The Igala–Benin War was a short conflict between the Igala Kingdom and the Kingdom of Benin that happened from 1515 to 1516.
| Igala–Benin War (1515 – 1516) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of European exploration of Africa | |||||||
 Benin kingdom warriors | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Benin Portuguese Empire |
Igala KingdomTraitor from Benin | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Queen IdiaOba Esigie |
Ata of IgalaChife Ohliah † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown but Portuguese mercenaries and artillery deployed | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Background
The Igala–Benin War was declared when the previous Oba of Benin converted to Christianity to trade with Portuguese, some of Benin nobles did not accept that and betrayed the Oba for the Ata of Igala.[1]
The War
The Igala–Benin War's outcome was significantly influenced by two key factors. Firstly, the war took a dramatic turn when the servant of Queen Idia managed to assassinate the Igala general,[2] disrupting their command structure and weakening their forces. Secondly, under the reign of Oba Esigie, the Benin Kingdom benefited from Portuguese firepower and military assistance, giving them a significant advantage in terms of weaponry and tactics.[2] These combined factors played a crucial role in Benin's victory and the relatively easier path to success during this historical conflict.
Aftermath
This 'minor' war played a significant role in the Afro-Portuguese relations in the 16th century. It also played a role in slavery by the Europeans since the Benin Kingdom sold slaves to the Portuguese and other European merchants.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Falola & Salau 2021, p. 101.
- ^ a b Gunsch 2017, p. 120.
- ^ French 2021, p. 88.
Bibliographies
- Falola, T.; Salau, M.B. (2021). Africa in Global History: A Handbook. De Gruyter Reference (in Italian). De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-067801-7. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- Gunsch, K.W. (2017). The Benin Plaques: A 16th Century Imperial Monument. Routledge Research in Art History. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-67946-9. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- French, H.W. (2021). Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War. Liveright. ISBN 978-1-63149-583-0. Retrieved 21 September 2023.