Editing Ivory Coast (section)

===Pre-European modern period===
[[File:Royaumes ci.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Pre-European kingdoms]]
Five important states flourished in Ivory Coast during the pre-European [[early modern period]].<ref name=":1" /> The Muslim [[Kong Empire]] was established by the [[Dyula people|Dyula]] in the early 18th century in the north-central region inhabited by the [[Senufo people|Sénoufo]], who had fled [[Islamization|Islamisation]] under the Mali Empire.<ref name=":1" /> Although Kong became a prosperous centre of agriculture, trade, and crafts, ethnic diversity and religious discord gradually weakened the kingdom.<ref name=":2">{{Harvnb|Warner|1988|p=7}}.</ref> In 1895 the city of Kong was sacked and conquered by [[Samori Ture]] of the [[Wassoulou Empire]].<ref name=":2" />

The [[Abron tribe|Abron]] kingdom of [[Gyaman|Gyaaman]] was established in the 17th century by an Akan group, the Abron, who had fled the developing [[Asante people|Ashanti]] confederation of Asanteman in what is present-day Ghana.<ref name=":2" /> From their settlement south of [[Bondoukou]], the Abron gradually extended their hegemony over the [[Dyula people]] in Bondoukou, who were recent arrivals from the market city of [[Begho]].<ref name=":2" /> Bondoukou developed into a major centre of commerce and Islam.<ref name=":2" /> The kingdom's [[Quran]]ic scholars attracted students from all parts of West Africa.<ref name=":2" /> In the mid-17th century in east-central Ivory Coast, other Akan groups fleeing the Asante established a [[Baoulé people|Baoulé]] kingdom at [[Sakassou|Sakasso]] and two [[Anyi people|Agni]] kingdoms, Indénié and [[Kingdom of Sanwi|Sanwi]].<ref name=":2" />

The Baoulé, like the Ashanti, developed a highly centralised political and administrative structure under three successive rulers.<ref name=":2" /> It finally split into smaller chiefdoms.<ref name=":2" /> Despite the breakup of their kingdom, the Baoulé strongly resisted French subjugation.<ref name=":2" /> The descendants of the rulers of the Agni kingdoms tried to retain their separate identity long after Ivory Coast's independence; as late as 1969, the Sanwi attempted to break away from Ivory Coast and form an independent kingdom.<ref name=":2" />