Benin (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

Benin (:, Edo) is a  empire located in  along the. The largest of the West African kingdoms, Benin is home to more than 18.8 million inhabitants, the majority of which belong to the ethnic group of the. The nation itself spans a total of 929,268 km2 (358,792 sq mi) as of 1430. Establish in 1180, Benin was founded by the, and grew to become one of the eldest and most developed states in the Niger Delta region, as well as boasting one of the most advanced societies south of the. The nation became a truly unified empire under Oba Ewuare in 1413, following the death of his father Orobiru. Extensive trade and exploration of the surrounding regions, as well as development of scientific pursuits and the arts in Benin have since become priorities of the imperial government, seeking to expand the influence of Benin well beyond its borders.

Formation of city-state
Benin was founded as a city-state known as Igodomigodo sometime before the 12th century, under the direction of the, or "Kings of the Sky". The first Ogiso, Igodo, was responsible for the city's foundation, and led the city-state into a prosperous beginning as he guided the in a wise and responsible manner. Igodo's successors would continue to govern Benin for centuries until the time of warrior Crown Prince Ekaladerhan, who was responsible for a period of court intrigue and political strife. Ekaladerhan was banished from the city after one of the queens of the Osigo had the message of an oracle deliberately changed so as to remove the well-loved crown prince from power and the royal line of succession. Angered with the message, Ekaladerhan left Igodomigodo with band of loyal warriors to a neighboring Yoruba kingdom where legend has it, he became a powerful king.

When Ekaladerhan's father, the then Osigo of Igodomigodo, died in the 12th century, there was no one to succeed the deceased monarch, leading to a group of Edo chiefs led by Chief Oliha, to seek out a replacement for the last Osigo. The man they sought to crown their new leader was Oduduwa, a powerful chief in the region. Oduduwa refused to take the crown, reasoning that it was not permissible for a chief to leave his domain, but instead suggested that the chiefs under Oliha take one of the seven sons that he had back with them to Igodomigodo. Thus, the group would decide upon Eweka, who they declared the new king of Igodomigodo. One of Eweka's first acts as the new king was to change the name of Igodomigodo to Edo, and his title to that of "Oba", or the "Omo N'Oba". Eweka would become the first Oba of Benin in 1180, starting the line of Eweka dynasty.

Oba
The government of Benin is best described as a theocracy in which the reigns supreme and as the spiritual leader of the Kuziri faith. His rule is maintained by a system of administrative divisions and imperial institutions spread out to ensure the best management of Benin's lands and resources. At the top of the government is the Oba, the current monarch being Isokan, who has reigned since 1431. The Oba alone possesses the power to declare war and peace, sign treaties, and levy a tax upon the imperial subjects of Benin. All government policies and decisions must go through the Oba first and foremost, though in his absence, the Crown Prince of Benin may act in the name of the Oba. The current ruling house of Benin is the House of Eweka, which has be in power over Benin since 1200 AD. All members of the royal family, and any heirs to the throne of Benin, must come from the Eweka dynasty as per the royal decree of the Oba.

Uzama and Eghaevbo
The imperial council of the Oba is known as the as the Uzama, is made up of seven members, each selected from the most powerful nobles in Benin plus the Crown Prince of Benin. The Uzama is in accordance with the decree of Oba Ewuare, "constitute the three great orders of chieftaincy which, between them, are responsible for the continuity and government of the state". Thus, primary role of the Uzama is to serve as political advisers to the Oba, assisting in times of crisis, maintaining the traditions of the state, as well as governing the country in the absence of the Oba or in times of regency. The Uzama is often chaired by political rivals of the Oba to silence opposition to his rule though the council has long been defanged since the reign of Oba Ewuare in the 1413. Above the Uzama is known as the Iyase, who serves as the prime minister of Benin, the supreme commander of Benin's military forces on behalf of the Oba, and the leader of the Eghaevbo n’Ore. The Iyase has the power of investiture of titles, allowing him to appoint new nobles and hand out lands on behalf of the Oba.

