Conflicts & Resolutions · War

First Franco-Dahomean War

1890 · 19th century

The First Franco-Dahomean War was fought in 1890 between France and the Kingdom of Dahomey under King Behanzin, over French claims to Cotonou and protection of Porto-Novo. Dahomean forces, including the women soldiers, attacked French positions at Cotonou and Atchoupa. The war ended in October 1890 with a treaty recognising French positions on the coast in return for an annual payment, but conflict resumed in 1892.

First Franco-Dahomean War
Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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Kingdom of DahomeyDecline

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Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). First Franco-Dahomean War. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/first-franco-dahomean-war
MLA
“First Franco-Dahomean War.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/first-franco-dahomean-war. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “First Franco-Dahomean War.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/first-franco-dahomean-war.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘First Franco-Dahomean War’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/first-franco-dahomean-war (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