4.3 Imperial power of Oyo and Dahomey Flashcards
What characterized the rule of the alafins in Oyo?
They were regarded as divine kings, points of contact with the unseen world, and lived in seclusion surrounded by wives and officials.
They were subject to ritual murder or suicide and buried with sacrificial victims.
What was the significance of the Bere festival in Oyo?
It marked the acclimation of successful rule by the alafin and was expected to ensure peace in Yorubaland for three years.
All sub-rulers had to pay homage and renew their allegiance at this festival.
List the powers held by the alafin.
- Approved succession to all Oyo titles
- Highest judicial authority
- Direct control of the cult of Sango
- Commander of the Oyo army (lost this power in the C17)
- Appointed certain religious and government officials known as ilari.
What role did the ilari play in Oyo’s imperial structure?
They acted as spies and taxmen, and their ranks included judicial, religious, and administrative roles.
They were divided evenly among sexes and had titles referencing the king.
True or False: The alafin of Oyo had unchecked power.
False. His power was checked by the Oyo mesi and the Ogboni, which spoke for the politicians and the people, respectively.
What characterized Dahomey’s governance by the early 1600s?
A strong centralized government where the king appointed all positions of authority and subjects were subservient to him.
What was the Great Council in Dahomey?
The supreme decision-making body that represented all regions of the nation and met yearly to discuss issues.
Some historians argue it resembled a constitutional monarchy.
How did the kings of Dahomey reinforce their authority?
By manipulating traditions of dynastic legitimacy and engaging in public human sacrifices during the Annual Customs.
Who is credited with instituting the Annual Customs in Dahomey?
Agaja, in the early C18, as a continuation of the Grand Customs for his predecessors’ funerals.
Fill in the blank: The Annual Customs involved human sacrifices primarily of _______.
war captives.
What was the significance of the cult of Mawu introduced by Tegbesu?
It was aimed at consolidating his rule by gaining spiritual submission from subjects and controlling the worship of other deities.
How did Tegbesu address the legitimacy threat posed by Allada?
By reviving the kingship of Allada in a subordinate role and appointing a new Agasunon to consecrate Dahomey kings.
What was the Dahomian view of the kingdom’s relationship to the king?
The kingdom and its people were viewed as the property of the king, implying that their loyalty was tied to this ownership.
What did the term ‘redistribution’ refer to in the context of Dahomian authority?
The practice where revenues paid in taxes to the king were distributed in gifts to subjects rather than being appropriated.
True or False: The concept of the kingdom as the property of the king was primarily linked to military conquest.
False. It was more connected to the concept of the purchase of rights.
Highlight three examples where local cults were adopted to ensure imperial stability.
- The cult of Dangbe after the conquest of Whydah
- The worship of Sakpata, the earth deity
- The cult of Mawu established by Tegbesu.
What issues arise when political authority depends on the king’s redistributive functions?
It may create reliance on the king for resources and undermine independent local governance.
What was the basis of Dahomian authority according to tradition?
The purchase of rights
Kings of Dahomey acquired authority by purchasing land and its protecting gods.
How did the kings of Dahomey acquire political legitimacy?
By distributing gifts to subjects
This practice was seen as an expression of the king’s generosity, reinforcing loyalty among the populace.
True or False: The legitimacy of Dahomian kings was primarily based on military conquest.
False
Legitimacy was more connected to the concept of redistribution and gift-giving.
What was a significant action taken by Wegbaja to win the allegiance of the people?
Generosity in distributing gifts
This included customs of prostration and paying a share of agricultural produce as gratitude.
What was the ‘Platform Custom’ in Dahomey?
An annual event where the king distributed gifts to the people
Gifts included coral, swords, beads, axes, and textiles.
What role did the king’s monopoly over war captives play in Dahomey?
Increased the king’s capacity for largesse
This allowed the king to maintain a generous relationship with his subjects.
What was one of the laws established by Wegbaja?
