₦airaland Forum

We came to the fact that Benin empire was the only empire that ruled Nigeria south. On my research lately I found out that Igala first king dynasty was established by prince of Benin empire.

So do this mean Benin empire also have control to Nigeria middle bt. Can we say Benin empire stress from southern Nigeria to Nigeria middle bt.

Anyway is it fact that Oba of Benin sim was the first ata of Igala?

Jameseddi1:
We came to the fact that Benin empire was the only empire that ruled Nigeria south. On my research lately I found out that Igala first king dynasty was established by prince of Benin empire.

So do this mean Benin empire also have control to Nigeria middle bt. Can we say Benin empire stress from southern Nigeria to Nigeria middle bt.

Anyway is it fact that Oba of Benin sim was the first ata of Igala?

When did it rule Nigeria South.

Jameseddi1:
We came to the fact that Benin empire was the only empire that ruled Nigeria south. On my research lately I found out that Igala first king dynasty was established by prince of Benin empire.

So do this mean Benin empire also have control to Nigeria middle bt. Can we say Benin empire stress from southern Nigeria to Nigeria middle bt.

Anyway is it fact that Oba of Benin sim was the first ata of Igala?

The Benin Empire barely extended beyond parts of the old Midwestern region. It is only in the imagination of some paper empire makers that Benin ruled southern Nigeria.

Also, the first Ata of Igala was not from Benin, but there are traditions that there was once a Bini dynasty in Igala, which displaced an aboriginal Igala dynasty and was in turn later replaced by another dynasty from Jukun.

RedboneSmith:
The Benin Empire barely extended beyond parts of the old Midwestern region. It is only in the imagination of some paper empire makers that Benin ruled southern Nigeria.

Also, the first Ata of Igala was not from Benin, but there are traditions that there was once a Bini dynasty in Igala, which displaced an aboriginal Igala dynasty and was in turn later replaced by another dynasty from Jukun.

You said Benin empire didn’t extend more than Midwestern region. Then you also that they was once a Benin dynasty in Igala. so which one I’m I going to believe as we all know Igala is not in the midwestern region of Nigeria

according to R. A. Sargent, commenced in 1687 AD, the same year the reign of the Bini Dynasty came to an end. The influx of the Jukuns, who had broken away from the Kwararafa Confederacy, occurred between 1597 AD and 1627 AD. At this time, the Aji Ata (or Bini) Dynasty, under which a total of six Bini-speaking Atas ruled, had forced itself on the Igala Kingdom in 1507 AD, forcing Ata Ọgáláà Eri to proceed on a sudden self-exile. It should also be noted that the Bini Dynasty was itself preceded by an earlier dynasty, the Ata Eri (or Igala) Dynasty. The findings of a 21-year research undertaken by the Catherine Acholonu International Research Centre, Abuja revealed that “Ata Eri was the ancestor and father of the Igalas and the founder of the still-surviving, ancient lineage of Atta Kings of the Igala nation.” Ata Ọgáláà Eri had succeeded Àtá Àtá-Ógwū, after whom the Àtá-Ógwū Hill (Ójúwó Átōgwu) on the outskirts of Ida town was named.

(ii) THE AJI-ATTAH (ATA) (OR BINI) DYNASTY

In the year, 1507, Ọba Ọ̀kpámẹ̀ Ọ̀zọ́luà of Benin ordered his son, Aji-Attah (Ata), to lead a segment of the Bini army against Ata Ọgáláà Erí at Ida, which prompted a sudden journey of the incumbent into self-exile, first, to the southern part of the Benue Basin, then later, to Nri in the present-day Anambra State. The Aji-Attah (or Benin) Dynasty, after one hundred and eighty years at Ida, was finally brought to an end by the influence of the Kwararafa traders-cum-warriors who were pouring into what, today, is referred to as the Igala Kingdom, which, according to Sargent and Miles Clifford, had been occupied by the “Okpoto tribesmen.”

Those fooling themselves, would like to believe that Benin empire didn't go beyond former mid Western region.

If an empire occupied Lagos in present west to Ida in the middle belt, what was left in Southern Nigeria.

