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

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To outsiders, particularly non-African writers, the nature and character of the different phasesof state formation in Benin, that is, the large-scale organisation of the kingdom and empire,were developments which seem possible only in the savannah area. This is why Alan Ryderalso asked similar questions: on why Benin departed from a political pattern seemingly inharmony with its social structure and suited to its physical environment, a physicalenvironment where the tropical forest hindered communications that were essential to largescaleorganisation. 34Attempts have been made by writers from different disciplines to throw light on anumber of questions being asked about Benin. Since 1957 when the Scheme for the Study ofBenin History and Culture was set up, 35 different research projects have been studying theoral history, language, social and political institutions, economic organisation, the religion,the art, and other aspects of Benin. The literature on Benin studies suggest that scholars aremore interested in the art of Benin than any other aspect of its heritage and history. No studyof the military system has been embarked upon except a few research on aspects of themilitary history of Benin. 36For the more recent works on Benin history, the state of knowledge has progressedbeyond explaining as well as describing events in the past or of what the history is all about.Rather, the presentation of conflicting views of particular periods and problems, albeit, withinthe context of general interpretations, has deepened the understanding of the historical detailsof the Benin past. The challenge of prevailing views concerning the chronological data, theorigin of Benin, the Ogiso period, the origin of the Eweka dynasty, and the rise of Beninseems to be the sources of disagreement among the historians of Benin. The issues presentedin the debates have helped in the understanding of the evidence, the arguments and themethods used by academic and non-academic historians, and other writers. The debates havealso stimulated interests in historical reconstruction, in knowing what happened and why ithappened, and how different writers, viewing the same event, have attempted to answer thequestions being asked about Benin. In some cases, the subject matter being investigated or the34 Ryder, 1967, “The Rise,” p. 27.35 Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike was appointed the Director. For the research agenda of the Benin HistoricalResearch Scheme, see K. O. Dike, “The Benin Scheme”, Ibadan No. 1, October 1957; K. O. Dike, “The BeninScheme Begins”, Corona, IX September, 1957 and K. O. Dike, “Benin: A Great Forest Kingdom of MedievalNigeria”, The UNESCO Courier, No. 10, October 1959.36See for example, P. M. Roese, 1992, “Kriegführung und Waffen im alten Benin (Sudnigeria),Ethnographisch-Archaeologische Zeitschrift, Jahrgang 33, Heft 3 Berlin: Germany; B. W. Blackmun, 1983,“Remembering the Warrior Kings”, In: Ben-Amos, P. Girshick and A. Rubin, (eds.) The Art of Power, thePower of Art Los Angeles: Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA;and M. P. Roese, A. R. Rees and G. K.Maliphant “Defence Systems of the Benin Empire”, West African Journal of Archaeology 7, 1977. See also, S. J.Barnes and P. Ben-Amos, 1983, “Benin, Oyo, and Dahomey: Warfare, State Building, and the Sacralization of12
theory held by the historian, has dictated the facts which were significant in their selection.Consideration of the examples given below will throw more light on this discussion.For instance, the clarification of the chronology of the history of Benin kingdom isstill being debated. The kinglist published by Jacob Egharevba, and the one collected fromIsekhurhe, the priest of the royal ancestors do not agree with the lists published by Europeanwriters. Alan Ryder believes that the conflicting interpretations has been due to the problemsin early European accounts. According to him, “it is true that European visitors to Beninlacked a sense of history, and either asked or recorded nothing about the origins of the stateand its dynasty.” 37 The accuracy of the time-frame for the kinglist is one of the issues in thedebate. The chronologies are suspected to be highly speculative and do not seem to have beenverified by corresponding sources. Stefan Eisenhofer addressed the issues in his recentwork, 38 in which he argues that chronological conclusions are problematic for now. This isbecause the authenticity of the chronological data has not been established as Egharevbaconnected the reigns of Benin kings with specific years, and he is being queried for forcinghis African oral material into a linear European time scheme and the framework specified byEuropean written sources.Apart from this problem, debates about the origin of Benin, and the origin of Ewekadynasty have raised more controversial issues than the disagreement over chronological data.The claim by Jacob Egharevba that “many, many years ago, the Binis came all the way fromEgypt”, although “tradition says that they met some people who were in the land before theirarrival” 39 is been disputed by local historians, most families, the royal family, and some otherwriters. In spite of this disputation, major lines of new interpretation of the origin of Beninoften provoke a reconsideration of the subject. 40 Philip Igbafe points out the reason for this.According to him, a great deal of confusion has been introduced into the study of Beninhistory by the mixture of the origin of the people with the origin of the ruling dynasty. 41 Withthe exception of Daniel Oronsaye who also claim Egyptian origin for Benin, 42 most writersare disclaiming the migration theory. This denial is supported by the fact that among theIron in West African History”, Expedition (The University Museum Magazine of Archaeology/Anthropology,University of Pennsylvania. Vol. 25, No. 2, Winter. pp.5-14.37 A. F. C. Ryder, 1965, “A Reconsideration of the Ife-Benin Relationship,” Journal of African History, Vol. VI,No. 1, p.25.38 Stefan Eisenhofer, 1997, “The Benin Kinglist/s: Some Questions of Chronology”, History in Africa 24, pp.139-156.39 Egharevba, 1968, Short History, p. 1.40 See for example, John K. Thornton, 1988,“Tradition, Documents, and the Ife-Benin Relationship” History inAfrica 15, pp. 351-362.41 Philip A. Igbafe, 1981, “Benin in the Pre-Colonial Era” Tarikh vol.5 no. 1, p. 2.42 D. N. Oronsaye, 1995, The History of Ancient Benin Kingdom and Empire. Benin City: Jeromelaiho Printers,pp. 1-12.13
Page 1 and 2: THE MILITARY SYSTEM OF BENIN KINGDO
Page 3 and 4: DECLARATIONI, Osarhieme Benson Osad
Page 5 and 6: DEDICATIONTo my childrenOsayomwanbo
Page 7 and 8: 3.7 Intelligence and Logistics .. .
