After Oba Esigie defeated Arhuanran, what happened to Arhuanran and Idia? I place both of them as the focus here because, in my understanding, the was more between Idia wanting her Son to be Omo N'Oba and Arhuanran wanting to possess being heir. https://twitter.com/OyomwanO/status/1308115567618949125

This history will, in fact, address the reason why, by natural cause, Arhuanran couldn't ever have been the Oba of Benin and why his reign ended as it did.

We will also touch (slightly) on why Esan & Etsakor people are Benins, as opposed to how we have separated ourselves.

Again, the history will find (slightly) some traces to why/how Lagos is a 100% part of Benin Kingdom, plus how Ondo isn't entirely a Yoruba Land. Moreso, Igala Kingdom was governed under Benin's control, not like Igalas are Benins.

Let's go.

First remember that as Sons of the Oba, the children are entitled to be Enigie (dukes) over various other communities surrounding the center of the Kingdom. Enigie is the plural for Enogie.

Arhuanran was meant to be the Enogie of Udo, which he refused to be, except Oba.

Was Arhuaran ever destined to be Oba? NO. Why? It is forbidden in Benin that a traditional ruler, starting from the Oba, can not be of mixed Origin. You would have to be extremely powerful in spiritual terms to combat this.

Not only was it Oba Ozolua's plan, it was Nature's too.

Orhonmin, the other wife of Oba Ozolua (who was father to Arhuanran and Esigie), was of the nearby Kingdom's descent (later known as Yoruba). There was no way a mixed blood of such a person could have born King, hence the reason for Arhuanran not to have cried at birth.

Moving on, after the third phase of the battle between Oba Esigie and Arhuanran, Arhuanran, who had two sons - Kpamabira and Onioni - lost Kpamabira.

When the 4th phase of the war started, Arhuanran told his only living son, Onioni, and his guards to observe the magical bell.

If the bell chimed, then they should know he had been defeated (killed). But Idia's mystical powers were already at play. Arhuanran saw a member of his own army fighting bravely like him and that got him upset.

"Aigbe vbe nee igbe!" - He said (meaning: nobody fights like me).

He struck the powerful warrior to his death, only to discover he had killed Onioni (his son whom he left at home). Words got to Arhuanran's wife. She cried her life out and drowned herself in the river just beside Odighi N'Udo (the lake of Odighi).

Arhuanran became weak...

He had lost both of his sons to a battle of selfishness, especially taking the life of his own son in the process. On returning back home (conceding defeat), Arhuanran learned that his wife had drowned herself in the river.

He roared and couldn't bear the shame and pain.

He had lost his entire family and going back home would mean Oba Esigie sending His soldiers to capture him alive or having to run for his life (of which his pride wouldn't let that happen).

With both his physical size and strength, Arhauran drowned himself.

He drowned himself in Odighi (the famous lake in Udo) so he could be close to his wife. There is only a tiny road that separates the river from Odighi lake.

Before he drowned, he hung his royal beads on a nearby tree and made his vows to forever protect Udo.

Oba Esigie, marched with His army to Udo to capture His brother alive, only to find that he had drowned with his beads hung near the lake. Esigie felt proud, picked the beads, & wore them.

It is forbidden to say the Oba went mad (may the Gods forgive me), but Oba Esigie lost it.

Idia (Oba Esigie's mother) immediately rushed he Son to Edo and called upon a fellow native doctor to join her in restoring her Son. An Oba can not be Oba in such a state.

The native doctor was from Ugbo/Ilaje (now Yoruba Land). Oba Esigie was cured days after.

But the Eghoen (non-native) doctor would not leave Benin to tell the story of what had happened in Benin outside. A such he was made to live in Benin at Ogbelaka.

The drowned Arhuanran, who had sworn to protect Udo for eternity, came out as a giant at night to parade Udo.

This scared children for a long time, as they would always cry at night until Arhuanran was spiritually appeased. It is believed that he continued to come out but no more cries from children.

Once every year, the river (where his wife drowned) and Odighi would overflow.

Both water bodies would meet (believed to be Arhaunran and his wife meeting). Also, because it is believed that Arhauran never died, it is forbidden to fetch water, hunt for fish or kill any animal around Odighi lake to date.

Arhaunran lost himself and family to the throne.

A throne Idia swore he would never seat on. But what happened to Idia?

After Oba Esigie was cured of His experience with Arhuanran's beads, Chief Osmwughe, the Iyase of Udo did not rest. He wanted to avenge Arhuanran's defeat by re-mobilizing Udo's Army.

Oba Esigie mobilized against his rebellion by sending a troop to Udo to quench Osemwughe under the commands of Odobo and Aile.

Both Odobo and Aile built Eko-Odobo (camp Odobo) & Eko-Aile (camp Aile). Both would later be corrupted as Akotogbo & Ikalo respectively (in Yorubaland).

Iyase Osemwughe and his men were defeated. They surrendered and we held only as deserters. Oba Esigie, who would never visit Udo, called them Emma n'Udo and kept them in a different area of Udo (this area would now be called Ondo) and Osemwughe would be Osemawe.

Osemawe remains the title in Ondo of today. Did you notice when I mentioned Eko? Eko in Benin means "camp". It is the same name retained in Lagos as given to it by the Oba of Benin. "Lagos" is a Portuguese word. They named Lagos Lagos, not Yorubas or anyone else.

What happened to Idia?