Benin's imperial government is highly complex, with its leadership divided into two groups that make up the Eghaevbo, or "councilors of state". These are the hereditary Eghaevbo n’Ore, or "town chiefs", and the non-hereditary Eghaevbo n’Ogbe, or "palace chiefs". The Eghaevbo n’Ore serve as the civil authority of Benin, administrators and judges in the empire, while the Eghaevbo n’Ogbe serve as the palace bureaucracy, enacting and enforcing the laws of the Oba. While the Oba has supreme and absolute power over his realm, he would be wise to heed the advice of the Uzama, and consult both the Eghaevbo n’Ore and Eghaevbo n’Ogbe before making political decisions that would effect the realm as a whole. All members of the Uzama must go through the Iyase to deal with the Oba. The Iyase's loyalty to the Oba has historically been absolute and beyond doubt, and those dealing with the Iyase can be assured of the Iyase's word and fealty to the Oba of Benin.

The Eghaevbo n’Ore maintain the village fiefs of the Oba, and serve as the body from which all village and town leaders are pulled. Each chief's title is a hereditary position, as well as the lands which he governs. However, the chiefs do not reside on their land, with their sons, members of their households, slaves and servants, all settled there permanently as their representatives and acting on their behalf. This prevents strong ties between the lords and their vassals from solidifying, and maintaining loyalties to the Oba directly. The Oba collects his taxes through the Eghaevbo, who in turn collect their tribute from the many villages and towns under their direction. The system has been streamlined to ensure the highest collection per region, and cutting back on excessive taxation to prevent revolts. Failure to collect the taxes expected of a member of the Eghaevbo may result in a number of punishments based on the severity, from removal from position, exile from Benin, to execution if the crime is deemed grave enough to warrant the punishment.

Iyoba
One of the most important members of the Eghaevbo n’Ore is the Iyoba, or Queen Mother, a title established by Ewuare near the end of his reign. Because of the manner of Benin political dynamics, the Iyoba is a permanent member of the Eghaevbo n’Ore. The Iyoba resides in the Eguae-Iyoba, or "Palace of the Queen Mother", and serves as a special imperial adviser to the Oba, who calls upon her experience with past Obas to assist him during his reign. She is also an important power broker and mediator, dealing with rivalries between noble households to prevent internal strife and conflict. Furthermore, she is the political and spiritual protector of the Oba, and therefore wields considerable power in her own right. The Iyoba has her own military regiment known as the "Queen Mother's Own Regiment", which serves as her bodyguard and personal levy of warriors, and maintains her own own domain and fiefs as an equal to the other nobles of Benin. However, in spite of her vast powers, the Iyoba is ultimately answerable to the Oba of Benin.

Administrative divisions
All territorial divisions in Benin are divided according to regional boundaries and settled locations. Each city, town, and village is governed by a local chief from the location, a hereditary position passed down from father to son. The basic political unit in Benin is the village, which is entirely beholden to the paramount political authority of the Oba. Each village is governed by a village chief, who is responsible for maintaining order in his village, collecting taxes and tribute, enforcing imperial law, and raising his village regiment for battle when called upon the War Council of Benin to do so. All village fiefs are allowed limited autonomy, but are ultimately kept in check by the imperial bureaucracy out of the capital city of Edo. Likewise, each village chief is allowed some measure of "personal authority", establishing villages, farm settlements or camps in the name of the Oba of Benin.

Military
As the largest military power in Africa, Benin naturally maintains an equally vast system with which to manage its military forces. The armies of Benin are divided into multiple groups and regiments, with a complex system of ranks and titles within them. There are three levels to the army of Benin. The first is the Ivbiyokuo Oredo, or the "Imperial Army"; the second is the Ekaiwe and Isienmwenro, or the "Imperial Guard"; and third is the Ivbiyokuo Ikinkin Agbon-Edo, the "Metropolitan Army". The Imperial Army is the foremost of the three armies, divided into ogun and further into iye. The Metropolitan Army are the constituent regiments of Benin, serving as auxiliaries for the Imperial Army. Though metropolitan regiments may maintain close ties to the villages they were raised from, Benin's military organization is highly centralized, preventing the federation of villages into groups large enough to threaten the empire. All villages look to the Oba as their supreme spiritual and temporal head, as well as supreme lawgiver, and owe him tribute not just in material wealth, but in service as well.

