Ọba Ọzọlua - The Conqueror
The Warrior King Who Fought 201 wars
The Ọbas of Benin were renowned as warrior kings, leading their military and conquests with unmatched bravery and fearlessness. Among these monarchs, one of the fiercest was Ọba Ọzọlua n’Ibaromiȩko (Ọzọlua the Conqueror), the youngest child of Ọba Ewuare the Great.
It is said that Ọba Ọzọlua prayed every morning for battle—not just any conflict, but one that would make him sweat blood and tears. His fervent disposition was understandable given the circumstances of his rise to power.
The Tragic Fate of His Siblings
Born with the princely name of Ọkpame, Ọba Ọzọlua’s eldest brother, Ẹzoti was assassinated with a poison dart. Ọzọlua was sent to escort Ezoti’s son back home, but along the way Ọzọlua mercilessly killed the boy. Ọzọlua was exiled for this cruel act. During his expulsion, his second brother, Olua, was crowned but reigned for only seven years. Next in line was their sister, Princess Edelayor, who tragically died during her coronation.
Loss Of Power
These successive deaths left Benin leaderless. A republican government was formed, but it struggled to maintain control. Previously conquered towns and villages rebelled, refusing to pay homage and taxes to Benin. These lands, originally conquered by Ọba Ewuare (Ozolua’s father), sought their independence amid Benin's weakened grip on power.
A warrior king was needed to restore Benin's fearsome reputation and recapture the rebellious states. After much persuasion, the exiled prince, Ọzọlua was invited back to the kingdom.
The House and Bush Mice
Ọzọlua was invited by the people of Benin to return and defend his ancestral throne. Initially, he refused their invitation. To persuade him, they sent a leather box containing a house mouse and a bush mouse. When he opened the box, the house mouse ran to the top of the roof, and the bush mouse ran into the bush. This incident made Ọzọlua conclude that if mice could find their natural places of abode by instinct, there was no reason why he, a rational man, should not return to his rightful place. Consequently, he accepted the invitation, returned to Benin City, and was crowned Qba with the title Ọzọlua at Usama.
Reign of Ọba Ọzọlua (1461-1504)
Upon his return in 1461, Ọba Ọzọlua launched into action, reclaiming the lost territories through an impressive 201 wars. He not only recaptured the rebellious states but also expanded the empire, reinstating the fearsome reputation of the Benin warrior kings. Thus, he earned the title Ọzọlua the Conqueror. He reigned until 1504, a period marked by significant military and territorial achievements.
Titans of Benin
Ọba Ọzọlua's era was marked by some of the mightiest warriors in Benin, each with formidable abilities:
Ovatọ:
A warrior who could cause earthquakes by stamping his feet.
Atabatibo n’ Ogbe:
A giant of a man who could eat whole tubers of yam from Ogbe (from Ogbe).
Elekighidi:
A powerful magician whose screams could summon lightning. Read his story here.
Ọkhwaihẹ:
A soldier from Ọba Ewuare's time who metamorphosed into a river. -
Read his story
Egbaẹn n’ Iwu:
A haunting figure with bees attached to his beard from Iwu. Read his story here.
Isȩ n’ Utȩkọn:
The sword bearer in Oba Ozolua’s court Royal Court from Utekon.
Egbọmarhuan n’ Okhumwu:
Known as the man mountain, who described himself as a man-elephant without a tail.
Ovbivbi n’ Okhumwu:
The Blind Warrior from Okhumwu (a town in Benin)
Awa N’uho:
The Most powerful mystic of her time. Responsible for training many mighty warriors.
During the leadership vacuum, many of these warlords declared themselves independent and refused to acknowledge Ọba Ọzọlua as their monarch.
In the forthcoming series we will share some of the colourful battles Oba Ọzọlua embarked on and his tragic last battle.
Also, do you know how Ọzọlua dealt with the rebellious states, once they were retaken? Was he compassionate or punishing?
Another great narrative, thanks. Any ideas why Ọzọlua killed Ẹzoti's son? Did Ọzọlua suspect that he was involved in Ẹzoti's assassination?