After to defeat of Osemwughe, it was time for Oba Esigie to face the reality of being Oba, like HIs ancestors. No mother of an Oba would live while her Son is Oba.

It is traditionally believed that she would have an influence on the Monarch.

It was time for Oba Esigie to face His fate. But would He? A death warrant was placed on Idia by the Uzama (palace chiefs) led by Chief Oliha.

Oba Esigie then went to His friend, a strong native doctor in Uselu - Omeregie Ero. Ero had a sacred groove he had created.

He called it Idunmwun Ero (Ero street or area or zone). In Idunmwun Ero was Aro-Osun (the eyes or shrine of the god of herbs). No one excepted initiated by Ero could penetrate Aro-Osun.

During this period, Oba Esigie used His authority to fight the custom of executing the Iyoba.

Iyoba (mother of the Oba) was made a title by Oba Esigie and He built for her a palace in Uselu. This was agreed upon by the Uzama on the condition that Oba Esigie would never see His mother again.

Idia became the first Iyoba of Benin Kingdom, with a palace like that of the Oba.

Oba Esigie then decided to pay back Chief Oliha, who was the head of Uzama (palace chiefs) that wanted to execute His mother.

He asked Oliha to tell Him how faithful his precious wife was. Chief Oliha always boasted of Imaguero (the wife's name) - her beauty and fidelity.

Oba Esigie asked Oliha to hive Him a chance to test her. In agreement, Oba Esigie sent a cripple to Imaguero who got into her without her physical doing. The relationship went as far as Imaguero seeking the cripple into Oliha's chamber to sleep with her.

When Oliha found out, he was both angry and ashamed. This led to him ordering the execution of Imaguero. Oba Esigie had paid him back for trying to kill His mother (Idia).

Oliha took his anger to the next level. Looking at the instability already in the system, he went to Idah.

The instability wasn't just the recent battle between Oba Esigie and Arhuanran nor the plot to execute Idia, Oba Esigie had also accepted Christianity and this brought another chaos to the Kingdom.

It was 1515AD. The Portuguese would only trade guns with Benin if the Oba...

...accepted Christianity. It was a condition stated by the Pope of Rome. Oba Esigie accepted Christianity. This led to to war between the Oba's Army headed by Edogun plus the Isienmwenro fighters of Benin, and the Uzama, led by Oliha.

The Benins were against foreign beliefs, except to stick to the Gods of Benin. But they knew little that Oba Esigie did what He did for international relationship reasons.

Oba Esigie won this battle. Oliha was still dissatisfied. SO he went to the Atta of Idah.

Idia dressed herself like a man and marched with her Son to war at the bank of Ohimi (river Niger) against Idah.

Igueben was discovered during this was. It was used as a training camp during the war. After defeating Idah, Ago Enibode (sentry camp) was set up near the river.

This same kind of camp is called Eko. Ago-Enibode would today be called Agenebode. The camp was meant to keep an eye on Idah and its Atta to avoid further rebellion. Idah was under the control of Benin Kingdom.

An area where Ohimi river passes was also called Evbohimi.

Evbohimi is "Town of river Niger". Oba Esigie and the other soldiers in Idah could not make it back to Benin when Ohimi rose against them. Olokun was at work (Olokun is the Sea God. We will talk about Olokun another day).

Oba Esigie transformed Himself and His remaining...

...soldiers into birds called Akhokhua (still forbidden as meat in Benin due to this reason), flew over Evbohimi and landed at Ugbogbomiza (hometown of Idia, the Iyoba). The Oba Esigie had plans to make Ugbogbomiza a city (possibly make it capital). He lived there for 3 years.

At His initial arrival, His maternal relations welcomed Him well, chanting "Ogie mwen Udu" (the King is brave). This made the town become known as Ugieghudu of today, from the word Ogiemwondu (the King is brave).

Igiodu in Benin means bravery.

After Oba Esigie left Ugieghudu, one of His Army commanders was left behind - Abieba Ogie'ogbon. Abieba would later create the Idunmwun Ogua (Ogua street or area or zone) that is now known as Ogua town, near Ugieghudu.

The Benins who lived to protect Idah at Agenebode...

...mixed languages with Igala, while those at Ugieghudu mixed language with those in Agenebode. It is why you notice that Benin begins to sound different as you proceed from Edo South to Edo North.

Ogua, Igueben, Uromi, etc are now Esan land. We will address that later.

Also, we will address how the Etsakor people go established later.

After Oba Esigie returned from Ugieghudu, Idah was meant to sent Eunochs to Benin. They would be castrated in Idah and sent to the Oba's harem to serve as guards.

Nobody knows who performed the castrating.

Idah was called Ighan in Benin. It is still said, "Airen woman no waa omwan vbe ighan" (nobody knows who castrates a person in Idah). It is so because the victims might later find revenge against the person.

Some of the bands used in Benin were also imported from Idah.

Come 1550AD (let's cut is short), Iyoba Idia passed on. As a lover of Art that she was, and a woman who introduced a lot in Benin art history, Oba Esigie asked Owie (a renowned sculptor) to make a mask of His mother's face.

The mask revealed Idia's bold tribal marks...

...and warriors that fell to her blades at Idah.

Idia's mask was one of such priceless artworks stolen by Britain in 1897 and would be the logo for FESTAC 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The story about Lagos will come on a later date. History deals with traceable facts.

Cheers!

Plenty of typo errors. Make una no vex. Man was typing with speed cos some people were following and I didn't want to keep them waiting for too long.

Thanks for understanding.