Kingdom of Whydah
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom of Whydah sometimes written Hueda, was a kingdom on the coast of West Africa
in the boundaries of the modern nation of Benin
. Between 1677 and 1681 it was conquered by the Akwamu
a member of the Akan people. It was a major slave trading post. Of 1700, it had a coastline of around 10 miles (16.1 km); under King Haffon
, this was expanded to 40 miles (64.4 km), and stretching 25 miles (40.2 km) inland.
The kingdom, whose last ruler of this land was King Haffon
, was centered in Savi
.
ese name Xwéda. When the Portuguese
first settled the southern coast of West Africa
, they spelled the name Ajudá. Today the city of Ouidah
bears the kingdom's name.
The name was received because most of the European
slave traders lived and worked in the port city of Ouidah.
was reserved for the royal family. The king was considered immortal
, despite successive kings dying of natural causes. Interregna, even of only a few days, were met by plundering and anarchy
. Wives were isolated and protected by their husbands; fathers with more than two hundred children had been recorded. Three public objects were the subject of devotion: some lofty trees, the sea, and a type of snake.This snake was the subject of many stories and incidents; worshipped perhaps because it ate the rats who would otherwise ruin the harvest. Priest
s and priestesses were held in high regard, and immune from capital punishment. The king could field 200,000 men, but these were "so weak and cowardly" that they could easily be defeated. In comparison, other estimates range upward from twenty thousand, although contemporary interpretation is generally that these armies were of "overwhelming size". Battles were normally won by strength of numbers alone, with the weaker side fleeing.
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
in the boundaries of the modern nation of Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. Between 1677 and 1681 it was conquered by the Akwamu
Akwamu
The Akwamu was a state set up by the Akan people in Ghana which existed in the 17th century and 18th century. Originally immigrating from Bono state, the founders settled in Twifo-Heman. The Akwamu created an expansionist empire in the 16th and 17th century...
a member of the Akan people. It was a major slave trading post. Of 1700, it had a coastline of around 10 miles (16.1 km); under King Haffon
King Haffon
Haffon was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Whydah before it was captured by the forces of Dahomey in 1727.Born in 1695, Haffon became King of Whydah in 1708. He was not crowned in a formal ceremony at Savi until April 1725. His coronation party included 40 of his favorite wives...
, this was expanded to 40 miles (64.4 km), and stretching 25 miles (40.2 km) inland.
The kingdom, whose last ruler of this land was King Haffon
King Haffon
Haffon was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Whydah before it was captured by the forces of Dahomey in 1727.Born in 1695, Haffon became King of Whydah in 1708. He was not crowned in a formal ceremony at Savi until April 1725. His coronation party included 40 of his favorite wives...
, was centered in Savi
Savi
Savi was the capital of the Kingdom of Whydah prior to its capture by the forces of Dahomey in 1727.Prior to the conquest of the city it had a circumference of about four miles...
.
Name
The name "Whydah" (also spelt Whidah or Whidaw) is an anglicised form of the BeninBenin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
ese name Xwéda. When the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
first settled the southern coast of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, they spelled the name Ajudá. Today the city of Ouidah
Ouidah
Ouidah , also Whydah or Juda, is a city on the Atlantic coast of Benin.The commune covers an area of 364 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 76,555 people.-History:...
bears the kingdom's name.
The name was received because most of the European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
slave traders lived and worked in the port city of Ouidah.
Life inside Whydah
According to one European account visiting in 1692–1700, Whydah exported some thousand slaves a month, mainly from the interior of Africa. For this reason, it has been considered a "principal market" for human beings. When the king could not supply the European traders with sufficient slaves, he would supplement them with his own wives. Robbery was common. Every thing in Whydah paid a toll to the king, but corruption amongst collectors was endemic. Despite this, the king was wealthy, and clothed in gold and silver—goods of which little was known in Whydah. He commanded great respect, and, unusually, was never seen to eat. The color redRed
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
was reserved for the royal family. The king was considered immortal
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
, despite successive kings dying of natural causes. Interregna, even of only a few days, were met by plundering and anarchy
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
. Wives were isolated and protected by their husbands; fathers with more than two hundred children had been recorded. Three public objects were the subject of devotion: some lofty trees, the sea, and a type of snake.This snake was the subject of many stories and incidents; worshipped perhaps because it ate the rats who would otherwise ruin the harvest. Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s and priestesses were held in high regard, and immune from capital punishment. The king could field 200,000 men, but these were "so weak and cowardly" that they could easily be defeated. In comparison, other estimates range upward from twenty thousand, although contemporary interpretation is generally that these armies were of "overwhelming size". Battles were normally won by strength of numbers alone, with the weaker side fleeing.
External links
- The Ouidah Museum of History. History of Xweda