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British conquest · January–February 1897

The British invasion of Benin

In January 1897 a British party under James Phillips, set on deposing the Oba, marched toward Benin City during a sacred festival and was ambushed at Ugbine; only two of its officers survived.

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Overview

In January 1897 a British party under James Phillips, set on deposing the Oba, marched toward Benin City during a sacred festival and was ambushed at Ugbine; only two of its officers survived. Within weeks Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson led about 1,200 marines, sailors and protectorate troops in three columns on the city, which fell on 18 February. Three days later fire destroyed the palace and much of the city. Some 2,500 works of art, the Benin Bronzes among them, were carried off and sold. Oba Ovonramwen surrendered, was tried and exiled to Calabar, and died there in 1914, the year his son Eweka II was crowned.[3],[4],[5]High confidence

Warrigi, Gilli Gilli, Sapoba and the creek mouths are placed approximately from period accounts.

Who took part

What happened

  1. 4 January 1897 · Ugbine (approximate)

    The ambush at Ugbine

    Phillips’ party, with some 250 men, presses on despite word that the Oba cannot receive visitors during the Ague festival. Benin warriors attack near Ugbine. Most of the officials and many porters are killed; Boisragon and Locke escape.

  2. 9 February 1897 · Warrigi, on the Benin River (approximate)

    The columns land

    The main column lands at Warrigi; the Gwato and Sapoba columns move up their creeks to divide Benin’s defenders.

  3. 18 February 1897 · Benin City

    Benin City taken

    After days of fighting along the forest roads, the British use rockets in the final advance and the defenders withdraw.

  4. 21 February 1897 · Benin City

    The city burns

    Fire destroys the palace and much of the city.

  5. From May 1897 · Benin City

    The bronzes sold

    About 40 per cent of the looted works go to the British Museum; the rest are auctioned to pay for the expedition, many to museums in Germany.

  6. August–September 1897 · Old Calabar (Duke Town)

    The Oba exiled

    Ovonramwen surrenders, is tried and deposed, and is exiled to Calabar with two of his wives. Six chiefs are hanged.

  7. 28 June 1899 · Benin City

    Ologbosere hanged

    The war chief Ologbosere, who fought on from the forest, is captured and executed: the end of organised resistance.[1]

  8. 24 July 1914 · Benin City

    Eweka II crowned

    Months after Ovonramwen’s death in exile, his son is crowned Eweka II. He rebuilds the palace and the craft guilds.[2]

Kingdoms involved

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

  1. Wikipedia contributors. General Ologbosere (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  2. Wikipedia contributors. Eweka II (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  3. Wikipedia contributors. Benin Expedition of 1897
  4. UK Parliament (Hansard). (1897). Benin Expedition. House of Commons debate, 22 February 1897 (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  5. Art Institute of Chicago. The British conquest of Benin and the Oba's return (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  6. HistoNaija owner. (2026). Owner's notes on the reach of Igala, Benin, Oyo and Aro, the British conquests, and migrations (hintsPrompts/doc1.md)