Esigie

Edo · mortal · eweka dynasty · mortal

Mortal-tier 15th Oba of Benin (~1504-1547 CE per Egharevba 1968). Acceded after civil war with his elder brother Arhuaran; his mother Idia rode to war on his behalf, the canonical foundation of the Iyoba (Queen Mother) office. Defeated the Idah (Igala) kingdom c.1515-1517. Allowed Portuguese Catholic missionaries; experimented with Christian-Edo religious syncretism; sent Edo emissaries to Portugal — the canonical first West African royal embassy to Renaissance Europe. Established the Iyoba office for Idia — the canonical Idia ivory pendant mask (British Museum + Met Museum) is iconographically the most-recognizable Benin court object globally.

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