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in 1718, oral traditions say that Hangbe was the ruler of
Dahomey, as regent. In one version, after Akaba's death, Hangbe put on her brother's armor and continued leading the forces in the Ouémé River valley. Between 1716 and 1718, Hangbe continued the warfare started by Akaba in the Ouémé River
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and the execution of her son, stripped naked in front of the council and washed her genitals in a show of contempt for their decision. Other versions have her son remaining alive but an angry speech by Hangbe directed at the council included a prediction that this would lead to the conquest of
128:, who ultimately became king. Hangbe's legacy lives on in oral tradition, but little is known about her rule because it was largely erased from official history. It is possible that her gender and role as a woman in power contributed to her rule being erased from official history.
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and have an oral tradition that lists seven descendants acting as head of the Hangbe lineage under the title of Queen Hangbe. In some versions, it is stated that Hangbe was the main person responsible for the creation of the
218:, a military unit composed entirely of women. Most scholars do not consider this likely. Hangbe is not included in any of the court king lists for the Kingdom of Dahomey due to a particularly thorough case of
144:, which is the traditional name given to the first son born after twins. Akaba became the King of Dahomey around 1685 and Hangbe became an important part of the royal family as the oldest sister of Akaba.
188:. Oral traditions disagree on what happened afterwards. One version recounts that her only son was put to death to prevent any claims to the throne, while Hangbe, disgusted with the choice of
176:. Others contend that the court was afraid of creating a split dynasty, with the children of Hangbe and the children of Akaba having equal right to claim the throne, and so preferred
168:) contested this rule and this caused a significant succession struggle between Agbo Sassa and Dosu. Some versions claim that the royal court was displeased with the perceived
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valley in 1716, but the histories disagree about the cause of death whether in battle, poisoned, or smallpox. Regardless, between his death and the appointment of
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Dahomey by
Europeans. Other oral traditions connected with her surviving lineage suggests that, while Agbo Sassa fled north to live with the
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valley and may have led additional military expeditions. Her rule is generally considered to have lasted either three months or three years.
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In 1718, Hangbe supported the rule of Agbo Sassa, the oldest son of Akaba, to the throne of
Dahomey. Her younger brother Dosu (later
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in the early 1800s, the house and lineage was provided significant funds to maintain its presence.
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as the twin sister of Akaba. The twins had a younger brother named Dosu, who later took the name
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came to power in 1718. According to oral tradition, she became regent upon the sudden death of
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to clarify the dynastic line of succession. Regardless, the struggle did not last long and
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Oral histories agree generally that Akaba died while engaged in military combat in the
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Wives of the
Leopard: Gender, Politics, and Culture in the Kingdom of Dahomey
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Hangbe's descendants live to the current day in a compound next to the
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Stanley B. Alpern (1998). "On the
Origins of the Amazons of Dahomey".
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232:Women in warfare (1500–1699)
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609:Dah Sagbadjou Glele
160:Succession struggle
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338:Bay, Edna (1998).
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122:Agbo Sassa
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114:King Akaba
78:Houegbadja
69:Alladahonu
532:Adandozan
466:Dakodonou
312:Q55868093
296:0361-5413
98:Na Hangbe
54:Successor
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550:BĂ©hanzin
475:to 1645)
453:Do-Aklin
308:Wikidata
282:: 9–25.
226:See also
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514:Tegbesu
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92:, also
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