Dahomey
started declining at the close of the 191h century, in 1892, the French
invaded Dahomey and took its leader Behanzin a captive and exiled him
to West Indies setting the last blow to the kingdom existence.
Factors to consider
I.
The vastness of the kingdom, by 1840, the kingdom swallowed most
territories including Ifebu, Savaloy, Idassa among others controlling
them from Abome, became difficult.
2. Weak
character of Behanzin, he murdered his own people especially those who
proposed the option of surrender 'this made him so un popular and his
people then resorted to supporting the French.
3.
The British act of disarming the Fon and stopping the importation of
guns into Dahomey deprived them with guns and this made them vulnerable
to British imperialism.
4. The Naye occasionally
influenced the king to take wrong decision, they , could misinform the
king about the activities of the chiefs, and this made the king to do
several mistakes which led to the downfall of the kingdom .
5.
The dictatorial nature of Dahomey kings, they over taxed their
subjects, sold them into slavery, this made the people hate traditional
rule, that's why when the French took over Dahomey in 1892, they
supported mem indirectly.
6. Decline in trade
activities due to the seizure of Port Novo in 1883 and denied the
kingdom the economic backbone necessary for protection of the kingdom
7.
The kingdom was hit by natural calamities like drought and famine as it
was located in poor Savannah and its capital was on a plateau.
8.Resistances
from vassel states militarily and economically weakened the kingdom
(those states wanted to break away from Dahomey), their breaking away
deprived the kingdom from tributes.
9. The kingdom
was torn apart by her over ambitious foreign policy, leaders invaded
other societies leaving them wounded and others captured e.g. in 1844,
Gezo invaded Egba and was defeated on 15th march I 864, Glele was defeated by Ketu. This militarily \weakened the kingdom and the French found an already weak kingdom.
10.
Death of able leaders like Gezo deprived the kingdom able leadership;
Behanzin who succeeded them could not overcome the dangers that
apparently facet the kingdom.
11. Weakness of
Glele, he had inferiority complex, he believed that he who makes powder
wins the battle meaning that he who could not j make powder (the gun)
could not defeat the whites, this was made worse when he opted to poison
himself rather than surrender the territory, this all made the kingdom
vulnerable to British rule.
12. The French invasion of Dahomey in 1892 marked the final collapse of the kingdom.
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