The 90-year gap and the restoration of the Dahomey throne
When the French exiled King Agoli-Agbo in 1900, the Dahomey monarchy ended. For nearly a century, there was no king. Then, in the 1990s, the throne was restored as a ceremonial institution. Today, rival claimants trace their lineage to Behanzin and Glele, and the question of who is the rightful k...
In 1900, the last king of Dahomey left his palace in chains.
Agoli-Agbo, the brother of Behanzin, had ruled for six years as a French-appointed "traditional chief" — a king in name only, with no real authority. When the French decided that even this limited arrangement was inconvenient, they abolished the monarchy entirely. Agoli-Agbo was exiled to Gabon.
The throne of Dahomey sat empty for nearly a century.
Then, in the 1990s, something extraordinary happened. Benin's democratic revolution brought down the Marxist regime. And in the new, democratic Benin, there was suddenly space for traditional institutions to reemerge. The kings came back.
The gap: 1900-1990
For ninety years, there was no king in Abomey. The royal palaces, abandoned by the French, fell into decay. The sacred objects that had accompanied each king's reign were dispersed — some taken by French soldiers, some hidden by palace attendants, some lost to time.
The Fon people did not forget their monarchy. The lineage of the kings — the twelve kings of Dahomey, from Gangnihessou to Agoli-Agbo — was preserved in oral tradition. The royal family continued, though without a crowned head. Descendants of Behanzin and Glele lived in Abomey, ordinary citizens in a country that had first been a French colony and then a Marxist-Leninist republic.
During the Marxist era (1975-1990), the regime discouraged traditional institutions. Kings were seen as relics of a feudal past. The revolutionary committees that governed Abomey had no place for a monarchy.
But the memory of the kingdom survived.
The restoration
The restoration of the Dahomey throne happened gradually, beginning in the late 1980s as the Marxist regime weakened.
Joseph Langanfin (1986-1989) is sometimes listed as the first restored ceremonial throne holder. His reign was brief and his recognition limited.
Agoli-Agbo Dedjalagni (1989-2018) followed. Claiming descent from the Behanzin line, he was crowned in Abomey with traditional ceremonies. His reign of nearly thirty years established the restored monarchy as a visible institution in Beninese cultural life.
Houedogni Behanzin (2000-2012) was a rival claimant from the same Behanzin lineage, creating the first of the succession disputes that continue today.
Dah Sagbadjou Glele (2018-2021) succeeded from a different branch — the Glele line rather than the Behanzin line.
Today, the throne is claimed by Dah Dedjalagni Houedogni Behanzin, the current claimant from the Behanzin lineage (covered in detail in our companion article).
How the restoration happened
The restoration of the Dahomey monarchy was part of a broader renaissance of traditional institutions across Benin.
The 1990 National Conference, which ended Marxist rule, opened space for traditional authorities. The new constitution, adopted in 1990, recognized traditional chiefs and kings as part of Benin's cultural heritage. Without this constitutional recognition, the restoration could not have happened.
The Beninese state does not formally crown kings. The process is internal to the royal families and the Fon traditional council. But the state recognizes the kings' ceremonial role and provides a framework within which they can operate.
The restored monarchy is not the kingdom of the past. It has no political power, no army, no tax revenue. It is a cultural institution — a living link to the pre-colonial kingdom that preserves traditions, presides over ceremonies, and represents Fon heritage.
The rival claims
The Dahomey succession is disputed. There are currently two main factions:
The Behanzin line descends from King Behanzin (r. 1889-1894), the great resistance leader. This line argues that Behanzin was the last legitimate king before French conquest, and his descendants should hold the throne.
The Glele line descends from King Glele (r. 1858-1889), Behanzin's father. This line's claim rests on different interpretations of traditional succession rules.
The existence of rival claimants is not unusual in African traditional monarchies. What makes it significant in Abomey is the public nature of the dispute and the importance of the throne as a symbol of Fon identity.
For visitors to Abomey, the succession dispute may seem confusing. Different sources recognize different kings. Ceremonies may be led by one claimant or another. The lack of a single, universally recognized king is a reality of the restored monarchy.
What the king does today
The restored king of Dahomey has several important functions:
- Presiding over annual ceremonies such as the Festival des Recades and the Grand Pardon
- Maintaining the royal palaces — the UNESCO World Heritage site that is Abomey's greatest tourist attraction
- Representing the Fon people at official events and state functions
- Preserving royal traditions including oral history, royal music, and court protocol
- Acting as a cultural ambassador for Abomey and Benin
The king does not govern. He does not make law. He does not command an army. His authority is moral and cultural, not political.
The monarchy's place in modern Benin
The restoration of the Dahomey monarchy is a remarkable story. A throne that was abolished by colonial conquest, that sat empty for ninety years, that was revived in a democratic republic — it is a testament to the resilience of Fon culture.
For Beninese people, the king of Dahomey is a symbol of continuity. He connects the present to the pre-colonial past, bridging the gap that colonialism and Marxism tried to create. He is a reminder that the kingdom was not erased, that its traditions survive, that the Fon people still have a king.
For visitors, the restored monarchy offers a window into living history. The ceremonies, the palaces, the court traditions — these are not museum pieces. They are a living heritage, maintained by a royal institution that refused to die.
FAQ
What happened to the Dahomey monarchy after agoli-agbo?
The monarchy was abolished by the French in 1900. King Agoli-Agbo was exiled to Gabon. For nearly 90 years, there was no king of Dahomey.
When was the Dahomey throne restored?
The throne was restored in the late 1980s and 1990s, following Benin's democratic transition. Agoli-Agbo Dedjalagni was the first long-reigning restored king.
Who is the current king of Dahomey today?
The current claimant is Dah Dedjalagni Houedogni Behanzin, from the Behanzin lineage. However, there are rival claimants from the Glele lineage.
Why are there rival kings in Abomey?
The succession is disputed between the Behanzin and Glele lineages, each interpreting traditional succession rules differently.
Does the king of Dahomey have political power?
No. The restored monarchy is a ceremonial and cultural institution. The king has no political authority under Benin's constitution.
Continue exploring Benin's royal heritage: Dah Dedjalagni Houedogni Behanzin — the current claimant · Legal status of traditional kings · Festival des Recades · King Agoli-Agbo · Are there still kings in Benin
Plan your visit
Visit Abomey and see the restored monarchy in action. Our travel guide covers the royal palaces, the festivals, and how to experience Dahomey's living royal heritage.