496:
484:
472:
508:
520:
340:
51:
67:
332:
260:
890:
682:
1431:
834:
74:
373:
From 1625 to 1900 twelve kings succeeded one another at the head of the powerful
Kingdom of Abomey. With the exception of King Akaba, who used a separate enclosure, they each had their palaces built within the same cob-wall area, in keeping with previous palaces as regards the use of space and
394:
As reported by UNESCO, on 21 January 2009 the Royal
Palaces of Abomey suffered from a fire "which destroyed several buildings." The fire was the most recent disaster to have plagued the site, coming after a powerful tornado damaged the site in 1984.
751:
759:
362:, the palaces covered some 44ha and it was surrounded by a 10 meter high wall reaching 4km in length. Only 2 of the original 12 palace survived the 1892 burning by BĂ©hanzin, Dahomey's last king. The
495:
282:
Dahomey expanded rapidly in the 1700s, absorbing many of the surrounding kingdoms, and growing rich from the slave trade. In the late 18th century, Abomey was surrounded only by dry
279:
who ventured north to found his own kingdom; the name is thought to come from Danhomé, also spelled Danxomé, meaning "belly of Dan", Dan being the original chief of the village.
1496:
386:") have been located and replaced on the rebuilt structure. The bas-reliefs carry an iconographic program expressing the history and power of the Fon people.
351:
between the mid-17th and late 19th
Centuries. One of the most famous and historically significant traditional sites in West Africa, the palaces form a UNESCO
483:
301:
to torch the city and flee northward. Thereafter the town declined in importance, a process hastened when the French built the new administrative centre of
383:
471:
1974:
507:
1397:
275:(1600–1904), on the site of the former village of Kana. Traditional legends state that the town was founded by Do-Aklin, a son of the king of
822:
702:
98:
697:
1419:
290:. The royal palaces were fortified with a nearly square mudbrick wall that was 20 feet high. The flanks reached almost 1 mile as
1984:
566:
800:
791:
1994:
664:
305:
immediately to the east. Today, the city is of less importance, but is still popular with tourists and as a centre for
1969:
519:
815:
1427:
1412:
592:
1989:
1979:
66:
50:
1964:
808:
314:
650:
646:
1435:
1405:
326:
310:
236:
41:
1265:
369:
When UNESCO designated the royal palaces of Abomey as a World
Heritage Site in 1985 it stated:
1242:
956:
297:
After several attempts, the French conquered the kingdom on 16 November 1892, prompting King
687:
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
830:
352:
140:
8:
1181:
1062:
244:
1943:
1300:
898:
846:
363:
272:
228:. The commune of Abomey covers an area of 142 square kilometres and, as of 2012, had a
374:
materials. The royal palaces of Abomey are a unique reminder of this vanished kingdom.
1138:
1009:
838:
660:
37:
1850:
1017:
1465:
1290:
1105:
656:
264:
203:
570:
1731:
1313:
1199:
1161:
869:
795:
339:
216:
1933:
1658:
1318:
1746:
1439:
1338:
1227:
788:
239:, a collection of small traditional houses that were inhabited by the Kings of
221:
145:
1779:
1537:
1075:
1042:
378:
From 1993, 50 of the 56 bas-reliefs that formerly decorated the walls of King
1958:
1870:
1260:
964:
693:
688:
537:
113:
100:
17:
1485:
331:
1928:
1893:
1774:
1764:
1653:
1527:
1522:
1512:
1504:
1351:
1207:
1032:
994:
946:
864:
347:
The Royal
Palaces of Abomey are a group of earthen structures built by the
259:
1600:
941:
906:
1668:
1517:
1328:
1166:
1085:
1812:
1711:
1620:
1146:
974:
359:
298:
1938:
1918:
1885:
1701:
1595:
1590:
1575:
1386:
1285:
1222:
1156:
1151:
931:
874:
784:
UNESCO assessment of threats to the site, after tornado damage in 1984.
783:
379:
348:
291:
229:
1460:
1080:
1047:
921:
879:
706:. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 67.
