Benin Empire
| Benin Empire | ||||||||||
| Edo | ||||||||||
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 The extent of Benin in 1625
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| Capital | Benin City (then called Edo) | |||||||||
| Languages | Edo | |||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | |||||||||
| King/Emperor (Oba) | ||||||||||
| • | 1180–1246 | Eweka I | ||||||||
| • | 1440–1473 | Ewuare (1440–1473) would expand the city-state to an empire | ||||||||
| Ovonramwen (exile 1897) | ||||||||||
| • | 1978–2016 | Erediauwa I (post-imperial) | ||||||||
| • | 2016- | Ewuare II (post-imperial) | ||||||||
| History | ||||||||||
| • | Established | 1180 | ||||||||
| • | Annexed by the United Kingdom | 1897 | ||||||||
| Area | ||||||||||
| • | 1625 | 90,000 km² (34,749 sq mi) | ||||||||
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| Today part of |
 Nigeria
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The Benin Empire was a pre-colonial empire located in what is now southern Nigeria. Its capital was Edo, now known as Benin City, Edo. It should not be confused with the modern-day country called Benin, formerly called Dahomey. 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 annexed by the British Empire in 1897.
The original people and founders of the Benin Empire, the Edo people, were initially ruled by the Ogiso (Kings of the Sky) dynasty who called their land Igodomigodo. The rulers or kings were commonly known as Ogiso. Igodo, the first Ogiso, wielded much influence and gained popularity as a good ruler. He died after a long reign and was succeeded by Ere, his eldest son. In the 12th century, a great palace intrigue and battle for power erupted between the warrior crown prince Ekaladerhan son of the last Ogiso and his young paternal uncle. In anger over an oracle, Prince Ekaladerhan left the royal court with his warriors. When his old father the Ogiso died, the Ogiso dynasty was ended as the people and royal kingmakers preferred their king's son as natural next in line to rule.
The exiled Prince Ekaladerhan later become Izoduwa or Oduduwa the first Oni in uhe (ile ife). Oranmiyan, grand son of Oduduwa took up his abode in the palace built for him at Usama by the elders (now a coronation shrine). Soon after his arrival he married a beautiful lady, Erinmwinde, daughter of Osa-nego, was the ninth Enogie (Duke) of Ego, by whom he had a son. After some years residence here he called a meeting of the people and renounced his office, remarking that the country was a land of vexation, Ile-Ibinu (by which name the country was afterward known) and that only a child born, trained and educated in the arts and mysteries of the land could reign over the people. He caused his son born to him by Erinmwinde to be made King in his place, and returned to Yoruba land Ile-Ife. After some years in Ife, he left for Oyo, where he also left a son behind on leaving the place, and his son Ajaka ultimately became the first Alafin of Oyo of the present line, while Oranmiyan himself was reigning as Oni of Ife. Therefore, Oranmiyan of Ife, the father of Eweka I, the Oba of Benin, was also the father of Ajaka, the first Alafin of Oyo. Oni of Ife and Alafe of Oyo.
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Wikipedia