Long ago, there was a king.
His name was Ovonramwen. He led a great land. Then, some people came to take his land. It was a sad time. He had to leave his home. Can you imagine being a king?
Long ago, a king led a great land.
His name was Ovonramwen. His name meant "The Rising Sun."
His land had many rich things. It had rubber and ivory. People from far away wanted these things.
Some people came to take his land. This was a very sad time. The king had to leave his home.
He went to a far place. He lived there for many years.
He was a leader for a long time. We still remember him today.
Oba Ovonramwen was a leader of the Kingdom of Benin. He became the king in 1888. His name meant "The Rising Sun."
His land had many rich things. It had ivory and rubber. It also had palm oil. British people wanted to trade for these things. They also wanted to take control of the land.
In 1897, a British group went to Benin City. They said they wanted to talk. But the king's leaders thought they were there to fight. An attack happened. This led to a British invasion. The British forces broke the city walls. They also took many Benin Bronzes. These are famous art pieces.
Ovonramwen escaped into the forest for six months. He finally returned to the city to surrender. He tried to offer oil and ivory to stay. The British said no. He was sent away to a place called Calabar. He lived there with two of his wives. He died in Calabar in 1914. He was later buried in his home city.
Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi was a very important leader. He was the thirty-fifth Oba of the Kingdom of Benin. An Oba is a king. He was born around the year 1857. He was the son of Oba Adọlọ. When he became king in 1888, he took a new name. His name, Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi, had a special meaning. It meant "The Rising Sun which spreads over all."
The Kingdom of Benin was a strong and independent land. It had many rich natural resources. People wanted palm oil, rubber, and ivory from the area. The Oba controlled the trade of these items. This made some British investors unhappy. British officials like James Robert Phillips wanted more control. They wanted the British to take over the empire. They also wanted to remove the Oba from power.
In late 1896, James Robert Phillips decided to visit Benin City. He wanted to talk about trade agreements. He did not wait for permission from London to go. In January 1897, a British group started their journey. The Oba's generals thought this was an attempt to remove the king. They ordered an attack on the group as it approached. This led to a conflict where most of the group was killed.
After the attack, the British sent a large force to Benin. This was led by Sir Harry Rawson in 1897. The British forces destroyed the city's walls. They also took many famous art pieces called the Benin Bronzes. Oba Ovonramwen escaped into the forest for six months. He eventually returned to the city to surrender on August 5, 1897. He was dressed in fine clothes and coral beads. He brought seven hundred to eight hundred people with him. He even offered oil and ivory to stay, but the British refused.
The British sent the Oba away to a place called Calabar. He lived there in a small town named Essien Town. He was hosted by a man named Etinyin Essien Etim Offiong. The Oba lived in exile with two wives, Queen Egbe and Queen Aighobahi. He stayed in Calabar until he died around the start of 1914. Later, he was buried in the royal palace in Benin City. His son, Prince Aguobasimwin, became the next king.
Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi was the thirty-fifth Oba of the Kingdom of Benin. An Oba is a traditional king or monarch. He was born around the year 1857 and was the son of Oba Adọlọ. When he was crowned in 1888, he received a new ceremonial name. His name, Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi, carries a powerful meaning. It translates to "The Rising Sun which spreads over all." His reign took place during a time of great change in West Africa.
The Kingdom of Benin was an independent territory with many valuable resources. These resources included palm oil, rubber, and ivory. The Oba held a monopoly over this trade, meaning he controlled the buying and selling. This control caused tension with British investors. These investors wanted easier access to the kingdom's wealth. British officials also pushed for annexation. Annexation is when one country takes control of another territory. Figures like James Robert Phillips and Captain Henry Gallwey wanted to remove the Oba from power.
In late 1896, James Robert Phillips decided to visit Benin City. He wanted to discuss trade agreements that the Oba was not keeping. Phillips did not wait for official approval from London before he started his expedition. In January 1897, a British delegation began its journey toward the city. The Oba's generals believed this group was actually coming to depose the king. They ordered an attack on the delegation as it approached. This event resulted in the deaths of almost everyone in the group except for two people.
Some historians suggest the conflict was provoked by the British. Sven Lindqvist states that Phillips may have planned to enter the palace by pretending to negotiate. He claims the British force had weapons hidden in their baggage. Lindqvist also notes that Phillips sent a stick to the Oba. This was seen as a deliberate insult to provoke a fight. Such a fight would provide a reason for the British to annex the empire. The Oba's messengers had already warned the group not to violate their sovereignty. Sovereignty is the right of a nation to govern itself.
Following the ambush, the British launched a punitive expedition in 1897. This military mission was led by Sir Harry Rawson. The British forces razed Benin City, which means they leveled the buildings. They destroyed the city's fortifications and looted many treasures. These treasures are known as the Benin Bronzes. Although the British had orders to execute the Oba, Ovonramwen managed to escape. He spent six months hiding in the forest to avoid capture.
Ovonramwen eventually returned to Benin City to surrender on August 5, 1897. He arrived in fine clothing and many coral beads. He was accompanied by an entourage of 700 to 800 people. He tried to avoid exile by making a large offer to Consul General Ralph Moor. The Oba offered 200 puncheons, or barrels, of oil worth £1,500. He also offered to show where 500 ivory tusks were buried. Those tusks were worth more than £2,000,000 at that time. However, the British dismissed his offer because they had already found the ivory.
The British eventually sent the Oba into exile. He was sent to a place called Calabar along with two wives, Queen Egbe and Queen Aighobahi. In Calabar, he was hosted in a small town named Essien Town. A man named Etinyin Essien Etim Offiong received and hosted the royal group there. Ovonramwen lived in exile until he died around the turn of the year in 1914. He was eventually buried in the royal palace grounds in Benin City. His son, Prince Aguobasimwin, succeeded him as Eweka II.
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