Kingdom of Benin
Kingdom of Benin Otedo | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The extent of Benin in 1625 | |||||||
| Status | Independent until 1897, currently a non-sovereign monarchy within Nigeria | ||||||
| Capital | Edo | ||||||
| Common languages | Edo | ||||||
| Religion | Edo Religion, Catholic Christianity | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Oba | |||||||
• 1180–1246 (first) | Eweka I | ||||||
• 1888-1897 | Ovonramwen | ||||||
• 2016-present | Ewuare II | ||||||
| History | |||||||
| 1180 | |||||||
| 1897 | |||||||
| 1914 | |||||||
| Currency | Cowries | ||||||
| |||||||
The Kingdom of Benin, also known as Great Benin, is a traditional kingdom in southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom was one of the oldest and most developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa. It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD; it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897, but endured as a non-sovereign monarchy.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the kingdom reached the height of its prosperity, expanding its territory, trading with European powers, and creating a remarkable artistic legacy in cast bronze, iron, brass, carved ivory, and other materials.
