Oba of Benin

The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. The then Kingdom of Benin (not to be confused with the modern-day and unrelated Republic of Benin, which was then known as Dahomey) has continued to be mostly populated by the Edo (also known as Benin ethnic group).

In 1897, a British military force of approximately 1,200 men under the command of Sir Harry Rawson mounted the Benin punitive Expedition. The force was dispatched in retaliation to the ambush of a British party, at Ugbine village near Gwato on 4 January 1897 by a group of Benin soldiers who were acting without orders from the Oba; the ambush had led to the deaths of all but two of the British party. The British force captured the capital of the Kingdom of Benin, sacking and burning the city while forcing the Oba of Benin, Ovonramwen, into a six-month exile. The expeditionary force consisted of both indigenous soldiers and British officers based in colonial-era Nigeria. Numerous artworks (collectively known as the Benin Bronzes) looted from the city palace were sold off to defray the costs of the expedition. Ovonramwen died in 1914, his throne never having been restored to him. His son, grandson and now his great-grandson, however, has preserved their title and status as traditional rulers in modern-day Nigeria.

Pre-Imperial Benin (1180–1440)
Source:
 * Eweka I (1200 AD – 1235AD)
 * Uwakhuahen (1235 AD – 1243 AD)
 * Ehenmihen (1243 AD – 1255 AD)
 * Ewedo (1255 AD – 1280 AD)
 * Oguola (1280 AD – 1295 AD)
 * Edoni (1295 AD – 1299 AD)
 * Udagbedo (1299 AD – 1334 AD)
 * Ohen (1334 AD – 1370 AD)
 * Egbeka (1370 AD – 1400 AD)
 * Orobiru (1400 AD – 1430 AD)
 * Uwaifiokun (1430 AD – 1440 AD)

Imperial Benin (1440–1897)
There is some uncertainty in the dates of the reigns of some of the earlier warrior kings
 * Ewuare The Great (1440 AD – 1473 AD)
 * Ezoti (Reigned for 14 days)
 * Olua (1473 AD – 1480 AD)
 * Ozolua (1483 AD – 1504 AD)
 * Esigie (1504 AD – 1550 AD)
 * Orhogbua (1550 AD – 1578 AD)
 * Ehengbuda (1578 AD -1606 AD)
 * Ohuan (1606 AD – 1641 AD)
 * Ohenzae (1641 AD – 1661 AD)
 * Akenzae (1661 AD – 1669 AD)
 * Akengboi ( 1669 AD – 1675 AD)
 * Ahenkpaye (1675 AD – 1684 AD)
 * Akengbedo (1684 AD – 1689 AD)
 * Oroghene (1689 AD – 1700 AD)
 * Ewuakpe (1700 AD – 1712 AD)
 * Ozuere (1712 AD – 1713 AD)
 * Akenzua I (1713 AD – 1735 AD)
 * Eresoyen (1735 AD – 1750 AD)
 * Akengbuda (1750 AD – 1804 AD)
 * Obanosa (1804 AD – 1816 AD)
 * Ogbebo (1816 AD – 1816 AD) (Reigned for eight months)
 * Osemwende (1816 AD – 1848 AD)
 * Adolo (1848 AD – 1888 AD)
 * Ovonramwen N'Ogbaise (1888 AD – 1914 AD)

Post-Imperial Benin

 * Eweka II (1914 AD – 1933 AD)
 * Akenzua II (1933 AD – 1978 AD)
 * Erediauwa (1979–2016)
 * Ewuare II (2016 – present)