Guaranteeing possession of wealth acquired by individuals
This law also forbade the sale of anyone born in Dahomey out of the country.
How did the Dahomian kings create an image of order and security?
By maintaining justice and preventing personal disputes
This was emphasized through royal authority and judicial centralization.
What was the consequence of the death of a Dahomian king in terms of order?
Anarchy and violence among royal wives
This was intended to emphasize the need for a stable government.
What was the role of the kpojito in Dahomey?
Female reign-mate to the king
They were central to struggles for legitimacy and control.
How did the kpojito help legitimize the king’s power?
By linking royal lineage to previous land owners
Myths described the founding of the royal lineage through significant female figures.
What significant female figure was associated with the height of the kpojito’s power?
Hwanjile
She was a powerful priest and assisted Tegbesu in consolidating power.
Fill in the blank: The palace population of women and eunuchs was called _____ .
ahosi
This term referred to royal wives and included a diverse group of individuals.
What was the significance of the ahosi in Dahomey?
Served as both state bureaucracy and king’s household
They were involved in various activities impacting national policy.
What principle allowed women in the palace to rise to positions of power?
Advancement through merit
Women could gain prestige based on hard work, intelligence, and political acumen.
Why were slave women considered more trustworthy in the palace?
They had no contacts with their patrilineages
This removed potential conflicts of loyalty.
What was a common challenge faced by heirs to the throne in Dahomey?
Struggles against their brothers
Control over the palace was key to maintaining power.
Why were slave women seen as more trustworthy?
How important were women in the accession of Dahomian rulers?
How did the kpojito use religion to stabilise imperial power?
What was the significance of palace control in the succession of Dahomian kings?
Control over the palace was key to control over the kingdom. Would-be kings sought this control to secure their claim.
Who was Tegbesu and what did he do upon his father’s death?
Tegbesu raced to the palace to take power as soon as he heard of his father’s death.
What military and political roles did women play in the Dahomey palace?
Women could aid or oppose a would-be king with military, political and religious power.
What was the role of the beta in the cult of the python of Whydah?
The beta were thousands of female novices who held significant power and commanded their husbands.
What challenges did Tegbesu face regarding the legitimacy of the dynasty?
Tegbesu faced a war of succession between rival princes and disputes over the legitimacy of the dynasty.
What actions did Hwanjile take to stabilize the monarchy?
Hwanjile reordered the hierarchy of the vodun to reflect the dynasty’s interests.
What was the significance of Mawu and Lisa in Dahomey?
Mawu and Lisa theoretically controlled all other vodun, reinforcing the monarchy’s authority.
How did Mawu and Lisa reinforce the ideological message of power in Dahomey?
They paired a female and male deity, establishing that power and authority derive from contrasting attributes.
What characterized the succession battles in Dahomey after Tegbesu’s death?
Bloody battles involving the palace and its female inhabitants characterized every kingly succession.
How many women were killed following Kpengla’s death in 1789?
595 women were killed over a two and a half day period.
What was the outcome of the battles that took place after Agonglo’s death in 1797?
About 250 died in the battles.
How did the monarchy’s legitimacy come into question after Tegbesu’s reign?
The monarchy faced continued questioning of its legitimacy following Tegbesu’s death.
What new emphasis emerged during Kpengla’s reign?
A new emphasis on the leopard founder of the Alladahonou.
What significant event occurred under Agonglo’s reign regarding Christianity?
Agonglo asked to install the Christian god in the palace, leading to the establishment of a shrine.
What was Agonglo’s motive for adopting Christianity?
He believed it would increase trade through Ouidah and garner arms from the Portuguese.
What led to Agonglo’s death?
He died in an attempted coup involving a conspiracy that included a palace woman who poisoned him.
Who led the attempt to seize power after Agonglo’s death?
A prince named Dogan led the first coup attempt.
What was a significant factor contributing to the power of women in the Dahomey court?
The loss of males through warfare and the fear of palace coups by potential male heirs.
