The question seems simple: who was the last king of Dahomey? But like so much in the kingdom's history, the answer is layered.

There is the king who ruled independently and then faced the French. There is the king the French installed as a puppet. There is the lineage that continued in exile. And there are the living descendants who still carry the royal legacy today.

This is the story of what happened to the kings of Dahomey after the kingdom fell.

King Behanzin (r. 1889-1894): The last independent king

By any meaningful measure, Behanzin was the last independent king of Dahomey. He inherited the throne from his father Glele in 1889 at a time of mounting French pressure. He chose to resist rather than submit.

Behanzin's five-year reign was defined by the two Franco-Dahomean wars. When the French finally captured him in 1894, they did not execute him. They exiled him instead — first to Martinique, then to Algeria.

Behanzin's exile:

• 1894: Captured and sent to Martinique with his family
• 1900: Transferred to Algeria for stricter confinement
• 1906: Died in Blida, Algeria on December 10
• 1928: His remains were repatriated to Benin and buried in Abomey

In exile, Behanzin remained defiant. He refused French offers to renounce his throne. He continued to style himself as king. He never accepted French sovereignty.

But the French needed a king in Abomey — someone to legitimize their rule over the conquered kingdom. They found their candidate in Behanzin's brother.

King agoli-agbo (r. 1894-1900): The puppet king

Agoli-Agbo was Behanzin's half-brother. When the French conquered Dahomey, they selected him as the new king — a ruler who would accept French authority and govern in collaboration with the colonial administration.

Agoli-Agbo's reign was defined by limitations:

• He ruled not as an independent sovereign but as a French-appointed chief
• His authority was strictly limited to traditional and ceremonial matters
• He had no control over military, foreign policy, or taxation
• He was required to consult French advisors on all significant decisions

Agoli-Agbo's position was deeply compromised. He was a king who could not defend his kingdom, who answered to foreigners, whose every action was monitored. For six years, he performed the rituals of kingship while the reality of power belonged to the French.

In 1900, Agoli-Agbo was deposed by the French for reasons that remain debated. Some accounts say he was suspected of disloyalty. Others suggest the French simply decided they no longer needed a traditional king. He was exiled to Gabon.

Was Agoli-Agbo the last king? In a technical sense, yes — he was the last person formally enthroned as King of Dahomey while the kingdom still existed as a political entity. But few Fon people consider him a legitimate successor to Behanzin.

After the monarchy: Kings without kingdoms

After Agoli-Agbo's deposition, the French abolished the Dahomey monarchy. There would be no more kings of Dahomey under French rule.

But the royal lineage did not disappear. The descendants of the Dahomey kings continued to be recognized in traditional and ceremonial contexts.

The lineage continued through:

• Behanzin's children: His sons and daughters were scattered — some in exile with him, others in Dahomey under French surveillance
• Agoli-Agbo's descendants: His line continued in Gabon and later returned to Benin
• Other royal branches: The extended royal family, including descendants of earlier kings like Glele and Ghezo, maintained their social status

The French policy was ambiguous. They had abolished the monarchy, but they allowed the royal family to maintain certain privileges — land, social recognition, and the right to perform traditional ceremonies. A kingdom without a king, but with a royal family that never disappeared.

The royal lineage in independent Dahomey

When Dahomey gained independence in 1960, the question of the monarchy resurfaced. The new republican government had no interest in restoring the monarchy. But the royal family continued to play a cultural role.

Key developments in the post-independence period:

• Ceremonial recognition: The head of the Dahomey royal family was informally recognized as the traditional custodian of Fon culture
• The Huetanu ceremony: The annual Royal Customs ceremony continued, with the senior surviving royal presiding
• Cultural revival: The 1970s and 1980s saw a renewed interest in Dahomey royal traditions, partly as a source of national identity
• Political sensitivity: The monarchy remained politically sensitive — no government wanted to be seen as restoring pre-colonial hierarchies

Through it all, the royal family maintained its identity. They lived mostly in Abomey, in the shadow of the palaces their ancestors had built.

The royal family today

Today, the Dahomey royal lineage continues in a ceremonial role. The current head of the royal family is recognized as a traditional leader, though without political power.

The role includes:

• Presiding over the annual Huetanu (Royal Customs) ceremony in Abomey
• Representing the Fon people in cultural events
• Maintaining the historical memory of the kingdom
• Advocating for the preservation of royal heritage sites

The most prominent living descendant is often referred to in media as the "traditional king" or "ceremonial king" of Dahomey. This position is not recognized by the Beninese state as a formal title, but it carries significant cultural authority.

The heirs in exile

One of the lesser-known chapters of this story is the fate of Behanzin's descendants who remained in exile.

Behanzin had several wives and many children. Some accompanied him to Martinique and Algeria. Others stayed in Dahomey. The exile branches of the family integrated into Caribbean and North African societies while maintaining their Dahomey identity.

In the 1990s and 2000s, there were efforts to reconnect the diaspora branches of the royal family with the Abomey-based lineage. Some descendants returned to Benin for ceremonies and to reclaim their heritage.

Who is the last king?

The question at the beginning of this article — who was the last king of Dahomey? — has multiple answers depending on how you define "king":

| Criterion | Answer | Details | |---|---|---| | Last independent king | Behanzin | Ruled 1889-1894, exiled by France | | Last formally enthroned king | Agoli-Agbo | Ruled 1894-1900, deposed and exiled | | Last king in popular memory | Behanzin | Holds the strongest symbolic claim | | Current ceremonial leader | Living descendant | Holds traditional authority without political power |

For most Fon people and historians, Behanzin is the last king. Agoli-Agbo was an interlude, a French creation who lacked legitimacy. The kingdom ended when Behanzin was captured in 1894 — everything after was epilogue.

But the story does not end there. The royal lineage continues. The traditions survive. The palaces still stand. And in the annual Huetanu ceremony, held in Abomey each year, the spirit of the Dahomey kings lives on.

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FAQ

Who was the last king of Dahomey?

King Behanzin (r. 1889-1894) is considered the last independent king of Dahomey. His brother Agoli-Agbo was briefly installed by the French as a puppet king from 1894 to 1900.

What happened to behanzin's children?

Behanzin's children were scattered after the French conquest. Some accompanied him into exile in Martinique and Algeria. Others remained in Dahomey under French surveillance. Their descendants continue to this day.

Who succeeded Behanzin as king?

Agoli-Agbo, Behanzin's half-brother, was installed as king by the French in 1894. He ruled as a puppet until being deposed and exiled to Gabon in 1900.

Is there still a king of Dahomey today?

There is no political king of Dahomey, but the royal lineage continues in a ceremonial role. The current head of the Dahomey royal family presides over traditional ceremonies in Abomey.

Where are behanzin's descendants today?

Behanzin's descendants live in Benin (primarily Abomey), in the Caribbean (from the exile period), and in various countries around the world. Some have returned to Benin to reconnect with their heritage.

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Continue exploring: Where is the Kingdom of Dahomey Today · Why was Dahomey renamed Benin · Dahomey vs Kingdom of Benin · King Behanzin — the full story · Royal Palaces of Abomey · Huetanu Royal Customs

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Meet the living legacy of the Dahomey kings. Our travel guide covers Abomey's royal palaces, the annual Huetanu ceremony, and how to connect with Fon cultural traditions.