Origin of the Benin (Eweka) dynasty

Benin's monarchy traces its overthrown dynasty (deposed 1897) to an origin around the 13th century, some thirty rulers spanning the time. Traditions recount that divided Edo chiefs sought a sovereign from the Ife dynasty; the figure Eweka is taken as probably the first historical Oba, of Yoruba origin, with his reign's start variously estimated between 1200 and 1300.