Jameseddi1:
You said Benin empire didn’t extend more than Midwestern region. Then you also that they was once a Benin dynasty in Igala. so which one I’m I going to believe as we all know Igala is not in the midwestern region of Nigeria

The current British dynasty came from Germany. Doesn't mean Britain is under a German 'empire'.

Spain is ruled by the Bourbon dynasty which originally came from France. Doesn't mean Spain is/was under a French empire. A ruling line can come from elsewhere without necessarily being a tributary of the place they came from. Hope you can understand this.

RedboneSmith:
The current British dynasty came from Germany. Doesn't mean Britain is under a German 'empire'.

Spain is ruled by the Bourbon dynasty which originally came from France. Doesn't mean Spain is/was under a French empire. A ruling line can come from elsewhere without necessarily being a tributary of the place they came from. Hope you can understand this.

The current British dynasty that came from Germany didn't forced themselves on the British people, they came through marriage of European princes and Princesses. This was the practice in Europe to preserve the royal bloodline, hence most European monarchs are related.

The same cannot be said about Benin who took most places by force, similar to Roman empire and the British empire who also took Nigeria and other countries by force and installed British Governor Generals.

.....the Aji Ata (or Bini) Dynasty, under which a total of six Bini-speaking Atas ruled, had forced itself on the Igala Kingdom in 1507 AD

samuk:
The same cannot be said about Benin who took most places by force, similar to Roman empire and the British empire who also took Nigeria and other countries by force and installed British Governor Generals.

.....the Aji Ata (or Bini) Dynasty, under which a total of six Bini-speaking Atas ruled, had forced itself on the Igala Kingdom in 1507 AD

At this point you should know I don't say things I can't back up. Can you present a scholarly reference for Benin taking Igala by force? Professor Boston collected oral traditions in the 1940s and 1950s (published around 1960) which shows that an exiled Bini prince was invited by the elders of Idah during a period of power vacuum in the capital and made their ruler. There was no force involved, and the people of Idah do not have a tradition of paying tribute to Benin.

The only account of war between Idah and Benin that has been passed down to us was the Idia War during the time of Esigie, and in this war, Idah, and not Benin, was the belligerent party, i.e., it was Idah that carried war into Benin territory and not the other way around. They lost the war, but the import of the account is that Idah was the one on the offensive.

So if you say Benin forcefully overran Idah and planted a dynasty there by force of arms, you'd better have some credible references to back it up.

RedboneSmith:
The only account of war between Idah and Benin that has been passed down to us was the Idia War during the time of Esigie, and in this war, Idah, and not Benin, was the belligerent party, i.e., it was Idah that carried war into Benin territory and not the other way around. They lost the war, but the import of the account is that Idah was the one on the offensive.

So if you say Benin forcefully overran Idah and planted a dynasty there by force of arms, you'd better have some credible references to back it up.

there is nothing like Germany dynasty in British right now you can just say an Origin of German.

But when they say Benin dynasty what do this mean. This mean administration was run by Benin.

Benin dynasty simply means Benin was in control.

Jameseddi1:
there is nothing like Germany dynasty in British right now you can just say an Origin of German.

But when they say Benin dynasty what do this mean. This mean administration was run by Benin.

Benin dynasty simply means Benin was in control.

If this is how you want to look at it, then there was nothing like Benin dynasty in Igala. You can just say an origin in Benin.

There is no evidence that the administration of Idah was run from Benin or that Benin was in control in Idah. That's just nonsense you made up.

We know that when the Onoje of Uromi was facing the armies of Oba Ozolua, he ran to the Ata of Idah to beg for military assistance. Egharevba recorded this. We also know that when the Oliha was involved in palace intrigues with the Oba of Benin, he tried to obtain the Ata of Idah's help to stage a palace coup, although it failed. This wouldn't make sense if Benin was in control at Idah. You cannot run to a subordinate kingdom to obtain military assistance against the 'ruling power'. That would be like Ireland in 1945 coming to Nigeria or the Gold Coast to obtain military assistance to fight the British Empire, when that same British Empire was ruling in Nigeria!

The Igala kingdom based at Idah was by all ramifications an independent sovereign kingdom and a rival kingdom to Benin. These are the facts. Go and read your history books.