1875:
1842:
1807:
1721:
1585:
1557:
1381:
1052:
1027:
854:
729:
716:
194:
1898:
1855:
1797:
1648:
1638:
1480:
1475:
1022:
984:
926:
889:
1923:
1827:
1822:
1789:
1610:
1605:
1580:
1376:
1270:
1255:
1171:
859:
596:
287:
1552:
1128:
1070:
916:
1908:
1860:
1817:
1802:
1726:
1691:
1567:
1455:
1356:
1308:
1250:
1232:
1189:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1090:
1037:
936:
302:
240:
1913:
1832:
1716:
1630:
1547:
1542:
1361:
1323:
1217:
1095:
366:
rebuilt the town and connected it with the coast by a railroad.
1903:
1769:
1756:
1706:
1696:
1683:
1663:
1643:
1470:
1371:
1366:
1280:
979:
969:
545:
306:
276:
248:
199:
1741:
1673:
1615:
1532:
1275:
989:
911:
283:
271:
Abomey was founded in the 17th century as the capital of the
225:
133:
1495:
999:
1865:
1736:
1212:
569:. Atlas Monographique des Communes du Benin. Archived from
541:
730:"State of Conservation: Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)"
286:
which was crossed by bridges that were protected by a
501:
Young girl with wooden statue of mystic chair (1908)
513:Town Hall, located in the former Governor's Palace
1956:
243:from 1600 to 1900, and which were designated a
744:
320:
1413:
816:
1420:
1406:
823:
809:
559:
23:Commune and city in Zou Department, Benin
692:
645:
338:
330:
309:. Since 1985, Abomey has maintained its
258:
628:
626:
624:
622:
620:
618:
616:
614:
1975:Populated places in the Zou Department
1957:
1401:
804:
673:
652:Warfare in Atlantic Africa, 1500–1800
215:
611:
343:Exhibition, Royal Palaces of Abomey
13:
14:
2006:
777:
1494:
1429:
888:
832:
680:
518:
506:
494:
482:
470:
263:Gates of Abomey depicted in the
160:142 km (55 sq mi)
72:
65:
49:
477:"Important witchdoctors" (1908)
398:
722:
710:
639:
585:
364:French colonial administration
73:
1:
1985:World Heritage Sites in Benin
552:
267:by Valentin Foulquier in 1863
489:Dance of the Fon chiefs 1908
7:
789:Historical Museum of Abomey
530:
321:The Royal Palaces of Abomey
10:
2011:
1995:Capitals of former nations
886:
717:UNESCO World Heritage news
634:Bradt Travel Guide - Benin
595:. Statoids. Archived from
463:
389:
324:
315:UNESCO World Heritage Site
254:
55:A street in Abomey in 2017
15:
1884:
1841:
1788:
1755:
1682:
1629:
1566:
1503:
1492:
1446:
1337:
1299:
1241:
1198:
1180:
1137:
1104:
1061:
1008:
955:
897:
845:
525:One of the royal palaces.
294:were built on each wall.
193:
189:640/km (1,600/sq mi)
185:
177:
172:
164:
156:
151:
139:
129:
94:
60:
48:
35:
28:
1970:Arrondissements of Benin
311:complex of royal palaces
168:221 m (725 ft)
16:Not to be confused with
703:Encyclopædia Britannica
335:Royal Palaces of Abomey
327:Royal Palaces of Abomey
237:Royal Palaces of Abomey
632:Butler, Stuart (2019)
344:
336:
268:
220:is the capital of the
957:Atlantique Department
342:
334:
262:
647:Thornton, John Kelly
358:During the reign of
353:World Heritage Sites
186: • Density
1182:Littoral Department
1063:Collines Department
762:on December 9, 2012
593:"Communes of Benin"
245:World Heritage Site
114:7.18556°N 1.98806°E
110: /
1990:French West Africa
1980:Kingdom of Dahomey
1301:Plateau Department
899:Atakora Department
847:Alibori Department
794:2012-06-12 at the
719:, 13 February 2009
345:
337:
273:Kingdom of Dahomey
269:
235:Abomey houses the
232:of 90,195 people.
