Second Franco-Dahomean War

Second Franco-Dahomean War
Part of the Scramble for Africa
Battle of Dogba, 19 September 1892
Date 4 July 1892 – 15 January 1894 Location Ouémé Department and Zou Department of modern Benin Result Dahomey conquered and incorporated as a French protectorate
Belligerents
Dahomey	France
Commanders and leaders
Béhanzin	Alfred-Amédée Dodds
Strength
8,800 Dahomey Regulars 1,200 Dahomey Amazons	2,164 French soldiers 2,600 Porto-Novo porters
Casualties and losses
2,000–4,000 combat deaths over 3,000 wounded	85 combat deaths 440 wounded 205 disease deaths

The Second Franco-Dahomean War, which raged from 1892 to 1894, was a major conflict between the French Third Republic, led by General Alfred-Amédée Dodds, and the Kingdom of Dahomey under King Béhanzin. The French emerged triumphant and incorporated Dahomey into their growing colonial territory of French West Africa.

In 1890, the Fon kingdom of Dahomey and the French Third Republic had gone to war in what was remembered as the First Franco-Dahomean War over the former's rights to certain territories, specifically those in the Ouémé Valley. The Fon ceased hostilities with the French after two military defeats, withdrawing their forces and signing a treaty conceding to all of France's demands. However, Dahomey remained a potent force in the area and quickly re-armed with modern weapons in anticipation of a second, decisive conflict.

After re-arming and regrouping, the Fon returned to raiding the Ouémé Valley, the same valley fought over in the first war with France. Victor Ballot, the French Resident at Porto-Novo, was sent via gunboat upriver to investigate. His ship was attacked and forced to depart with five men wounded in the incident. King Benhanzin rejected complaints by the French, and war was declared immediately by the French.

The French entrusted the war effort against Dahomey to Alfred-Amédée Dodds, an octoroon colonel of the Troupes de marine from Senegal. Colonel Dodds arrived with a force of 2,164 men including Foreign Legionnaires, marines, engineers, artillery and Senegalese cavalry known as spahis plus the trusted tirailleurs. These forces were armed with the new Lebel rifles, which would prove decisive in the coming battle. The French protectorate kingdom of Porto-Novo also added some 2,600 porters to aid in the fight.

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