Houegbadja
Aho Houegbadja was the third king of Dahomey . He succeeded his uncle Dakodonu and ruled from 1645 to 1685.
Houegbadja was the first ruler of the dynasty, whose center of power was in Abomey : He founded the city by building his palace ("Agbome") in the middle of the ramparts. He is said to have been a wise ruler who was respected by his people. He enacted laws, appointed ministers and developed an efficient bureaucracy. To this end, he developed a religious cult and a political culture that were characteristic of Dahomey. Houegbadja's symbols were fish, fish trap and club.
Houegbadja's successor was his son Houessou Akaba .
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Dakodonu |
King of Dahomey 1645–1685 |
Houessou Aqaba |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Houegbadja |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ahoy Houegbadja |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | third king of Dahomey |
| DATE OF BIRTH | before 1645 |
| DATE OF DEATH | after 1685 |