Editing History of Benin (section)

=== The Kingdom of Allada ===
{{main|Kingdom of Allada}}
Founded in the sixteenth century, [[Kingdom of Ardra|Kingdom of Allada]] rose as the dominant coastal polity in present-day southern Benin, leveraging early access to long-distance trade. Although little is known of its pre-European trade role, by the mid-sixteenth century Portuguese merchants were trading at its capital, Grand Ardra, now identified with the archaeological site of Togudo-Awute near modern Allada. From the 1560s, African captives labeled "Aradas" were recorded in Peru, and the city appeared on Portuguese charts after 1570.<ref>{{harvsp|Monroe|2014|page=42}}</ref>

By the seventeenth century, Allada had grown significantly. Grand Ardra was home to approximately 30,000 inhabitants,<ref name = "Monroe43">{{harvsp|Monroe|2014|page=43}}</ref> and the kingdom's military strength suggests a total population exceeding 200,000.<ref name = "Monroe43"/> The Dutch West India Company acquired around 800 slaves annually from Allada between 1636 and 1647, and by the 1680s, the Slave Coast exported roughly 5,000 captives per year, increasing to 10,000 by the 1710s. Textiles and cowries comprised up to 81% of goods exchanged for captives.<ref name = "Monroe44">{{harvsp|Monroe|2014|page=44}}</ref>

Allada's governance involved officials such as the Grand Captain (or Caminga), the Captain of the Whites (overseeing European trade), and the Captain of Horses. Royal authority was reinforced through rituals, although descriptions of religious institutions remain sparse and often dismissive. The king's crocodile deity, Tokpodun, may have functioned as a state cult.<ref name = "Monroe45">{{harvsp|Monroe|2014|page=45}}</ref> Grand Customs, involving ritual wealth distribution and limited human sacrifice, were held upon a king's death, paralleling later practices in Dahomey.

The influx of European and Asian goods strengthened royal prestige and authority. These goods were showcased and distributed during public rituals, bolstering elite status and political cohesion. The king monopolized high-quality imports and required that foreign traders first purchase goods from the crown before dealing elsewhere.<ref name = "Monroe46">{{harvsp|Monroe|2014|page=46}}</ref> Yet by the late seventeenth century, challenges mounted. Increased slave demand empowered secondary elites and rival ports like Whydah. Inland polities such as Dahomey began supplying captives directly. By 1670, only 17% of captives were sourced by the king himself.<ref name = "Monroe47">{{harvsp|Monroe|2014|page=47}}</ref> The remainder came from caboceers and inland traders.

Allada's failure to centralize control over trade led to political fragmentation. Succession disputes, including Hussar's attempted usurpation of King Soso (1717–24), and revolts in key towns like Offra, destabilized the kingdom.<ref name = "Monroe47"/> Consequently, European traders increasingly shifted their focus elsewhere by the century's end.<ref name = "Monroe47"/>