178: • Total
157: • Total
1965:Communes of Benin
1952:
1951:
1395:
1394:
1139:Kouffo Department
1010:Borgou Department
839:Communes of Benin
599:on 2 January 2010
461:
460:
382:(now termed the "
217:[a.bÉ”.mÉ›]
210:
209:
86:Location in Benin
2002:
1498:
1434:
1433:
1432:
1422:
1415:
1408:
1399:
1398:
1243:Ouémé Department
1106:Donga Department
892:
837:
836:
835:
825:
818:
811:
802:
801:
771:
770:
768:
767:
758:. Archived from
748:
742:
741:
739:
737:
726:
720:
714:
708:
707:
686:
684:
683:
677:
671:
670:
657:Psychology Press
643:
637:
630:
609:
608:
606:
604:
589:
583:
582:
580:
578:
563:
522:
510:
498:
486:
474:
446:2008 (estimate)
403:
402:
384:Salle des Bijoux
265:Le Tour du Monde
219:
125:
124:
122:
121:
120:
119:7.18556; 1.98806
115:
111:
108:
107:
106:
103:
76:
75:
69:
53:
26:
25:
2010:
2009:
2005:
2004:
2003:
2001:
2000:
1999:
1955:
1954:
1953:
1948:
1880:
1837:
1784:
1751:
1678:
1625:
1562:
1499:
1490:
1442:
1436:Arrondissements
1430:
1428:
1426:
1396:
1391:
1333:
1295:
1266:Akpro-Missérété
1237:
1200:Mono Department
1194:
1176:
1133:
1100:
1057:
1004:
951:
893:
884:
841:
833:
831:
829:
796:Wayback Machine
780:
775:
774:
765:
763:
756:World Gazetteer
750:
749:
745:
735:
733:
728:
727:
723:
715:
711:
696:, ed. (1911). "
681:
679:
678:
674:
667:
644:
640:
631:
612:
602:
600:
591:
590:
586:
576:
574:
565:
564:
560:
555:
533:
526:
523:
514:
511:
502:
499:
490:
487:
478:
475:
466:
401:
392:
329:
323:
257:
118:
116:
112:
109:
104:
101:
99:
97:
96:
90:
89:
88:
87:
84:
83:
82:
81:
77:
56:
44:
31:
24:
21:
12:
11:
5:
2008:
1998:
1997:
1992:
1987:
1982:
1977:
1972:
1967:
1950:
1949:
1947:
1946:
1941:
1936:
1931:
1926:
1921:
1916:
1911:
1906:
1901:
1896:
1890:
1888:
1882:
1881:
1879:
1878:
1873:
1868:
1863:
1858:
1853:
1851:Agonli-Houégbo
1847:
1845:
1839:
1838:
1836:
1835:
1830:
1825:
1820:
1815:
1810:
1805:
1800:
1794:
1792:
1786:
1785:
1783:
1782:
1777:
1772:
1767:
1761:
1759:
1753:
1752:
1750:
1749:
1744:
1739:
1734:
1729:
1724:
1719:
1714:
1709:
1704:
1699:
1694:
1688:
1686:
1680:
1679:
1677:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1635:
1633:
1627:
1626:
1624:
1623:
1618:
1613:
1608:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1578:
1572:
1570:
1564:
1563:
1561:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1535:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1509:
1507:
1501:
1500:
1493:
1491:
1489:
1488:
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1452:
1450:
1444:
1443:
1440:Zou Department
1425:
1424:
1417:
1410:
1402:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1343:
1341:
1339:Zou Department
1335:
1334:
1332:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1305:
1303:
1297:
1296:
1294:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1247:
1245:
1239:
1238:
1236:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1204:
1202:
1196:
1195:
1193:
1192:
1186:
1184:
1178:
1177:
1175:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1143:
1141:
1135:
1134:
1132:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1110:
1108:
1102:
1101:
1099:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1067:
1065:
1059:
1058:
1056:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1014:
1012:
1006:
1005:
1003:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
961:
959:
953:
952:
950:
949:
944:
939:
934:
929:
924:
919:
914:
909:
903:
901:
895:
894:
887:
885:
883:
882:
877:
872:
867:
862:
857:
851:
849:
843:
842:
828:
827:
820:
813:
805:
799:
798:
786:
779:
778:External links
776:
773:
772:
743:
721:
709:
694:Chisholm, Hugh
672:
666:978-1857283921
665:
659:. p. 87.
