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Ogiso Monarchy
The were the earliest known ruling monarchy of the Edo kingdom of Igodomigodo, founded by Igodo, the first Ogiso. The monarchy began around 900 AD and lasted until the early 12th century when it was succeeded by the Oba monarchy. The Ogiso monarchy influenced the early sociopolitical structure of the region by introducing centralised governance and laying the foundations for the Benin Empire. Throughout its existence, the Ogiso monarchy had thirty-one rulers and notable among them were Ogiso Igodo, the first ruler, and Ogiso Ere, who implemented several administrative and cultural reforms. This era saw the establishment of settlements, the integration of various chiefdoms, and the growth of proto-urban centers, with Udo and Benin City being prominent examples. The decline of the Ogiso monarchy began with the rule of the last Ogiso, Owodo, whose reign was marked by internal conflict and public dissatisfaction. This led to his banishment and a period of interregnum, during wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal House
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchy, monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others. Historians periodization, periodize the histories of many states and civilizations, such as the Roman Empire (27 BC – AD 1453), History of Iran, Imperial Iran (678 BC – AD 1979), Ancient Egypt (3100–30 BC), and History of China#Ancient China, Ancient and Imperial China (2070 BC – AD 1912), using a framework of successive dynasties. As such, the term "dynasty" may be used to delimit the era during which a family reigned. Before the 18th century, most dynasties throughout the world were traditionally reckoned patrilineality, patrilineally, such as those that followed the Franks, Frankish Salic law. In polities where it was permitted, succession through a daughter usually established a new dynasty in her husband's family name. This has ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
City-state
A city-state is an independent sovereign city which serves as the center of political, economic, and cultural life over its contiguous territory. They have existed in many parts of the world throughout history, including cities such as Rome, Carthage, Athens and Sparta and the Italian city-states during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, such as Florence, Venice, Genoa and Milan. With the rise of nation states worldwide, there remains some disagreement on the number of modern city-states that still exist; Singapore, Monaco and Vatican City are the candidates most commonly discussed. Out of these, Singapore is the largest and most populous, and is generally considered to be the last real city-state left in the world, with full sovereignty, international borders, its own currency, a robust military, and substantial international influence in its own right. ''The Economist'' refers to it as the "world's only fully functioning city-state". Several non-sovereign cities enjoy a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoruba People
The Yoruba people ( ; , , ) are a West African ethnic group who inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, which are collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among the African diaspora. The vast majority of Yoruba are within Nigeria, where they make up 20.7% of the country's population according to Ethnologue estimations, making them one of the largest List of ethnic groups of Africa, ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers. Geography In Africa, the Yoruba culture, Yoruba are contiguous with the Yoruboid languages, Yoruboid Itsekiri to the south-east in the northwest Niger Delta, Bariba people, Bariba to the northwest in Benin and Nigeria, the Nupe people, Nupe to the north, and the Ebira to the northeast in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oduduwa
Odùduwà (Ooduwa, Odudua or Oòdua) was a Yoruba divine king, a creator deity (orisha) in the Yoruba religion, and the legendary figure who ushered in the classical period that later led to the foundation of the Ife Empire. His earthly origins are from the village of Oke Ora. According to tradition, he was the holder of the title of the ''Olofin'' of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba holy city. He ruled there briefly and also served as the progenitor of a number of independent royal dynasties in Yorubaland, with the praise names Olofin Adimula and Olofin Aye. While archaeologists and historians estimate Oduduwa's kingly existence to the ''Late Formative Period'' of Ife (800-1000CE), indigenous Yoruba oral chronology more properly places Oduduwa's as well as Obatala's era somewhere in between the 9th and 7th centuries BCE much closer to the founding of Ile-Ife, as well as explains the name Oduduwa an Obatala are powerfully symbolic names, so many would be princes within the Yoruba medi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ogiso Owodo
Owodo (, ) was the thirty-first and last ("king") of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom that later became part of the Benin Empire. His reign marked the end of the Ogiso era and initiated a transitional period that led to the establishment of the monarchy. Historical accounts describe his rule as being marked by political upheaval, economic challenges, and criticisms regarding his leadership. His administration experienced notable discontent—attributed to difficulties in managing the growing influence of the ("Great Nobles"), persistent economic challenges, and decisions regarding preferred sources of counsel. Ultimately, Owodo was deposed and banished, reportedly becoming the first to be removed from power. Owodo inherited a kingdom still recovering from the effects of the Great Famine (), which had destabilised the economy and weakened royal control. According to some sources, he did not succeed in curbing the increasing autonomy of regional nobles, who had expanded their p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Owodo