Page 9 and 10: MAPS, CHARTS AND FIGURES1. Map 1: B
Page 11 and 12: Hamburg for the grants for final wr
Page 13 and 14: CHAPTER ONE________________________
Page 15 and 16: points: First, although much is kno
Page 17 and 18: Nonetheless, writers are still inte
Page 19 and 20: formation, also attempted to interp
Page 21 and 22: second factor was the penetration o
Page 23: though not necessarily the most imp
Page 27 and 28: forward in the 1950s and 1960s dwin
Page 29 and 30: esearch on the more remote Ogiso pe
Page 31 and 32: concern and activity that dominated
Page 33 and 34: surrounding villages. Attempts at t
Page 35 and 36: institutions, organisation and reso
Page 37 and 38: First, that every military system h
Page 39 and 40: elationship between warfare and the
Page 41 and 42: in part from colonial experience, a
Page 43 and 44: Notwithstanding the methodological
Page 45 and 46: The indigenous knowledge system of
Page 47 and 48: traditionsl has been the need to mo
Page 49 and 50: Udo. This Portuguese military assis
Page 51 and 52: The evidence were weighed and the o
Page 53 and 54: historians cannot even begin their
Page 55 and 56: founding of social and political in
Page 57 and 58: have been reconsidered in this chap
Page 59 and 60: dynamics of state formation process
Page 61 and 62: Not much is known of the pre-Ogiso
Page 63 and 64: knowledge based on oral traditions,
Page 65 and 66: egan call the area Ubini. 15 A Beni
Page 67 and 68: fourth, an Ile-Ife origin of the pr
Page 69 and 70: integration of the large political
Page 71 and 72: their religion, history, government
Page 73 and 74: This is not to deny the fact that t
Page 75 and 76:
principles to which political power
Page 77 and 78:
Development of Politico-Military Id
Page 79 and 80:
millennium with the integration of
Page 81 and 82:
forbidden by Ere’ and at once, pe
Page 83 and 84:
the other hand, the Edionnisen led
Page 85 and 86:
Among the writers who have studied
Page 87 and 88:
with their ‘village sovereignty
Page 89 and 90:
as its rise. With the restoration o
Page 91 and 92:
The evidence from Benin military hi
Page 93 and 94:
CHAPTER THREE______________________
Page 95 and 96:
he was bound to take the advice of
Page 97 and 98:
The re-organisation of the structur
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domestic economy, in wars of conque
Page 101 and 102:
Ryder argues that the “upheaval b
Page 103 and 104:
continued with the policy of consol
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leadership in Benin was determined
Page 107 and 108:
Oba. 57 Although ties existed betwe
Page 109 and 110:
their role, the military establishm
Page 111 and 112:
At the end of the sixteenth century
Page 113 and 114:
1440 when the state was reorganised
Page 115 and 116:
withdrawing occasionally from state
Page 117 and 118:
Command Structure of Benin Army, 14
Page 119 and 120:
federation of villages organised th
Page 121 and 122:
state. The weapons produced enabled
Page 123 and 124:
Figure 2: The Queen Mother (Iyoba)
Page 125 and 126:
Figure 4: A Benin warrior with Flin
Page 127 and 128:
The weapons of war and the methods
Page 129 and 130:
what to do. Although the conditions
Page 131 and 132:
logistics had a function to perform
Page 133 and 134:
task.” 145 Third, confronted with
Page 135 and 136:
In a work published in 1668, Olfert
Page 137 and 138:
CHAPTER FOUR_______________________
Page 139 and 140:
period has been examined within the
Page 141 and 142:
Warfare, Warriors and the Slave Tra
Page 143 and 144:
abandonment of Oyo claims in the ar
Page 145 and 146:
during this period is strong eviden
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whose head was sent to the Oba of B
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In an era in which the ruling class
Page 151 and 152:
In the first half of the seventeent
Page 153 and 154:
king. 78 In spite of the problems b
