Battle of Ekiokpagha

Battle of Ekiokpagha
Part of the battle between the Obas of Benin and Ogiamien family
Date 1255 AD Location Plains of Ogboka, Benin City 6°19′51″N 5°37′43″E / 6.3307°N 5.6287°E / 6.3307; 5.6287 Result Victory for Oba Ewedo
Belligerents
Benin Empire	Ogiamien family
Commanders and leaders
Ewedo	Ogiamien III
class=notpageimage| Location within Nigeria

The Battle of Ekiokpagha was a military conflict that took place in 1255 on the Plains of Ogboka, near Benin City. The battle was between Ewedo and Ogiamien III, the head of a royal family in the Benin Empire. It was a result of a power struggle between the two parties, who both had claims to the throne and territory of Benin. Oba Ewedo was victorious and established his palace at the site of the battle. Ewedo recognized Ogiamien III as a chief under his kingship.

The battle and its aftermath have been reenacted in the coronation rituals of the subsequent Obas of Benin, as a symbol of the historical and traditional enmity between the Oba and the Ogiamien family.

The roots of the conflict between Ewedo and Ogiamien III trace back to the establishment of the Benin dynasty in the 12th century AD by Prince Oranmiyan, who migrated from Ife.^[1][2] The dissatisfaction of the Benin elders with the rule of Ogiso Owodo, led to the invitation of Oranmiyan to rule them.^[1] Having married Princess Erimwinde, the daughter of Owodo, at Egor, the couple had a son, Eweka. Entrusting his son to Chief Evian, the Odionwere (head of the elders) of Benin, Oranmiyan left Benin due to environmental challenges and the hostility of the populace.^[1]

Eweka, raised by Evian, became the first Oba of Benin, initiating efforts to expand his influence and authority. However, he encountered resistance from indigenous chiefs, particularly Ogiamien III, who contested the Eweka's legitimacy to succeed the Ogiso dynasty.^[3] Ogiamien III, who claimed descent from the first Ogiso, Igodo, commanded a substantial territory and possessed a formidable army.^[3] Refusing to pay tribute or acknowledge Eweka's authority, Ogiamien III posed a persistent challenge.^[3]

Despite attempts by Eweka and his successors to quell Ogiamien and his followers, success remained elusive over several generations. The conflict persisted until the reign of Oba Ewedo, who assumed the throne in 1255 AD. Ewedo desired to establish secure rule over Benin and devised a plan to end the Ogiamien family defiance. This plan aimed to entice Ogiamien III into a carefully laid trap, culminating in a decisive battle to secure Ewedo's authority.^[4]

In a clandestine move, Ewedo secured the allegiance of Ubi through a series of secret negotiations. Ewedo promised substantial rewards to Ubi for his assistance in entering the city and establishing his rule.^[5] Aware of the resistance from the Edo people towards the monarchy's reinstatement, Ubi suggested a covert approach to accomplish their goal.^[6]

The strategy devised required Ewedo to symbolically announce his intention to enter the city by adorning himself with a white-cloth-covered rooster. Upon his arrival, Ubi would theatrically deny him entry, confiscate the rooster, and declare the onset of war after a week.^[7][2] This act was to be followed by Ewedo's offer of various tributes to Ubi, convincing him to grant passage and control of the city on the seventh day.^[7]

As planned, Ewedo executed the scheme. The rooster, representing a sacrificial entity, was taken by Ubi, who then feigned escape, prompting a pursuit by Ewedo's men. Ubi strategically discarded the rooster near a cemetery, ceasing the pursuit and marking the location that would become the new royal palace.^[7]

Seven days later, the opposing forces gathered at Ekiokpagha for a decisive encounter. However, before reaching the battleground, Ewedo's forces unexpectedly encountered and eliminated Oliha, a high-ranking chief of Ogiamien, leading to the creation of the proverbial phrase indicating the premature victory over Ogiamien's forces.^[7]

