Denkyira

Denkyira
1500 (16th century)–1701 (18th century)
Akan Heraldic Flag
Location of Denkyira (bottom-left of map); The core area of the Ashanti Nation (green marking) and Denkyira (bottom-left of map) at the beginning of the 1890s.
Capital		Dunkwa-on-Offin
Languages		Ashanti (Ashanti Twi)
Religion		Ashanti Ancestor worship religion and mythology
Government		Monarchy
King
•	1637 to 1695	Boa Amponsem I
•	1695 to 1701(last of indep. Denkyira)	Ntim Gyakari
History
•	Established	1500 (16th century)
•	Renamed Upper Denkyira and Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira of Central Ashantiland on the Ashantiland Peninsula	1957
•	Dissolved into Ashanti Empire	1701 (18th century)
Preceded by Succeeded by Bonoman Ashanti Empire Central Region (Ghana)

Akan Heraldic Flag

Denkyira was a powerful nation of Akan people that existed on peninsula Ashantiland from 1620. Like all Akans they originated from Bono state. Before 1620 Denkyira was called Agona. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirahene and the capital was Jukwaa. The first Denkyirahene was Mumunumfi.

Later the capital of Denkyira moved to Abankeseso. The Denkyira state capital is now Dunkwa-on-Offin. Denkyira became powerful through gold production on the peninsula Ashantiland and trade with Europe.

In the 1690s, wars took place between Denkyira and the Asen and Twifo-Heman. The goal of these struggles was to keep open the trade routes to the coast of the peninsula Ashantiland.

The Denkyira state dominated the trade with Europeans in Western Ashantiland on the peninsula Ashantiland while the Akwamu dominated trade with Europeans in Eastern Ashantiland on the peninsula Ashantiland. The Denkyira state dominated the neighboring states apart from the Akwamu and Akyem, and Ashanti Empire was a tributary to Denkyira until 1701, when it was defeated by the Ashanti in the Battle of Feyiase, and became a tributary to the Ashanti Empire. This was led by Ntim Gyakari the then Denkyirahene. Ntim Gyakari was the illegitimate son of Osei Tutu who was then a prisoner when the Ashantis were under the Denkyira. On fleeing he Osei Tutu also allowed him to go with Okomfo Anokye who became the chief priest for the Ashantis.