Army
The Benin Imperial Army is the largest of its kind in Africa, rivaled only by the legions of Ethiopia in the far eastern portions of Africa. During wartime, the Oba of Benin can call upon the services of some 377,055 warriors, drawn from the ighele age group of the male population between the ages of thirty to fifty. The army itself is divided into the Imperial Guard which serves as the bodyguard and personal army of the Oba of Benin, the Imperial Army which is the professional standing army of Benin, and the Metropolitan Army which is made up of warriors who defend the borders and interior of Benin part-time as well as augment the strength of the Imperial Army. The Imperial Guard itself consists of some 25,000 warriors, which under the rule of Oba Ewuare, was reorganized to be equipped with standardized armor and weaponry as per the standards of the imperial forges in the capital of Edo. The Oba has exclusive command over this force, though the Edogun of Benin is handed day-to-day control of the Imperial Guard during peacetime.

The Imperial Army consists of 165,000 warriors divided into 30 ogun, or "hosts", which operate as permanent military formations throughout Benin. The army maintains a force of about 20,000 cavalry known as oloye, which are raised primarily from the northern plains regions of the empire. So as to maintain a level of security and readiness, a number of castles known as odi dot the landscape, and are home to imperial warrior garrisons and their families. Odi also house a number of forges for the produce and maintenance of weapons and armor, as well as stables for couriers and loyal oloye in the region. The Metropolitan Army consists of 187,055 warriors, who are stationed throughout Benin in smaller units known as fipamo, or "reserved". These units operate along the borders of Benin as well as the interior districts of the empire as part-time reservists, who work the land they are assigned to with their families, and join up with Imperial Army units during times of war. They patrol and protect the roads and cities of the empire, while the Imperial Army operates as the main combat force for Benin.

Navy
Benin's naval forces, officially known as the Benin Imperial Navy, are the maritime branch of the legions of Benin. Comprising the largest naval force in West Africa, the Imperial Navy of Benin consisted of 415 sailing vessels with the following composition as follows: 15 akakan (carrack-esque ships), 100 oké (five-masted ships), 300 epeepe (four-masted ships), and hundreds of smaller single-sail canoes often co-oped by the imperial military for logistical purposes along the nation's many rivers and lakes. Benin's shipbuilding capacity is localized around the cities of Eko, Mahin, Bioko, Kalabari, and Warri, where the largest shipyards in the empire are located. Many traditional riverside shipbuilders existed throughout the empire, and often serve as extra manpower for the shipyards, though these are typically focused on building small vessels for riverine trade and warfare.
 * 415 ships (1432)
 * 15 akakan (carrack-esque ships)
 * Length: 65.5 meters (97.5 meters)
 * Crew: 350 men (230 sailors and 120 warriors)
 * 100 oké (five-masted ships)
 * Length: 49.5 meters (64.5 meters)
 * Crew: 230 men (150 sailors and 100 warriors)
 * 300 epeepe (four-masted ships)
 * Length: 30 meters (40.5 meters)
 * Crew: 150 men (100 sailors and 50 warriors)

War Council
The military forces of Benin are governed by the War Council, which consist several military leaders which include: the Oba as the head, the Ezomo from the Uzama, the Iyase, Ologbosere, and Imaran from the Eghaevbo n’Ore, and the Edogun and Ekegbian hailing from the noble families of Benin. Furthermore, the non-military members of the War Council include the Oliha, Edohen, Ero, Eholo n'Ire, Oloton, and Edaiken from the Uzama; the Esogban, Eson, Osuma, Esama, and Osula from the Eghaevbo n’Ore; the Iyoba (Queen Mother), Isekhurhe and Ihama (royal recorders) from the nobility; and the Uwangue, Eribo, Osague, Aiyobahan, Esere, Obazelu, Akenuwa, Ine, Osodin, Obazuaye, Uso n'Ibiwe, and Ezuwako from the Eghaevbo n'Ogbe. Altogether, the War Council consists of 33 members, the Oba included, all of whom are responsible for meticulously planning each military campaign for the armies of Benin before any conflict is begun.

