The Royal Palaces of Abomey are 12 palaces mostly built next to each other in Abomey, modern-day Benin, West Africa. Spread over 40 hectares, the site consists of two parts – only one palace is separated from the remaining 11 by one of the main roads of the city. While these two parts are enclosed by partially preserved cob walls, each palace within the site is surrounded by walls of their own and built around three courtyards (outer, inner, private).
The Royal Palaces of Abomey bear testimony to the glorious rule of the Kingdom of Dahomey which rose to power from the mid 17th century.
Today, while most of the palaces are in ruins, two have been converted into museums.
The Kingdom of Dahomey was an African kingdom that existed on the Atlantic coast of modern-day Benin from around 1600 to 1900.
King Houegbadja, also known as Wregbaja, is considered the first king of Dahomey as he established much of the administrative and religious practices of the kingdom. Following this, each of his successors built their palace next to each other, except King Akaba, who had his own enclosure.
The kingdom’d dominance continued till the end of the 19th Century, when the French claimed Dahomey as a protectorate, leading to the end of the kingdom’s dominance in West African affairs. King Agoli-Agho was the 12th and the last king of the Kingdom Dahomey.
Picture Credit : Google
