Dakodonou

Dakodonou was the second King of Dahomey. He ruled from 1620 to 1645. In traditional Abomey stories, Dakodonou overthrew his brother, the previous King Gangnihessou, when the ruler was absent from the capital on a tour of the kingdom. Dakodonou is portrayed as a brutal and violent man. His symbols were an indigo jar (a reference to his murder of a certain indigo planter named Donou, whose body he made sport of by rolling it around in his indigo jar and whose name he appended to his own original name, 'Dako'), a tinder box, and a war club. Before dying, Dakodonou named his nephew, Aho Houegbadja, as his successor.

Agongointo-Zoungoudo Underground Town is thought to have been built during Dakodonou's reign.

See also

• Dahomey
• Rulers of the Fon state of Danhome

References

Preceded by Gangnihessou

King of Dahomey 1620–1645

Succeeded by Aho Houegbadja