Editing Bethio

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The '''Principality of Bethio''' (also spelled '''Bequio''', '''Bekio''', '''Bitio''', '''Bétio''' or '''Beetyo''') was a small [[monarchy]] located for centuries along the lower [[Senegal River]] valley, on the border between modern [[Mauritania]] and [[Senegal]], in the northeast of [[Biffeche]].  In the 18th century it was also called the "Royaume d'Oral."  Its capital was at Poum, then moved to N'Dombo, and finally moved to Ross, Senegal in the 19th century (called [[Ross Béthio]] since then).  The original, fertile farmlands of Bethio are in a region just east of the [[Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary]].

In the 1720s, the [[Brak (title)|Brak]] (king) of [[Waalo]] was Erim M'Bagnick (Yérim Mbañik) and Béquio Malicouri, king of the ''Royaume d'Oral'' was his vassal. [[Maalixuri (Malichouri)]] (Malikhuri Diop ) played a vital intermiediary role between the Kingdom of [[Waalo]] and the French at [[Saint-Louis, Senegal]], accumulating power and influence.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barry |first1=Boubacar |title=Le royaume du Waalo: le Senegal avant la conquete |date=1972 |publisher=Francois Maspero |location=Paris |page=177-178}}</ref> He attempted to secede from Waalo in 1724 and burned Rosso, but was defeated and driven into exile in [[Cayor]], where he died.<ref>Barry, 188.</ref> He was succeeded by Fara Coro.

Today, Abdoulaye Diop, the current [[Prince Bethio]], lives at Ross-Bethio where he is a  Senegalese political leader.

==Notes==
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*The name also appears as '''Béco''' and appears synonymous with the ''Island of Becos'' in the river delta.  It has been suggested that this is the island nowadays known as Baba Gueye.

==References==
{{reflist}}
*V. Monteil. ''Esquisses sénégalaises''. Dakar, [[Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire|IFAN]], 1966, p. 34-35

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051012141557/http://crdp.ac-martinique.fr/ressources/caraibe/histoiregeo/didactique/ali_shandora/resultats_recherche.htm  Indigenous chief Béquio Malicouri]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060908121055/http://tekrur-ucad.refer.sn/IMG/pdf/JOURHIST1729-1731global.pdf ''Béco'' reference]
*[http://epe.cirad.fr/fr/doc/atelier_09_05_corniaux.pdf Area Map]
*[http://etudesafricaines.revues.org/document154.html Abdoulaye Diop]

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[[Category:Former monarchies]]
[[Category:Geography of Senegal]]
[[Category:Kingdoms of Senegal]]
[[Category:French Senegal]]

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