Allada, its Vassals and Neighbours, and the Europeans

Abstract

It is clear that Allada, reputedly founded by people from Tado, was for long the main polity on the Slave Coast. It is also clear that it was a polity of the traditional kind, typical of West Africa of old. As such, the society was a kindred-type society, its kings of the sacred kind, and the power of those kings possibly limited by “contrapuntal paramountcy”. The kings ruled most of their realm indirectly, since most local vassals were in fact (sacred) rulers in their own right who could not be removed, only persuaded/forced to pay allegiance. All those vassal polities had their own deities and their own ancestors which the over-king was required to respect. Among the vassals, we note especially the kingdom of Hueda with the future town of Ouidah-Glehue which was to play a central role in the slave trade. We also note the “temptation” Christianity represented to many rulers. It had the potential to do away with “contrapuntal paramountcy” and all of the other local institutions and beliefs/deities which severely limited the power of the over-king.