List of the kings of Dahomey
Dahomey was an African kingdom in what is now Benin , which existed from the early 17th century until it was colonized by France in 1894.
| king | Life dates | Kpojito | Reign | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gangnihessou | ???? - 1620 | |||
| Dakodonu | ? -1645 | Sava | 1620-1645 | Brother of Gangnihessou |
| Houegbadja | ? -1685 | Adulu | 1645-1685 | Nephew of Dakodonu, first ruler of the dynasty, whose center of power was in Abomey |
| Aqaba | ? -1708 | Adonon | 1685-1708 | Son of Houegbadja |
| Hangbe | 1716-1718 | Daughter of Houegbadja and twin sister of Akaba, regent for Akaba's underage son Agbo Sassa, deposed by her brother Agaja | ||
| Agaja | Adonon | 1718-1740 | Son of Houegbadja and brother of Akaba and Hangbe | |
| Tegbesu | ? -1774 | Hwanjile | 1740-1774 | Son of Agadya |
| Kpengla | 1735-1789 | Chai | 1774-1789 | Son of Tegbesu |
| Agonglo | 1766-1797 | Senume | 1789-1797 | Son of Kpengla |
| Adandozan | ? -1861 | Kento Basin | 1797-1818 | Son of Agonglo, overthrown in a coup by his brother Gézo |
| Gezo | before 1797-1858 | Agontime | 1818-1858 | Son of Agonglo and brother of Adandozan |
| Glele | 1814-1889 | Zoïndi | 1858-1889 | Son of Gezo |
| Behanzin | 1844-1906 | Kamlin | 1889-1894 | Son of Glele, went into exile after Dahomeys was conquered by the French in 1894. |
| Agoliagbo | ? –1940 | Kanai | 1894-1900 | Relative (brother?) Of Behanzin, employed by the French until a direct French administration was set up via Dahomey, went into exile in 1900 |
literature
- Robert Cornevin: Histoire du Dahomey . Editions Berger Levrault, Paris 1962.
- A. Le Hérissé : L'Ancien Royaume du Dahomey . H. Charles-Lavauzelle, Paris 1911.
- Melville J. Herskovits : Dahomey, an Ancient West African Kingdom . JJ Augustin , New York 1938.