Udagbedo

Udagbedo was the seventh Oba (king) of the Benin Empire, ruling from around 1299 to 1334. He was the second son of Oba Oguola and the brother of Oba Edoni. Udagbedo's rule saw the expansion of the Benin Empire to the Ga region, currently part of Ghana. His reign was marked by a dispute with Agbodo, a figure who resisted the Oba's authority and attempted to violate a tradition by planning his burial in the palace precinct.

Early life and ascension
Udagbedo was born in Benin City, the capital of the Benin Empire. He was the second son of Oba Oguola, the fifth Oba of Benin, and the brother of Oba Edoni, the sixth Oba of Benin. After the death of his brother Edoni, Udagbedo became the seventh Oba of Benin, around 1299. He inherited a kingdom that had established trade connections with the Saharan states to the north and the Yoruba kingdoms to the west.

Reign
During Udagbedo's reign, agriculture and trade developed. He encouraged the cultivation of crops such as pepper, cotton, and palm oil. He also promoted the export of goods such as ivory, pepper, cotton goods, wool, jasper, leopard skins, soap, and later, palm oil.

A notable event during Udagbedo's reign was the migration of the Ga people from Benin to Accra, around 1300. The Ga people, originally a subgroup of the Edo people in the eastern part of the Benin Empire, decided to leave the empire and establish their own kingdom in the area of present-day Accra. Despite their migration, the Ga people maintained their cultural and linguistic ties with the Benin people.

Another event involved Agbodo, a man who frequently opposed the Oba's governance. Agbodo declared that his remains would be interred in his residence at Ogbe, a sector of Benin City typically reserved for the Oba's burial. This act contradicted a tradition established by Oba Ewedo in the mid-thirteenth century. As Agbodo approached death, he instructed his sons to place his body in the second impluvium of his house, along with a stone. Following his death, the body began to sink until it was no longer visible. The Oba sent messengers to confirm that Agbodo's corpse was not buried in his home, but they found no evidence of it. The Oba then ordered an excavation of the corpse, resulting in the demolition of the entire building. The excavation site later became a pond, known as Agbodo. In the fifteenth century, the three eldest sons of Oba Ozolua, Ogidogbo, Oba Esigie, and Aruanran, used this pond to test their physical prowess. The pond was filled by Oba Akenzua II between 1935 and 1937, and the Benin Divisional Council Public Works Department was built over it in 1949.

By 1334, Udagbedo had expanded Benin's rule to the Ga region of present-day Ghana. He was among the Obas who contributed to establishing Benin's imperial status, which was later strengthened by Oba Ewuare the Great in the fifteenth century. Some historians suggest that despite Oba Ewuare's efforts, Benin had not become an empire by 1450, and that the expansion of the state to include previously independent areas indicates the creation of an empire.

Personal life and death
Udagbedo had a daughter, Princess Omorefe, who was married to the Iyase, the prime minister and commander-in-chief of the Benin army. He died around 1334, after a reign of about 35 years. He was succeeded by his brother, Oba Ohen, the third son of Oba Oguola.

Legacy
Udagbedo's reign was characterised by the promotion of agriculture and commerce. He expanded Benin's rule to the Ga region of present-day Ghana. He also dealt with opposition from Agbodo. He was the father of Princess Omorefe, who was married to the Iyase.