Owodo (, ) was the thirty-first and last ("king") of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom that later became part of the Benin Empire. His reign marked the end of the Ogiso era and initiated a transitional period that led to the establishment of the monarchy. Historical accounts describe his rule as being marked by political upheaval, economic challenges, and criticisms regarding his leadership. His administration experienced notable discontent—attributed to difficulties in managing the growing influence of the ("Great Nobles"), persistent economic challenges, and decisions regarding preferred sources of counsel. Ultimately, Owodo was deposed and banished, reportedly becoming the first to be removed from power. Owodo inherited a kingdom still recovering from the effects of the Great Famine (), which had destabilised the economy and weakened royal control. According to some sources, he did not succeed in curbing the increasing autonomy of regional nobles, who had expanded their p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arigho
Arigho () was the thirtieth (king) of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom that later became part of the Benin Empire. His reign occurred during the Great Famine, which had begun during the rule of his father, Ogiso Obioye. Although he had personal wealth prior to his ascension, Arigho inherited a kingdom facing economic challenges. To address the kingdom's financial instability, he implemented an economic reform known as , a "double payment" taxation system aimed at reducing the amount of currency in circulation and stabilising the economy. This policy increased the royal treasury but has been described as intensifying class divisions, with some accounts noting a rise in voluntary servitude among the lower classes. Additionally, Arigho's reign witnessed the emergence of the , described in oral traditions as a man-eating entity that disrupted commerce and travel. Arigho's reign lasted four years until his death in 1125. He left a treasury stored in the ("seven deeps"). He was succe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Obioye
Obioye () was the twenty-ninth ('king') of Igodomigodo, an early kingdom of the Benin Empire, reigning from 1119 to 1121. He was the son of Ogiso Oduwa and inherited a kingdom facing economic challenges. His rule was marked by a severe famine, which lasted from , causing economic crisis, inflation, and widespread starvation. In response to rising food prices and economic turmoil, Obioye nationalised cowries, limiting their circulation to stabilise the economy. His policies led to the term ('Obioye's money' or 'hard currency'), which became synonymous with inflation and high prices. He urged his people to reduce food consumption, leading to dissatisfaction and alienation of nobles and chiefs from the monarchy. As the famine worsened due to droughts, wildfires, and crop failures, Obioye's reign further weakened. His economic policies, though intended to curb inflation, proved largely ineffective, and many citizens migrated to escape starvation. He died around , reportedly from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ehenneden
Ehenneden, also spelled Hennenden, (born Egiebo, reigned ) was the twenty-sixth (king) of Igodomigodo, the early state that preceded the Benin Empire. His reign is documented as having involved economic expansion, administrative restructuring, and increased activity among guilds and artisans. Ehenneden strengthened the role of royal guilds in weaving, carving, and trade, which contributed to production and commerce. He also reorganised the ("Great Nobles"), granting them the authority to appoint sub-chiefs, oversee regional courts, and construct noble residences, actions that contributed to the governance structure. Following his death without a direct heir, succession disputes arose; ultimately, the selected Ohuede, a distant royal relative, as his successor, thereby marking the end of the Oriagba dynasty. Early life and ascension Ehenneden was born as Egiebo, the only recorded son of (King) Uwa of Igodomigodo (present-day Benin Kingdom). He was raised in a society where ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Uwa (Ogiso)
Uwa (died ) was the twenty-fifth (king) of Igodomigodo, a kingdom that later became part of the Benin Empire, from until his death. He was the son of Ogiso Odoligie and ruled during a period of political transformation shaped by earlier reforms. His reign saw the expansion of the Igodomigodo monarchy's influence from the River Oroghodo in the east to the River Ohosu in the west. He ordered the expulsion of the nobleman Ovio, an event that led to migrations towards present-day Delta State in Nigeria. Unlike his father, who had prioritised military campaigns, Uwa relied on diplomacy and political maneuvering to maintain authority. Trade expanded during his rule, with merchant guilds establishing networks reaching present-day Ghana, Dahomey, and the Niger River basin. Brass casting was introduced to the kingdom in this period, though it did not become widespread until the 13th century. Uwa was succeeded by his son, Ehenneden, who continued efforts to consolidate the kingdom's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
