Houegbadja

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Aho Houegbadja was the third King of Dahomey. He succeeded his uncle, Dakodonou, and ruled from 1645 to 1685.

Houegbadja was the first of the dynasty to set up the kingdom in Abomey proper: he founded the city by building his palace (named "Agbome"--in the midst of the ramparts) near the area of Guedevi, a few kilometers to the northwest of Bohicon. He was a wise ruler, respected by the people. He enacted laws, named ministers and developed the bureaucracy, religious cult, and political culture that would characterize Dahomey. Houegbadja's symbols were a fish (houe), fish trap (adja), and war club hoe (kpota).

Houegbadja was succeeded by his son, Houessou Akaba.