin, igala, and ijo mega states during the trans. There are an estimated 2,400 to 4,000 known objects including 300 bronze heads, elephant tusks, and 850 relief plaques. The original flag is currently held by the national maritime museum in greenwich near london.

Unlike a yoruba king, he was not bounded by the constitution or laws of the land. Edo warriors from the benin empire nigeria more from the benin empire mali empire west africa sudanese armor croco. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. It is bordered by togo to the west, nigeria to the east, burkina faso to the northwest, and niger to the northeast. Aside from benin city, the system of rule of the oba in the empire, even through the golden age of the kingdom, was still loosely based upon the ogiso dynastys tradition, which was military protection in exchange for pledged allegiance and taxes paid to the royal administrative centre. Hundreds of bronze artworks created under nigerias benin empire were looted by the british army during an 1897 raid. The development of a naval force and an army helped the benin. The ancient kingdom of benin began around ad900 although some sources suggest much earlier dates. Tradition asserts that the edo people became dissatisfied with the rule of a dynasty of semimythical kings, the ogisos, and in the th century they invited prince oranmiyan of ife to rule them. This blade style was frequently found in west and central africa. The dahomey amazons were frontline soldiers in the army of the kingdom of dahomey, a west african empire that existed from 1625 to 1894.

It opens with an introduction to the kingdom, court and culture of benin, which is. Its authority on the guinea coast was expanding through military conquests. The ancient benin homeland not to be confused with the modernday and unrelated republic of benin, which was then known as dahomey has been and continues to be mostly. The kingdom of benin s capital was edo, now known as benin city in edo state. It is bordered to the north by niger, to the east by cameroon, and to the west by the state of benin, which can cause some confusion, as nigeria itself was home to the benin empire which appeared at. The precolonial political administration of the benin empire, like that of the yoruba empire, was monarchical. Dahomey, kingdom in western africa that flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries in the region that is now southern benin. The book is an important examination of the phenomenon of african. The benin bronzes depict them with various swords and guns, but exactly what types of weapons. The kingdom of benin, also known as the benin kingdom, was a precolonial kingdom in what is now southern nigeria. Formed in the th century ce as a state proper, the. Command structure of the benin army in the 19th century 192 20. The polity later grew after the formation of the yoruba states and ruled by the ogiso dynasty, as related by oral traditions.

The first, or ogiso, dynasty lasted until 1170, at which time yoruba rule was imposed from the city of ife. Republique du benin and formerly known as dahomey, is a country in west africa. Oba ewuare also ewuare the great or ewuare i was the king of the benin empire from 1440 until 1473. The history of ancient benin kingdom and empire oronsaye, daniel nabuleleorogie on. May 30, 2018 the oyo and benin empires demise arent connected, apart from sharing similar economic and social factors.