638:
610:
584:
573:on May 9, 2021
557:
556:
554:
551:
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549:
532:
529:
528:
527:
524:
517:
515:
512:
505:
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500:
493:
491:
488:
481:
479:
476:
469:
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462:
459:
458:
455:
451:
450:
447:
443:
442:
439:
435:
434:
431:
427:
426:
423:
419:
418:
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411:
410:
407:
400:
397:
391:
388:
376:
375:
325:Main article:
322:
319:
256:
253:
222:Zou Department
208:
207:
197:
191:
190:
187:
183:
182:
179:
175:
174:
170:
169:
166:
162:
161:
158:
154:
153:
149:
148:
146:Zou Department
143:
137:
136:
131:
127:
126:
92:
91:
85:
79:
78:
71:
70:
64:
63:
62:
61:
58:
57:
54:
46:
45:
36:
33:
32:
29:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2007:
1996:
1993:
1991:
1988:
1986:
1983:
1981:
1978:
1976:
1973:
1971:
1968:
1966:
1963:
1962:
1960:
1945:
1942:
1940:
1937:
1935:
1932:
1930:
1927:
1925:
1922:
1920:
1917:
1915:
1912:
1910:
1907:
1905:
1902:
1900:
1897:
1895:
1892:
1891:
1889:
1887:
1883:
1877:
1874:
1872:
1869:
1867:
1864:
1862:
1859:
1857:
1854:
1852:
1849:
1848:
1846:
1844:
1840:
1834:
1831:
1829:
1826:
1824:
1821:
1819:
1816:
1814:
1811:
1809:
1806:
1804:
1801:
1799:
1796:
1795:
1793:
1791:
1787:
1781:
1778:
1776:
1773:
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1768:
1766:
1763:
1762:
1760:
1758:
1754:
1748:
1745:
1743:
1740:
1738:
1735:
1733:
1730:
1728:
1725:
1723:
1720:
1718:
1715:
1713:
1710:
1708:
1705:
1703:
1700:
1698:
1695:
1693:
1690:
1689:
1687:
1685:
1681:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1636:
1634:
1632:
1628:
1622:
1619:
1617:
1614:
1612:
1609:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
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1584:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1574:
1573:
1571:
1569:
1565:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1510:
1508:
1506:
1502:
1497:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1449:
1445:
1441:
1437:
1423:
1418:
1416:
1411:
1409:
1404:
1403:
1400:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1344:
1342:
1340:
1336:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1306:
1304:
1302:
1298:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1244:
1240:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1205:
1203:
1201:
1197:
1191:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1179:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1140:
1136:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1103:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1060:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1007:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
965:Abomey-Calavi
963:
962:
960:
958:
954:
948:
945:
943:
940:
938:
935:
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18:Abomey-Calavi
1934:Tanwé-Hessou
1659:Lainta-Cogbè
1654:Houen-Hounso
1523:Agbangnizoun
1513:Adahondjigon
1505:Agbangnizoun
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1352:Agbangnizoun
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764:. Retrieved
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1538:Lissazounmè
1518:Adingningon
1291:Sèmè-Kpodji
1076:Dassa-Zoumè
409:Population
292:blockhouses
117: /
1959:Categories
1939:Zogbodomey
1919:Koussoukpa
1886:Zogbodomey
1732:Oungbègamè
1596:Gnidjazoun
1591:Bohicon II
1576:Agongointo
1486:Zounzounmè
1387:Zogbodomey
1314:Adja-Ouèrè
1286:Porto-Novo
1223:Grand-Popo
1162:Klouékanmè
1157:Dogbo-Tota
1152:Djakotomey
932:Natitingou
875:Malanville
766:2008-12-19
603:January 5,
577:January 5,
553:References
349:Fon people
230:population
173:Population
141:Department
1876:Zagnanado
1843:Zagnanado
1808:Houngomey
1722:Monsourou
1601:Lissèzoun
1586:Bohicon I
1558:Zoungoudo
1382:Zagnanado
1228:Houéyogbé
1053:Tchaourou
1018:Bembèrèkè
942:Tanguiéta
907:Boukoumbé
855:Banikoara
251:in 1985.
