French Dahomey

Infobox Former Country
native_name =
conventional_long_name = Dahomey
common_name = Dahomey
continent = Africa
region = Western Africa
country = Benin
status = Colony
empire = France
event_start = French West Africa
year_start = 1904
date_start =
event_end = French Community
year_end = 1958
date_end = December 11
event_pre = Colonized
date_pre = 1872
event1 = French Union
date_event1 = September 4, 1947
event_post = Independence
date_post = August 1, 1960
p1 = Kingdom of Dahomey
flag_p1 =
s1 = Republic of Dahomey
flag_s1 = Flag of Benin.svg

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capital = Porto-Novo
common_languages = French
currency = French West African franc
CFA franc
footnotes =

Dahomey was a French colony of and a part of French West Africa from 1904 to 1958. After World War II, by the establishment of the French Fourth Republic in 1947, Dahomey became part of the French Union with an increased autonomy. On December 11, 1958, the French Fifth Republic was established and the French Union became the French Community. The colony became the self-governing Republic of Dahomey within the Community, and two years later on August 1, 1960 it gained full independence.

History

During the 13th century, the indigenous Edo people of the west Niger area were run by a group of local chieftains, but by the 15th century a single ruler known as the 'oba' had asserted control. See Kingdom of Benin. Under the dynasty established by Ewuare the Great, the most famous of the obas, Benin's territory expanded to cover a region between the Niger River delta and what is now the Nigerian city of Lagos. The obas brought great prosperity and a highly organized state to Benin. They also established good relations and an extensive slave trade with the Portuguese and Dutch who arrived from the 15th century onwards.

The decline of the obas began in the 18th century when a series of internal power struggles began which lasted into the 19th century, paving the way for the French takeover and colonization of the country in 1872. In 1904, the territory was incorporated into French West Africa as Dahomey.

Under the French a port was constructed at Cotonou, and railroads were built. School facilities were expanded by Roman Catholic missions. In 1946, Dahomey became an overseas territory with its own parliament and representation in the French national assembly; and on December 4, 1958, it became the République du Dahomey, self-governing within the French Community.

On August 1, 1960, the Republic of Dahomey gained full independence from France. The first president was Hubert Maga, who bore the title Prime Minister during the country's last year under French rule.