Battle of Atakpamé

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Battle of Atakpamé
Date 1764
Location Atakpamé, Togo, West Africa
Result Decisive Oyo-Dahomey victory; Establishing of border between Oyo and Asanteman
Belligerents
Ashanti Empire Oyo Empire
Kingdom of Dahomey
Commanders


The Battle of Atakpamé (1764) was an armed confrontation between the Ashanti Empire and the Oyo Empire in or around Atakpamé, Togo. The battle also included troops from the Kingdom of Dahomey, a vassal of Oyo.

Contents

[edit] Prelude

During the 18th century, the Ashanti Empire was beset by a host of rebellions due in large part to the empire's policy of allowing conquered rulers a fair amount of autonomy as long as they paid tribute and provided military contingents when ordered.[1] The asantethene during this period was Kusi Oboadum, who had ascended the throne in 1750. During his reign, the southern states under Asante's influence such as Denkyira, Wassa, Twifo and Akyem became openly hostile and threatened the empire's commercial routes to the coast. This was not only a threat to Asante's commercial interests but to its national security, since its supply of firearms came from the coast.[2]

[edit] Casus Belli

In 1763, the Asante vassal state of Akyem made contact with the Kingdom of Dahomey while planning a rebellion with other dissident within the empire including the Kwahu and Brong.[3] Meanwhile, the bantamahene, one of the major Asante military officers,[4] had been relentlessly pressuring Asantethene Kusi Oboadum for war. Bantamahene Adu Gyamera had even gone so far as to threaten the ruler's impeachment. The asantethene did not order an invasion, however, until learning that the Akyem had sought out aid from the Oyo Empire.[5]

[edit] The Battle

Sometime in 1764, the Asante army marched out to invade the Dahomey. It is unknown how large this force or even how large the opposing army was. What historians are sure of is that the army was ambushed in or near Atakpamé in what is now Togo. A force of Dahomean infantry including the kingdom's elite Ahosi corps of female soldiers as well as levies from the Oyo Empire inflicted a crushing defeat on the Asante army.[6] During the battle, the Juabenhene (head of the royal clan of Oyoko) was killed.[7] The Asante army never reached Dahomey and was forced to retreat.

[edit] Aftermath

News reached European merchants trading with the Yoruba that Oyo had inflicted a severe defeat on the Asante.[8] The consequences would be far reaching in that the unpopular asantethene would be removed for the more youthful Osei Kwadwo.[9] There were less documented confrontations between Asante and Dahomey in the early 19th century, but peace was the norm between them.[10] This particular battle did, however, define the boundary between Asanteman and Oyo whom remained the powerful states in the region.[11]


[edit] See Also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Fage, page 315
  2. ^ Pescheux, page 449
  3. ^ Fage, page 315
  4. ^ Thornton, page 68
  5. ^ Pescheux, page 449
  6. ^ Fage, page 315
  7. ^ Pescheux, page 449
  8. ^ Fage, page 315
  9. ^ Pescheux, page 449
  10. ^ Fage, page 315
  11. ^ Thornton, page 79

[edit] Sources

  • Fage, J.D. and Roland Oliver (1975). The Cambridge History of Africa Volume 4 c. 1600 - c. 1790. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 811. ISBN 0-52120-981-1. 
  • Thornton, John K. (1999). Warfare in Atlantic Africa 1500-1800. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 1-85728-393-7. 
  • Pescheux, Gérard (2003). Le royaume asante (Ghana): parenté, pouvoir, histoire, XVIIe-XXe siècles. Paris: KARTHALA Editions, 582. ISBN 2-84586-422-1.