Page 155 and 156:
espects, which provided the basis f
Page 157 and 158:
Chief was Ogina during the reign of
Page 159 and 160:
The Osuma, who was fourth in the hi
Page 161 and 162:
long-range effect had been politica
Page 163 and 164:
One account claims that both Ehennu
Page 165 and 166:
Members of the War Council 1600-180
Page 167 and 168:
The Oba's Security Council1600-1800
Page 169 and 170:
at the end of the seventeenth centu
Page 171 and 172:
In establishing a new guild to atte
Page 173 and 174:
Figure 6: A Benin warrior in a war
Page 175 and 176:
Figure 8: Benin art work showing a
Page 177 and 178:
adhere to methods used in a past ca
Page 179 and 180:
1800, and the military system was m
Page 181 and 182:
CHAPTER FIVEBENIN MILITARY SYSTEM D
Page 183 and 184:
two eldest sons of the assassinated
Page 185 and 186:
social structure of the Benin socie
Page 187 and 188:
chiefs were apprehensive of the imp
Page 189 and 190:
series of revolts within the empire
Page 191 and 192:
eturn journey to Benin. They were c
Page 193 and 194:
chiefdoms in the north. During this
Page 195 and 196:
society. It may have responded firs
Page 197 and 198:
The Iyase of Benin, 1700-1897The Of
Page 199 and 200:
Benin Army in the Akure campaign; t
Page 201 and 202:
military leaders in Benin City. Thi
Page 203 and 204:
Benin War Council in the Nineteenth
Page 205 and 206:
Surveillance and CollaborationThe m
Page 207 and 208:
internal security are lacking due t
Page 209 and 210:
the nineteenth century in Yorubalan
Page 211 and 212:
The interest of the Oba in the mili
Page 213 and 214:
victory. This can be interpreted to
Page 215 and 216:
the nineteenth century, which final
Page 217 and 218:
In doing this, this chapter also di
Page 219 and 220:
Ovonramwen. 11 For the purpose of t
Page 221 and 222:
The contents of this treaty suggest
Page 223 and 224:
From the foregoing, Phillip’s dis
Page 225 and 226:
of kernels which were in demand in
Page 227 and 228:
seems to be that Phillips was going
Page 229 and 230:
not wait because he had so much wor
Page 231 and 232:
The nature and character of the Bri
Page 233 and 234:
of the command problem was such tha
Page 235 and 236:
ush.’ 82 On 18 February 1897, the
Page 237 and 238:
force that invaded Benin was not a
Page 239 and 240:
Guerrilla Warfare after the Fall of
Page 241 and 242:
British conquest and the establishm
Page 243 and 244:
The guerrilla war completely disrup
Page 245 and 246:
CHAPTER SEVEN______________________
Page 247 and 248:
eaching campaigns which extended vi
Page 249 and 250:
to the debate appears to be quite u
Page 251 and 252:
Benin. Over the centuries, Benin’
Page 253 and 254:
was not a mere figurehead but a pol
Page 255 and 256:
similar, the erudition of each writ
Page 257 and 258:
30052 Idanre District of Ondo Provi
Page 259 and 260:
Chief of Southern NigeriaTreaties:C
Page 261 and 262:
List of InformantsSerialNo.Name Occ
Page 263 and 264:
Ibadan, 1967.Awe, B. A.Babayemi, S.
Page 265 and 266:
Ijoma, J. O. “The History of the
Page 267 and 268:
Adegbola, E. A. A. (ed.) Traditiona
Page 269 and 270:
Ben-Amos, D.“Animals in Edo Visua
Page 271 and 272:
Bradbury, R. E.“Continuities and
Page 273 and 274:
African Journal of Archaeology 6, 1
Page 275 and 276:
Hopkins, A. G.“European Expansion
Page 277 and 278:
Law, R. C. C.Lloyd, P. C.Lloyd, P.
Page 279 and 280:
Kingdom of Benin,” Tribus 45, 199
Page 281 and 282:
Wescott, R. W.“Ancient Egypt and
Page 283 and 284:
Ben-Amos, Girshick P.The Art of Ben
Page 285 and 286:
Davidson, B.The lost Cities of Afri
Page 287 and 288:
Egharevba, J. U. Okha Edo. Lagos: C
Page 289 and 290:
Educational Books Nigeria Ltd., 198
Page 291 and 292:
Matthews, NoelMaurice, F.Morgan, Ga
Page 293 and 294:
Shinnie, M. Ancient African Kingdom
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THE MILITARY SYSTEM OF BENIN KINGDOM, c.1440 - 1897

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