The War Council is responsible for necessary preparations for any military campaign launched by Benin, ranging from logistics, to military intelligence, to supplies and reinforcements. The elaborate preparations taken beforehand ensure that Benin's efforts on the battlefield are well-planned and enacted to the letter, with clear goals and a chain of command well established before the fighting begins. Any failure during the war is thus blamed on the problem of command and control of the warriors in battle, rather than any fault of the War Council itself. All commanders for war are appointed by the Oba on the recommendation of the War Council, ensuring that a commander is chosen to lead the troops based on skill and experience rather than personal connections with the Oba or any member of the War Council.

Military structure
Benin is markedly different from its neighbors in that it possess a clearly defined military structure with clearly defined roles and ranks within its military. The metropolitan and village armies offer separate services, but function within a framework which demonstrate administrative and directive competence to a degree sorely lacking in neighboring territories. The Oba is the Supreme War Commander of Benin, granting him a monopoly on the mobilization of as many troops as needed wherever he may need them in his realm. He traditionally leads his troops into battle, though he may send the Iyase in his place as needed. As he maintains the sole monopoly on the mobilization of troops in Benin, the Oba has little to fear from local rulers withholding troops from him during times of war, allowing the Oba to respond to immediate threats in a prompt fashion.

A large civil administration exists to govern the affairs of the military, mobilizing troops for warfare in a moment's notice as needed by the Oba. While Benin maintains a vast military force as a rule, the state itself lacks a standing army, with only the regiments under the direct control of the Oba ready to serve where needed. These are divided into the Ekaiwe (royal troops) and Isienmwenro (royal guard), which together constitute the Imperial Guard of Benin. Both have the appellation of Asaka no s’Okhionba, meaning the "soldier ants that sting the king’s enemies", effectively classifying them as the personal army of the Oba of Benin. The commander of the Imperial Guard is the Edogun, who answers directly to the Oba. The Iyase, on the otherhand, serves as the primary commander of all troops raised by Benin in the Oba's steed as needed.

Education
Through the teachings of Kuzirism, the government of Benin developed the concept of public-funded education as a means of advancing the pantheistic religion. The basic function of the schools is that of promoting literacy and the teaching of the Kuzir religion. All teachers are drawn from the clergy of Benin, which itself forms the government bureaucracy. Because the schools are funded by the state and the promote the state religion, teaching is a well-paid and highly respected occupation within Benin. Every district and every city within the empire has a public school where all children regardless of caste are required to go until the age of twelve, at which point they may be removed and taught a trade. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as farmers who cannot afford to send their children to school and require them on the farm to work with them. The exception is also extended to merchant families who can afford to send their children to private schools paid for and funded by members of that caste. However, the majority of children attend public schools, which adhere to a strict curriculum that imprints religious and societal values on the youth from an early age.

Because of this system of schooling in Benin, the literacy rate among the population, sitting at about 35%, is very high when compared to Europe, where the majority of individual receive no schooling at all. While large pockets of illiteracy exist throughout Benin, these are mostly in highly agricultural communities which exist between major cities. The average city dwelling Bini, however, can read and write, Centers of higher education also exist within Benin, such as the Imperial University in Edo and the University of Timbuktu. The former teaches fundamental sciences and political theory, while the latter specializes in religious education, astronomy, and mathematics. Other vocational schools such as the Navigator School in Eko and the Royal Academy of Botany in the capital city, also exist, and deal with specialized trades within the two fields they teach. One notable trait that has been ingrained into Benin because of the empire's extensive education system, is the general lack of superstition within the Bini populace. Most students are taught that that which cannot be explained is simply that waiting to be discovered and examined by mankind.