THE MILITARY SYSTEM OF BENIN KINGDOM, c.1440 - 1897

society relations which presupposes the state to be different from society is a Western liberalidea.” 26 His view a is reaction to the position of Robert Maclver who stressed the distinctionbetween the state and society in a democracy. 27 In an overview of pre-colonial Africa, JohnLonsdale points out that state-society relations varied from total indifference to completeabsorption. 28 This was dependent, any way, on the nature of political organisation.The political culture of Benin during the precolonial period seem to suggest that therewas no clear distinction in state-society relations. The social order was the channel ofadministrative role, and the rank or privileges which were only granted by a reigning kingcould not be withdrawn by another. The outstanding landmarks of the state-societyrelationship in the kingdom of Benin were the changes in the organisational structure of thestate through the redistribution of offices among the different orders of chiefs in the society.As will be seen in the subsequent chapters of this study, the monarchy manipulated therelations between the state and society through the redistribution of administrativecompetences. It was the main political weapon of the Oba in the ‘distribution of authority’ tobalance the competition for position, power and prestige.The evidence of military-state relations in Benin is glaring from the subordination ofmilitary authorities to the state. Benin law and custom seemed to have properly defined therelationship of military power to civil authority. This is because, in spite of the fact that thekings of the Eweka dynasty were beset by severe power rivalries, Benin tradition has norecord of any military chief taking over the position of the Oba. The power struggles led tofundamental changes in the military organisation of the state. The role of the Oba as suprememilitary commander of the army was terminated in early seventeenth century. Further changeswere made in the military command during the eighteenth century, and by the nineteenthcentury, two alternative commands emerged in the Benin army. This was the situation ofmilitary-state relations until the British invasion of February 1897.On the other hand, military-society relations in Benin was basically the relationshipbetween the military and social structure. This was more problematic than the relationsbetween the military and state. This was due to two factors, the first, being the leadership andcomposition of the army , and how the military strata related with the strata of society. The26 Victor Azarya, 1988, “Reordering State-Society Relations: Incorporation and Disengagement,” In: DonaldRothchild and Naomi Chazan (eds.), The Precarious Balance, p.10.27 See Robert M. Maclver, 1948, “The Community and the State,” In: Robert M. Maclver (ed.) The Web ofGovernment. New York: Macmillan, pp.192-208.28 John Lonsdale, 1981, “States and Social Processes in Africa.” Other studies have supported his position. SeeStephen D. Krasner, 1984, “Approaches to the State: Alternative Conceptions and Historical Dynamics,”Comparative Politics, Vol. 16, No. 2; Martin A. Klein (ed.), 1980, Peasants in Africa: Historical andComparative Perspectives. Beverly Hills: Sage.8