3.5 Importance of military

Question 1

When does the first use of firearms date to?

Answer 1

Oba Esigie

Question 2

Evidence for firearms not being used.

Answer 2

None of the C16 chroniclers mentions the existence of firearms.

Question 3

Evidence for firearms being used.

Answer 3

Egharevba argues the Portuguese mercenaries had firearms which was decisive in the Idah invasion.

Question 4

The use of firearms was limited to who in the Benin Kingdom?

Answer 4

The Oba and his commanders.

Question 5

When was the Idah invasion?

Answer 5

1515-16

Question 6

How were armies managed/owned in Benin?

Answer 6

Armies were privately owned.

Question 7

Who were the two units of royal regiment?

Answer 7

• Ekaiwe (royal troops)
• Isienmwenro (royal guards)

Question 8

Who were the four leaders of the Benin army?

Answer 8

• Oba
• Iyase
• Ezomo
• Edogun

Question 9

What was the roles of the Iyase?

Answer 9

• General commander of combined armies
• Responsible for the town chiefs (eghaevbo n’ore)

Question 10

When did the Iyase first get the responsibility of leading troops into battle?

Answer 10

Early C16 under Esigie.

Question 11

What did the State Council decide under Ehengbuda about the iyase?

Answer 11

• The iyase not allowed to reside near the palace
• Not allowed to return after conquering a large town
• No other iyase allowed to be appointed under his death.

Question 12

What was the Ezomo position?

Answer 12

• Usually a reward to an outstanding warrior.
• In charge of the metropolitan regiment in Edo.

Question 13

What was the Edogun?

Answer 13

The war chief and commander of the royal troops.

Question 14

What weapons did Benin have?

Answer 14

bows & poisoned arrows
spears
swards
assegais
crossbow

Question 15

How was the army organised?

Answer 15

Warriors were separated in divisions of swordsmen, archers, spearmen, crossbowmen.

Question 16

What was the assegais?

Answer 16

A slender iron-tipped spear.

Question 17

How big an army could the oba raise?

Answer 17

Could mobilise 20,000 soldiers in a day.
Could raise an army of 80-100k men.

Question 18

Why did the Benin warriors not use horseback?

Answer 18

Because of the density of the rainforest.

Question 19

How did warriors sustain themselves on campaign?

Answer 19

They would loot local farms.

Question 20

Give an example of a defensive fortification?

Answer 20

Ewuare dug a moat around Edo.

Question 21

What changed in the C17 and C18?

Answer 21

The iyase displaced the oba as the supreme military commander.

Question 22

When did iyase Ogina rise in revolt against Oba Ohuan?

Answer 22

early years of C17

Question 23

How did the obas try to regain control?

Answer 23

• Exersising a royal monopoly over European trade.

Question 24

What was the main difficulty faced by the obas in reestablishing control over Benin?

Answer 24

His power depended on the army, which was controlled by the iyase.

Question 25

How many different types of guns were imported into Benin?

Answer 25

Between 1757 and 1806, 805 different types of guns were imported by European slave traders.

Question 26

What Oba re-established control in Benin?

Answer 26

Oba Akenzua