Oyo Empire
If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics
Was a powerful Yoruba empire of West Africa made up of parts of present-day eastern Benin and western Nigeria.
Establishment
January 1301: The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today Benin and Western Nigeria.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Were two conflicts between France and the Kingdom of Dahomey (in Benin) that ended with the French conquest of the latter.
1.1.First Franco-Dahomean War
Was a conflict between France and the Kingdom of Dahomey (in Benin).
October 1890: The French emerged triumphant against Dahomey after winning the Battle of Abomey.
January 1536: Sometime around 1535, the Nupe occupied Oyo and forced its ruling dynasty to take refuge in the kingdom of Borgu. The Nupe sacked the capital, destroying Oyo as a regional power.
January 1609: The Oyo Empire is re-established as more centralized and expansive country than ever.
January 1701: Establishment of Ajasse Ipo in Nigeria.
January 1701: Eguguojo, a powerful warrior and leader of the Oyo Empire, conquered nearly all of Yorubaland by 1700.
January 1709: Under King Haffon the territory of Whydah was expanded to 64 km coast, stretching 40 km inland.
January 1715: In 1714, the territory of Ogwashi-Uku was conquered by the powerful Oyo Empire.
January 1749: The Yoruba of the Oyo Empire invaded Dahomey seven times before finally subjugating the small kingdom in 1748.
January 1785: In 1784, the Kenu state was founded in the territory that includes Kenu and Gwanara.
January 1801: Obologunjogbon Asasara Okuta becomes the first king of the chiefdom of Efron.
January 1801: At the start of the 19th century Ilorin was a border town in the northeast of the Oyo Empire, with a mainly Yoruba population but with many Hausa and Fulani immigrants. It was the headquarters of an Oyo General, Afonja, who rebelled against the empire and helped bring about its collapse with the assistance of the Fulani. The rebellion was powered by Nupe and Bornu Moslem slaves.
January 1801: Establishment of Ikirun in Nigeria.
January 1801: Establishment of Oshogbo in Nigeria.
January 1801: Ilaro was founded in the 18th century by Aro who migrated from the Oyo town.
January 1804: Ola Obe "Yai," "Woru" (d. 1818) becomes the first king of the chiefdom of Sabe.
February 1804: The Sokoto Caliphate was a sovereign Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa that was founded during the jihad of the Fulani War in 1804 by Usman dan Fodio.
January 1818: In 1817, Ilorin state separated from the Oyo Empire due to the rebellion led by Afonja, a commander in the Oyo army. This event marked the beginning of Ilorin's independence and its eventual establishment as a powerful city-state in the region.
January 1821: The Oyo vassals began to press for independence. The Egba, under the leadership of a war chief called Lishabi, massacred the Ilari stationed in their area and drove off an Oyo punitive force. The Egbado corridor was lost by the Oyo Empire.
January 1821: Ibadan is established.
January 1824: With the Dahomey Revolt of 1823 king Ghezo ended Dahomey's tributary status to the Oyo Empire.
January 1830: Abeokuta city-state founded.
January 1836: From 1808 until the mid-1830s, the Sokoto state expanded, gradually annexing the plains to the west and key parts of Yorubaland.
January 1837: In 1836 the Fulani conquered Oyo-Ile, the capital of the Oyo Empire.
January 1837: Ijaye separated from Oyo.
January 1851: Establishment of Awo-Ekiti in Nigeria.
January 1855: In 1854 Afinbiokin was the first documented ruler of Aramoko-Ekiti. According to local traditions he is considered the 15th ruler of the chiefdom.
January 1862: Ijaye re-incorporated into Oyo.
January 1885: The Niger Coast Protectorate was established by British colonial administrator Sir Ralph Moor in 1884. It was later renamed the Oil Rivers Protectorate before eventually becoming part of the larger British colony of Nigeria.
February 1893: Carter signed a treaty of protection with the Alafin of Oyo.
Disestablishment
February 1893: Carter signed a treaty of protection with the Alafin of Oyo.
