Kingdom of Denkyira
Kingdom of Denkyira Denkyira | |||||||||||||||
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| 16th century | |||||||||||||||
Denkyira at its greatest extent, c. 1700 | |||||||||||||||
| Status | Former sovereign state; now a non-sovereign traditional kingdom in Ghana | ||||||||||||||
| Capital | Abankeseso (historical), Dunkwa-on-Offin (current) | ||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Twi | ||||||||||||||
| Religion | Akan religion and ancestor worship | ||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||
| Denkyirahene | |||||||||||||||
• c. 1637–1695 | Boa Amponsem I | ||||||||||||||
• 1695–1701 | Ntim Gyakari | ||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||
• Established | 16th century | ||||||||||||||
• Conquest of Adansi | c. 1659 | ||||||||||||||
| 1701 | |||||||||||||||
| 1824 | |||||||||||||||
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| Today part of | Ghana Ivory Coast | ||||||||||||||
| Akan people |
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Denkyira (also known as Denkira, Denchira, Inguira, or Dinkira) was a powerful Akan kingdom that rose to prominence in precolonial Ghana, dominating large parts of the forest zone in the south-central Gold Coast. Centered around its capital at Abankeseso, Denkyira emerged as a leading gold-producing polity and a formidable military power, particularly during the 17th century. It wielded considerable influence over neighboring states such as Adansi, Sefwi ,Aowin, Wassa, Assin, Twifo, and Kwaman, and played a critical role in shaping regional trade and warfare.
In 1701, Denkyira was defeated by the Asante Empire and became a vassal. After a failed rebellion in 1824, the Denkyirahene and his people escaped south of the Ofin River, and maintain a non-sovereign monarchy based in Dunkwa to the present day.