ABSTRACT
This work has been able to examine the growth and development of Benin military system and the socio-economic impact on the ancient Benin military formation, by first looking at the emergence and extent development of Benin kingdom before the reign of Oba Esigie in the 16th century. And later, how Oba Esigie military and economic reforms affected the growth and expansion of the empire. This research work went further to examine why and how the monarchy responded to these changes and reforms brought about ancient Benin military system.
The economic diplomatic reforms brought into Benin kingdom by the tides of change brought about by the reign of Oba Esigie contributed in large part to the growth of Benin kingdom from just a thriving kingdom in the coastal part of present day south-western Nigeria into the international arena, and of course a major target of European imperialism.
This study introduces the concept ‘military system’, discusses problems of sources, methodology and periodization in African and Benin history (chapter 1) and addresses aspects of Benin’s political and military history before 1440 (chapter 2). Chapter 3 focuses on the development of the military during the era of warrior kings from c.1440 to 1600, a period that witnessed the expansion of the state through warfare mounted virtually in all directions. Chapter four discusses changes in the military during the 17th and 18th centuries within the context of domestic political constraints, leading to fluctuations in the military power of Benin. This was a period of active trade between Benin and the Europeans, affecting the balance of power between rival elements in Benin. Events closely associated with the development of the military in the 19th century – the most critical century in the history of Benin – are dealt with in chapter 5. Chapter 6 re-examines the Anglo-Benin military confrontation of February 1897 and offers a new perspective on the events which led to the conflict and its aftermath. The concluding chapter discusses the relevance of this study’s findings for current debates in Benin historiography.
Numerous historians have attributed the fledging economy of Benin from the 16th century to its contact with the Europeans especially the Portuguese- prior to this contact, Benin traded with local African states in local African produce which were mainly agricultural produce. However, with the Portuguese presence in the delta areas made Benin who was in charge of the trade in palm oil in Benin River to expand and improve her economy. Benin business men and traders now traded in European product of ivory, coral beads and commercial gold. As a result, the guild system blossomed. Important coral beads were monopolized and ritualized by the monarchy and nobles class.
Indeed, the contact with the Portuguese’s imparted greatly on the general Ediod high culture. The point been made is that contact with the Portuguese helped Benin to expand its fledging realm of the 15th century into a buoyant kingdom and empire of later centuries. Infact, the institution of kingship appropriated considerable mystique and power from Portuguese contact and from Portuguese management of Benin high culture. Although the Oba struggled to assert his authority over the palace and village chiefs in the early days of the rulers of the sky, the arrival of the Portuguese and the wealth they brought helped the Oba to consolidate his power and to form a stronger centralized state.
Benin royal institution during the reign of Oba Esigie took advantage of the opportunity offered by the Portuguese or Benin European trading partners not only to grow, but also to consolidate the king’s power. This means of course that the Benin royal institutions were already matured even before the arrival of the Portuguese, and were sophisticated enough to bend the new opportunity to the kings advantage.
However, the question which often arises from this close relationship between Benin an the Portuguese since the Portuguese have recurrent in Benin history is; was there a Portuguese-Benin military alliance? Some historians have asserted that there existed a direct involvement of the Portuguese in Benin military campaigns. In contrary, others have asserted that there was nothing as Portuguese-Benin military alliance. It in line with this that peter P. Eke asserted that such benefits as did accrue to Benin institutions especially such institution controlled by the king of Benin in the course of Benin-Portuguese relations were indirect rather than direct. in other words, the Portuguese did not participate in Benin institution neither did they direct Benin affairs. Contrary to this claim, other scholars have equally added another layer of interpretation claiming that there was indeed a direct Portuguese participation in Benin public affairs. Peter Ekeh sees this later interpretation as an exaggeration on the part of Benin historians of a supposed alliance between Benin and Portugal well beyond what the written Portuguese record can bear. However, the establishment of Lagos (Eko ) as a war camp by Oba Orogbua in the 1500s shows that Benin benefited from Portuguese influence militarily, since Orogbua had been trained in Portugal in one of their naval schools, therefore he understood the power of navigation and sea power because Portugal power as at then was based on naval power. On his accession to power, he organized expedition to establish control over the present day coastline of Nigeria.
Furthermore, during the Benin Idah war, the Portuguese fought in the side of the Benin soldiers. Infact tradition abounds which proved that it was the Portuguese fire power which was at the time strange to both the Binis and the Igalas that laid waste to the Idah battle formation. Inspite of the fact that it was Idia, the queen mother’s head slave that killed and beheaded the Attah war general as asserted by J.U Egharevba. It could be argued therefore that there existed a kind of military alliance between Benin and the Portuguese. this is so because notable historians like AdemolaIyi-Eweka, and Osariemen Benson Osadolor in his impressive doctoral thesis on Benin kingdom military system have argued along the same line. The success of Esigies reign and it attendant economic boom imparted greatly on the kingdom and his successor enjoyed this achievement until the 19th century when new and unfavorable development by way of British pressure and the Fulani jihad began to emerge, with the attendant of fresh war attack on northern Edo borders by the Nupe. All this eventually resulted in it decline and ultimately its fall in 1897.
However, Oba Esigie during his reign in the 16th century was able to consolidate power in all spheres, and left Benin empire better than he met it. He ruled for almost half a century and died in 1550 after which his son and successor took over the throne as Oba Orogbua of Benin kingdom.