195:Time zone
165:Elevation
105:1°59′17″E
1924:Kpokissa
1871:Kpédékpo
1828:Za-Tanta
1823:Za-Kpota
1813:Kpakpamè
1790:Za-Kpota
1712:Dohouimè
1621:Sodohomè
1611:Passagon
1606:Ouassaho
1581:Avogbana
1377:Za-Kpota
1271:Avrankou
1261:Aguégués
1256:Adjohoun
1172:Toviklin
1147:Aplahoué
975:Kpomassè
870:Karimama
860:Gogounou
792:Archived
752:"Abomey"
732:. UNESCO
649:(1999).
567:"Abomey"
531:See also
360:BĂ©hanzin
299:BĂ©hanzin
288:garrison
102:7°11′8″N
1909:Cana II
1861:Don-Tan
1818:Kpozoun
1803:Assalin
1727:Mougnon
1692:Agondji
1568:Bohicon
1461:Dètohou
1456:Agbokpa
1438:of the
1357:Bohicon
1309:Ifangni
1251:Adjarra
1233:Lokossa
1208:Athiémè
1190:Cotonou
1124:Djougou
1119:Copargo
1114:Bassila
1091:Savalou
1081:Glazoué
1048:Sinendé
1038:Parakou
937:Pehonko
922:Kouandé
880:SĂ©gbana
736:27 July
691::
538:twinned
464:Gallery
457:90 195
449:87 344
441:77 997
433:65 725
425:38 412
417:24 000
390:Threats
303:Bohicon
255:History
241:Dahomey
130:Country
38:Commune
1944:Zoukou
1904:Cana I
1899:Avlamè
1856:Banamè
1798:Allahé
1780:Tohoué
1770:Ouinhi
1757:Ouinhi
1747:Zoukou
1707:Djidja
1697:Agouna
1684:Djidja
1664:Naogon
1649:Houéko
1644:Gounli
1639:Adogbé
1481:Vidolè
1476:Sèhoun
1471:Hounli
1466:Djègbè
1448:Abomey
1372:Ouinhi
1367:Djidja
1347:Abomey
1329:Sakété
1281:Dangbo
1086:Ouèssè
1043:Pèrèrè
1028:N'Dali
1023:Kalalè
985:SĂ´-Ava
980:Ouidah
970:Allada
927:Matéri
698:Abomey
685:
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546:France
414:1860s
307:crafts
277:Allada
249:UNESCO
213:Abomey
181:90,195
80:Abomey
30:Abomey
1929:Massi
1894:Akiza
1775:Sagon
1765:Dasso
1742:Setto
1674:Zogba
1616:Saclo
1553:Tanvé
1533:Kpota
1528:Kinta
1319:KĂ©tou
1276:Bonou
1129:Ouaké
1071:Bantè
1033:Nikki
990:Toffo
917:KĂ©rou
912:Cobly
865:Kandi
540:with
454:2012
438:2002
430:1992
422:1979
406:Year
380:Glèlè
313:as a
284:ditch
226:Benin
200:UTC+1
134:Benin
1914:Domè
1866:Dovi
1833:Zèko
1737:Outo
1717:Gobè
1669:Soli
1631:Cové
1548:Siwé
1543:Sahé
1362:Covè
1324:Pobè
1218:Comé
1213:Bopa
1167:Lalo
1096:Savè
738:2015
661:ISBN
605:2010
579:2010
542:Albi
152:Area
42:city
40:and
1702:Dan
700:".
247:by
224:of
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1961::
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