The European scramble for Africa was already well underway when, in 1889, a new king took the throne of Dahomey. His name was Behanzin, and he inherited a kingdom that France had been circling for years.

The French had already established a protectorate over Porto-Novo, Dahomey's coastal rival. They occupied Cotonou under treaties of questionable validity. They demanded that Dahomey recognize French sovereignty over its coastal territories.

Behanzin's answer was simple: no.

His coronation sent a clear message. He adopted the shark as his symbol — gbεhanzin in Fon — and declared that, like the shark, he would devour anyone who threatened his waters.

France, which had expected a more compliant ruler, prepared for war.

The causes: Why France and Dahomey clashed

The First Franco-Dahomean War did not emerge from a single incident. It was the result of decades of creeping French expansion and Dahomey's determination to remain independent.

French grievances against Dahomey included:

• Dahomey's refusal to recognize French sovereignty over Cotonou
• Dahomey's customs duties on French merchants, which France considered excessive
• Dahomey's military raids into territories France considered under its protection
• The broader colonial logic of the Scramble for Africa — France needed to control the entire Dahomey coast to secure its position in West Africa

Dahomey's grievances against France included:

• French occupation of Cotonou under a treaty Behanzin's father, Glele, had signed under pressure
• French support for Porto-Novo, Dahomey's traditional enemy
• French interference in Dahomey's internal affairs
• The existential threat that French expansion posed to Dahomey's independence

Both sides saw war as inevitable. The only question was when.

The battle of Cotonou (March 1890)

The war began in February 1890, when French forces attacked Dahomey villages near the coast. Behanzin responded by mobilizing his army and marching south.

On March 4, 1890, the main battle took place at Cotonou.

The Dahomey army, estimated at 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers, including approximately 4,000 Mino warriors (the Dahomey Amazons), attacked French positions in and around Cotonou. The French defenders numbered around 1,000, including Senegalese and Gabonese colonial troops, armed with Lebel rifles and supported by artillery.

What happened next shocked the French.

The Mino warriors attacked with extraordinary courage. Eyewitness accounts describe them charging French lines repeatedly, ignoring heavy casualties. French officers reported that the women fought with more determination than the men. One French commander wrote that the Mino were "more dangerous than male soldiers."

The Dahomey forces managed to break through French defensive lines in several places. Hand-to-hand combat followed. The Mino, armed with machetes and muskets, inflicted significant casualties on the French.

But French firepower ultimately told. The Lebel rifles outranged Dahomey muskets. French artillery devastated Dahomey formations. By the end of the day, the Dahomey army had suffered heavy losses — perhaps 1,000 killed or wounded — while French losses were around 100.

Behanzin ordered a tactical withdrawal. The battle was lost, but the war was not over.

The aftermath: An uneasy truce

Despite the French tactical victory at Cotonou, the war had shaken French confidence. The Dahomey army had proven far more capable than expected. The Mino warriors, in particular, had demonstrated that the French faced a formidable enemy.

France offered Dahomey a truce. The terms were:

• France would keep Cotonou
• Dahomey would pay an indemnity of 200,000 francs
• Dahomey would recognize French sovereignty over Porto-Novo
• Behanzin would be recognized as king of Dahomey

Behanzin accepted the truce — but he did not consider himself defeated. He had bought time. The indemnity was paid. The borders were redrawn. But both sides knew this was not a permanent peace.

The First Franco-Dahomean War lasted less than two months. It settled nothing. It postponed everything.

The strategic lessons

For the French, the war revealed that conquering Dahomey would require far more resources than anticipated. The Dahomey army, particularly the Mino, would not be easily defeated. France began planning a much larger expedition.

For Behanzin, the war confirmed his belief that Dahomey could resist. His soldiers had fought bravely. They had inflicted casualties on a European power. The kingdom was still independent.

But the war also revealed weaknesses:

• French firepower was decisively superior
• Dahomey's supply lines were vulnerable
• The coastal plain favored European-style warfare
• Dahomey could not match France's ability to project force

Behanzin used the truce period to prepare for the inevitable second war. He stockpiled weapons, fortified positions, and drilled his troops. He knew France would return. He intended to be ready.

The war in historical context

The First Franco-Dahomean War was one of many colonial conflicts that defined the Scramble for Africa. But it holds a special place in West African history because of the nature of the resistance.

Dahomey was not a small, disorganized polity. It was a centralized kingdom with a professional army, a long military tradition, and a sophisticated political system. Its resistance to French colonization was not desperate last-ditch defense — it was a calculated strategic choice by a king who understood exactly what he was up against.

Behanzin's decision to fight, rather than submit, made him a symbol of African resistance that endures to this day. The First Franco-Dahomean War was the opening act of a drama that would end with Dahomey's conquest — but it established a legacy of defiance that outlasted the kingdom itself.

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FAQ

Who won the first franco-dahomean war?

The war ended in a tactical French victory but strategic stalemate. France held Cotonou, but Dahomey remained independent and Behanzin remained king.

When did the first franco-dahomean war happen?

The war lasted from February to March 1890, with the main battle at Cotonou on March 4, 1890.

Why did France attack Dahomey?

France wanted to secure its colonial position in West Africa, control the Dahomey coast, and eliminate Dahomey's resistance to French commercial and territorial expansion.

Who was the king of Dahomey during the first war?

King Behanzin (r. 1889-1894) was the ruler of Dahomey during the First Franco-Dahomean War. He led the resistance against French forces.

What was the outcome of the battle of Cotonou?

The French repelled the Dahomey attack and held Cotonou, but suffered significant casualties, particularly from the Mino warriors. The battle demonstrated Dahomey's military capability.

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Continue exploring Benin's history: Second Franco-Dahomean War — the final conquest · King Behanzin — the shark king · French colonial Dahomey — after the fall · The Mino Warriors · Royal Palaces of Abomey

Plan your visit

Stand where the Mino warriors charged French lines. Our travel guide covers the battle sites, the Cotonou historical markers, and how to explore Abomey's resistance history.