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War · 1843–1864

Dahomey against Abeokuta

Free of Oyo after 1823, Dahomey under King Gezo raided its Yoruba neighbours every year for captives, some sold to European and American slavers and some sacrificed in its royal rites.

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Overview

Free of Oyo after 1823, Dahomey under King Gezo raided its Yoruba neighbours every year for captives, some sold to European and American slavers and some sacrificed in its royal rites. Egba towns were taken from 1843. In 1851 Gezo's army, with its famous women soldiers, attacked Abeokuta itself and was beaten in a decisive battle; Dahomey tried again in 1864 and was beaten again. The Egba leaders, among them the merchant Efunroye Tinubu, built the confederacy that became the Egba United Government.[1],[2],[3]High confidence

Who took part

What happened

  1. March 1851 · Abeokuta

    Abeokuta holds

    The Egba defeat Gezo's army under the town walls.[1],[2]High confidence

  2. 1864 · Abeokuta

    Dahomey beaten again

    A second Dahomey assault on Abeokuta fails.[1]High confidence

Kingdoms involved

Sources

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

  1. Wikipedia contributors. Abeokuta
  2. Wikipedia contributors. Egba United Government
  3. Wikipedia contributors. Oyo Empire