Oyo Empire: Map & History
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day western Nigeria and Benin. It grew to become the largest Yoruba-speaking state through the organizational and administrative efforts of the Yoruba people, trade, as well as the military use of cavalry. The Oyo Empire was one of the most politically important states in Western Africa from the late-16th to the early 18th century and held sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in modern Benin to its west.
Modern Countries Once Part of Oyo Empire
At its mapped extent, Oyo Empire covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Oyo Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Oyo Empire in Depth
History
The legendary origins of the Oyo Empire lie with Ọranyan (also known as Ọranmiyan), the last prince of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile-Ife (Ife). According to oral traditions, Ọranmiyan made an agreement with his brother to launch a punitive raid on their northern neighbors for insulting their father Oduduwa, the first Ooni of Ife. On the way to the battle, the brothers quarreled and the army split up. Oranmiyan's force was too small to make a successful attack, so he wandered the southern shore of the Niger River until reaching Bussa. There, the local chief entertained him and provided a large snake with a magic charm attached to its throat.
The chief instructed Oranmiyan to follow the snake until it stopped somewhere for seven days and disappeared into the ground.
Military
There was a high degree of professionalism in the army of the Oyo Empire. Its military success was due in large part to its cavalry, its renowned archers, as well as the leadership and courage of Oyo officers and warriors. The people of Oyo had a reputation for being the "best bowmen in Africa", according to Hugh Clapperton. Starting from a young age, boys would practise and quickly become excellent with the bow. Skill refinements were culturally incorporated as games where individuals would take on the task of discharging arrows into a small hole from over 100 yards away. A feat many accomplished successive times. This deadly ability was in use both by Oyo's cavalry and the infantry.
Culture
Oyo became the southern emporium of the Trans-Saharan trade. Exchanges were made in salt, leather, horses, kola nuts, ivory, cloth and slaves. The Yoruba of metropolitan Oyo were also highly skilled in craft making and iron work. Aside from taxes on trade products coming in and out of the empire, Oyo also became wealthy off the taxes imposed on its tributaries. Taxes on the kingdom of Dahomey alone brought in an amount estimated at 14 million US dollars a year. In pre colonial times, Esusu was a type of rotating savings and credit association among the Yoruba. Esusu was recorded to have been practiced in Oyo during the reign of Alaafin Abiodun in the 18th century.
The architecture within the Oyo Empire, exhibited an intricate built environment.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Oyo Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Oyo Empire Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Oyo Empire appears, with the other states of the time.
Oyo Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 87,978 km² in 1794 CE.
Oyo Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Oyo Empire exist?
The Oyo Empire is dated to 1609 CE – 1835 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of the Oyo Empire?
The capital of the Oyo Empire was Oyo-Igboho (c. 1300–1615), Oyo-Ile (c. 1615–1835).
How large was the Oyo Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 1794 the Oyo Empire covered about 87,978 km².
How did the map of the Oyo Empire change over time?
The Oyo Empire appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1700 CE to 1800 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad