The Dahomey conquest of Ketou was a series of military campaigns in which Dahomey defeated and conquered the Kingdom of Ketou, in modern day Benin.
Background
Kingdom of Dahomey The Kingdom of Dahomey was a West African state from approximately 1600 until its annexation by France in 1894 located in present-day southern Benin. Beginning as a relatively minor inland polity, it gradually expanded to dominate the regional slave trade through control of coastal ports, particularly Ouidah, and developed into one of the most centralized and bureaucratic kingdoms in pre-colonial Africa. The kingdom had a standing army, which included the agojie, the elite female warriors whom European traders and missionaries referred to as "Amazons" Dahomey's rulers, notably Ghezo (r. 1818–1858) and Glélé (r. 1858–1889), maintained their power through frequent military campaigns against rival states such as the Oyo Empire. European colonial expansion in the late 19th century ultimately undermined Dahomey's sovereignty and lead to the first Franco-Dahomean War, resulting in French victory. The second Franco-Dahomean War followed and resulted in military defeat, the capture and exile of King Béhanzin in 1894
Kétou Kétou (also spelled Ketu or Queto) was a historic Yoruba kingdom and subgroup whose territory spanned parts of modern-day southeastern Benin and southwestern Nigeria, with its traditional capital at the town of Kétou.According to Ketu oral tradition, Kétou rankdc among the 16 original kingdoms founded by descendants of Oduduwa, with the town established by Sopasan.
Conquest by Dahomey Kétou was a major trading kingdom, with an extensive defensive mud-brick wall that was only accessible through a singular entryway known as the Akaba Idena. The trenches of the Akaba Idena may have been as deep as 15 to 20 feet. Dahomey launched two raids against Kétou, ultimately destroying the kingdom. First happening in 1882 - 1883, under the reign of Glele, which deeply weakened the kingdom.https://www.matthysdebie-avocats.eu/dpics/fichiers/2022-03-03-10-15-29_TAMn%C2%B089Automne2018ArtandLawEN.pdf In 1886, Kétou was sacked and looted, with its temples and altars destroyed, and its houses burned, all under Glele’s personal direction. Its people were sent into slavery in Abomey after its chiefs were summarily executed.
Kétou was later conquered by the French in 1894, putting it back under Yoruba sovereignty."Notes sur les noms et les lignages chez les Ṣabẹ́ (République du Dahomey)"
See also
Dahomey raids on Yoruba Battle of Paouignan Dahomey Conquest of Save
References