Kpengla
Encyclopedia
Kpengla was the seventh King of Dahomey
. He succeeded Tegbessou
, and ruled from 1774 to 1789.
Kpengla's reign increased the size of the kingdom. He killed the chief of the Popo
people, Agbamou, thus extending the empire into what is currently Togo
. He destroyed the villages of Ekpe and Badagry
(in what is now Nigeria
), which were interfering with Dahomey
's regional monopoly on the slave trade. His main symbol is the akpan bird, a trade gun (flintlock
s became the standard issue to the Dahomean army during his reign), and a Dahomey Amazon
striking her head against a tree (a reference to a humorous war story stemming from one of his military campaigns).
Kpengla was succeeded by Agonglo
.
Dahomey
Dahomey was a country in west Africa in what is now the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful west African state that was founded in the seventeenth century and survived until 1894. From 1894 until 1960 Dahomey was a part of French West Africa. The independent Republic of Dahomey...
. He succeeded Tegbessou
Tegbessou
Tegbessou was the sixth King of Dahomey. He succeeded Agadja, and ruled from 1740 to 1774.Tegbessou's reign was characterized by internal intrigues and a failed foreign policy; he killed many coup-plotters and political enemies, refused to pay tribute to the Yorubas, and lost many battles in the...
, and ruled from 1774 to 1789.
Kpengla's reign increased the size of the kingdom. He killed the chief of the Popo
Popo
Popo may refer to:* El Popo, an active volcano in Mexico* Mr. Popo, a character in the manga and anime series Dragon Ball* Popo , a 1951 jazz album by Shorty Rogers and Art Pepper* A slang term for a police officer-Places:...
people, Agbamou, thus extending the empire into what is currently Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
. He destroyed the villages of Ekpe and Badagry
Badagry
Badagry is a coastal town and Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is situated between Metropolitan Lagos, and the border with Benin at Seme...
(in what is now Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
), which were interfering with Dahomey
Dahomey
Dahomey was a country in west Africa in what is now the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful west African state that was founded in the seventeenth century and survived until 1894. From 1894 until 1960 Dahomey was a part of French West Africa. The independent Republic of Dahomey...
's regional monopoly on the slave trade. His main symbol is the akpan bird, a trade gun (flintlock
Flintlock
Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. The term may also apply to the mechanism itself. Introduced at the beginning of the 17th century, the flintlock rapidly replaced earlier firearm-ignition technologies, such as the doglock, matchlock and wheellock...
s became the standard issue to the Dahomean army during his reign), and a Dahomey Amazon
Dahomey Amazons
The Dahomey Amazons or Mino were a Fon all-female military regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey which lasted until the end of the 19th century...
striking her head against a tree (a reference to a humorous war story stemming from one of his military campaigns).
Kpengla was succeeded by Agonglo
Agonglo
Agonglo was the eighth King of Dahomey. He succeeded his father, Kpengla, and ruled from 1789 to 1797.Agonglo made several reforms which pleased his subjects: taxes were lowered, and a greater distribution of gifts was made during the annual customs...
.