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{{Short description|1890 war between France and Dahomey}} |
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{{Short description|1890 conflict between France and Dahomey}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} |
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{{Infobox military conflict |
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{{Infobox military conflict |
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| conflict = First Franco-Dahomean War |
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| conflict = First Franco-Dahomean War |
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| place = ] of modern ] |
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| place = ] of modern ] |
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| casus = ] attack on ] Valley |
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| casus = ] attack on ] Valley |
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| result = French victory |
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| result = Decisive French victory |
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* ] recognises ] as a French ] and gives up customs rights to ] in exchange for a yearly payment |
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* ] recognises ] as a French ] and gives up customs rights to ] in exchange for a yearly payment |
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| combatant1 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Dahomey|1890}} |
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| combatant1 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Dahomey}} |
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| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|French Third Republic}} |
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| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|French Third Republic}} |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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| commander1 = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Dahomey|1890}} ] |
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| commander1 = {{flagicon|Kingdom of Dahomey}} ] |
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| commander2 = {{flagdeco|French Third Republic}} ]<br />{{flagdeco|French Third Republic}} ] |
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| commander2 = {{flagicon|French Third Republic}} ]<br />{{flagicon|French Third Republic}} ] |
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| strength1 = Over 8,000 Fon troops |
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| strength1 = Over 8,000 Fon troops |
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| strength2 = 709–759 French troops<br />500 Porto-Novo troops |
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| strength2 = 709–759 French troops<br />500 Porto-Novo troops |
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| casualties1 = 1,000–2,000 killed |
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| casualties1 = 1,000–2,000 killed |
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| casualties2 = 16 killed<br />83 wounded |
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| casualties2 = 16 killed<br />83 wounded |
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| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox First Franco-Dahomean War}}{{Campaignbox Scramble for Africa}} |
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| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox First Franco-Dahomean War}} |
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{{Campaignbox Scramble for Africa}} |
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}} |
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}} |
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{{History of Benin}} |
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{{History of Benin}} |
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The '''First Franco-Dahomean War''' was fought in 1890 between ], led by General ], and ] under King ]. |
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The '''First Franco-Dahomean War''' was fought in 1890 between ], led by General ], and ] under King ]. |
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==Background== |
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==Background== |
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At the close of the 19th century, European powers were busy ]. In what is today Benin, the main colonial power was the ]. The French had established commercial ties with the indigenous peoples of the area including one of ]'s most powerful states at the time, the ] kingdom of ]. In 1851, a Franco-Dahomean friendship treaty was ratified allowing the French to operate commercially and missionaries to enter the country.<ref>{{cite book |last=Alpern |first=Stanley B. |year=1998 |title=Amazons of Black Sparta: The Women Warriors of Dahomey |location=New York |publisher=New York University Press |page=191 |isbn=978-0-8147-0677-0}}</ref> |
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At the close of the 19th century, European powers were busy ]. In what is today Benin, the main colonial power was the ]. The French had established commercial ties with the indigenous peoples of the area including one of ]'s most powerful states at the time, the ] kingdom of ]. In 1851, a Franco-Dahomean friendship treaty was ratified allowing the French to operate commercially and missionaries to enter the country.<ref>{{cite book |last=Alpern |first=Stanley B. |year=1998 |title=Amazons of Black Sparta: The Women Warriors of Dahomey |location=New York |publisher=New York University Press |page=191 |isbn=978-0-8147-0677-0}}</ref> |
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By 1890, the Fon kingdom of Dahomey was at the height of its power. It laid claim to almost all the coast of modern Benin plus much of south-central Benin as far north as ]. One of Dahomey's most important ] was the small kingdom of ] near the coast. The kingdom had been at odds with Dahomey on and off since the middle of the 18th century.{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=192}} |
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By 1890, the Fon kingdom of Dahomey was at the height of its power. It laid claim to almost all the coast of modern Benin plus much of south-central Benin as far north as ]. One of Dahomey's most important ] was the small kingdom of ] near the coast. The kingdom had been at odds with Dahomey on and off since the middle of the 18th century.{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=192}} |
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==End of hostilities== |
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==End of hostilities== |
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Dahomey did not launch any further attacks on Cotonou or Porto-Novo. On 3 October 1890, Dahomey signed a treaty recognising the kingdom of Porto-Novo as a French ].{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=196}} Béhanzin was also forced to cede Cotonou, but did receive 20,000 ] a year for giving up his customs rights.{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=196}} The war was a resounding victory for France and a humiliating, though eye-opening, experience for Dahomey. Despite the treaty, both sides believed peace could not last and made preparations for another decisive encounter.{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=197}} Hostilities quickly resumed despite the treaty, escalating into the ] two years later. |
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Dahomey did not launch any further attacks on Cotonou or Porto-Novo. On 3 October 1890, Dahomey signed a treaty recognising the kingdom of Porto-Novo as a French ].{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=196}} Béhanzin was also forced to cede Cotonou, but did receive 20,000 ] a year for giving up his customs rights.{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=196}} The war resulted in victory for France and left Dahomey defeated. Despite the treaty, both sides believed peace could not last and made preparations for another decisive encounter.{{sfn|Alpern|1998|p=197}} Hostilities quickly resumed despite the treaty, escalating into the ] two years later. |
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==References== |
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==References== |
By 1890, the Fon kingdom of Dahomey was at the height of its power. It laid claim to almost all the coast of modern Benin plus much of south-central Benin as far north as Atcheribé. One of Dahomey's most important tributaries was the small kingdom of Porto-Novo near the coast. The kingdom had been at odds with Dahomey on and off since the middle of the 18th century.
France responded to these events by building up its force in Cotonou to 359 men, 299 of which were Tirailleurs or French trained Senegalese and Gabonese. On 21 February, the French arrested the senior Fon officials in Cotonou and began fortifying the town. Skirmishes with local militia also broke out.
It was not long before word of this got back to Abomey. Dahomey sent a force straight to Cotonou with plans to bring it firmly back under Fon control once and for all.
On 4 March, a Dahomey army of several thousand charged the log stockade around Cotonou at approximately 5 in the morning. This was usual for the Fon army of Dahomey that almost always marched at night and attacked just before dawn. Prying apart the stakes and shoving their muskets through, the Fon fired into the enclosure.
Some managed to surmount the 800-metre perimeter inflicting casualties within the walls. After four hours of intense fighting, often occurring hand-to-hand despite withering French firepower and even gunboat shells, the Fon force withdrew. The French sustained few losses, but the Fon suffered several hundred dead (129 within the French lines).
After regrouping, Dahomey sent another force south, this time toward Porto-Novo. After receiving numerous reinforcements, the French ordered 350 men with three field guns to march north and intercept the Fon. This time, the French would be assisted by 500 warriors of King Toffa I. As the French column arrived to the village of Atchoukpa, Toffa's warriors, who were walking ahead of the formation, came under Dahomey fire and fled the battlefield in a complete rout.
Dahomey did not launch any further attacks on Cotonou or Porto-Novo. On 3 October 1890, Dahomey signed a treaty recognising the kingdom of Porto-Novo as a French protectorate. Béhanzin was also forced to cede Cotonou, but did receive 20,000 francs a year for giving up his customs rights. The war resulted in victory for France and left Dahomey defeated. Despite the treaty, both sides believed peace could not last and made preparations for another decisive encounter. Hostilities quickly resumed despite the treaty, escalating into the Second Franco-Dahomean War two years later.
Dahomey
Alfred-Amédée Dodds