The narrative, possibly a product of historical reinterpretation, suggests a level of collusion and goodwill between the two factions, traditionally seen as adversaries.^[8] Following these events, Ewedo relocated from Usama, his provisional abode, to the current palace site. This move was strategic, connecting him with the land's original custodians and ancestors, thereby solidifying the legitimacy of his reign. Despite the outward harmony, Ewedo stationed his personal guards close to Ogiamien III's residence, indicating underlying mistrust.^[9]

The Battle of Ekiokpagha marked a decisive conclusion to the protracted conflict between previous Obas of Benin, including Ewedo, and Ogiamien family, signifying the unification and fortification of the Benin monarchy. Oba Ewedo earned the epithet "Ewedo the Great" for skilfully redefining the authority structures within the Benin nation.^[10] His reign ushered in a series of transformative measures, including the establishment of the Uzama (kingmakers), the expansion of city walls, the institution of a guild system, and the promotion of trade and commerce.^[4]

In the aftermath, Ogiamien III assumed a subservient role as a chief under the Oba, retaining specific privileges and influence. He retained possession of his palace and title, securing a share of tribute from the villages under his jurisdiction.^[4] Exempted from certain customary obligations such as prostrating before the Oba or wearing a cap in his presence, Ogiamien III was acknowledged as the representative of the indigenous people of the land and the custodian of the Ekiokpagha Treaty.^[11]

The Battle of Ekiokpagha and its repercussions are ritually reenacted during the coronation ceremonies of subsequent Obas of Benin, symbolising the historical and traditional tensions between the Oba and the Ogiamien family.^[4] The reenactments occur at a constructed "bridge" adorned with fresh palm fronds, representing the crossing from Isekhere's territory to Ogiamien's domain, where the Oba is ceremonially challenged.^[12] Another enactment unfolds at Ekiokpagha, where a simulated conflict transpires between the Oba and Ogiamien, ultimately culminating in reconciliation.^[13] These ritualistic performances serve to renew the terms of the treaty, averting potential displeasure of the land that might result in plagues and afflictions upon the city.^[14]

In recent times, particularly surrounding the 2016 coronation of Ewuare II, the Battle of Ekiokpagha has become a focal point of controversy and debate.^[15] The Ogiamien family, led by Arisco Osemwengie, asserted their rightful claim to the Benin throne, challenging the authority and legitimacy of the Oba.^[16] Refusing participation in the coronation rituals, they demanded recognition as a distinct kingdom.^[16] In response, the palace dismissed these claims as unfounded, labelling them rebellious and disrespectful, and contending that the Ogiamien family lacked ancestral ties to the Ogiso dynasty, considering them as former slaves.^[17]

The Battle of Ekiokpagha stands as a pivotal event in the history and cultural heritage of Benin, embodying the intricate and dynamic relationships between the Oba and the Ogiamien, as well as between the monarchy and the indigenous inhabitants of the land. It underscores the significance of coronation rituals in preserving and transmitting the historical and traditional memory of Benin.^[18]

The Treaty of Ekiokpagha was solemnly established between Ogiamien III and Ewedo, signifying a new era of peace and cooperation.^[2] Under this treaty, the Ogiamien and his followers committed to a path of reconciliation, declaring an immediate halt to the hostilities that had arisen during the tumultuous interregnum.^[19] A central element of the accord was the recognition of Ewedo's sovereignty over the Benin kingdom, with the Ogiamien formally acknowledging Ewedo's rightful rule.^[20] In a significant gesture of unity, the Ogiamien relinquished any claim to the kingship of the Benin kingdom and transferred the Royal Stool of the Ogiso to Ewedo.^[21]

The treaty also honoured the hereditary status of the Ogiamien, granting him the title of a hereditary chief and ensuring that he and his descendants would be recognised as distinguished members of the Benin nobility.^[22] Furthermore, the treaty specified that no chiefs, Sopkonba, 'other than the Oba of Benin', were to have the authority to intervene or exert political influence over the Ogiamien within his domain.^[23] The commitment to peace was underscored by a clause that prohibited the resumption of armed conflict or bloodshed following the treaty's ratification.^[24] Lastly, the Treaty of Ekiokpagha instituted a tradition of reaffirmation by each new Oba of Benin with the Ogiamien, ensuring that no retributive measures would be taken against the supporters of either side for their past political actions.^[25]