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CIVIL WAR IN THE KINGDOM OF BENIN, 1689–1721: CONTINUITY OR POLITICAL CHANGE?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2002

PAULA BEN-AMOS GIRSHICK  and
JOHN THORNTON
PAULA BEN-AMOS GIRSHICK
Affiliation:
Indiana University
JOHN THORNTON
Affiliation:
Millersville University
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Abstract

Using a combination of oral tradition and written documents, the authors show that Benin’s civil war was a fundamental transformation of political structure, and not simply an isolated struggle. Before 1640, Benin was centrally governed by its king with the assistance of a royally appointed administration. Difficulties in succession, coupled with changing trading patterns, allowed the administration to gain some independence and then to challenge the kings, taking away some power. The civil war matched different levels of the administration and the kings against each other, and transformed Benin from a centrally governed to a more collectively governed kingdom.

Keywords

Benin Kingdomwestern Africakingdoms and statesprecolonial
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 42 , Issue 3 , February 2001 , pp. 353 - 376
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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