Powerful chiefs inherit a collapsed Oyo empire

After Awole's suicide his successors held no real power; following an interregnum (said by Bishop Crowther to be five years), the powerful chiefs inherited the empire in 1796, but with the central administration collapsed no one could maintain peace and order, and provincial chiefs began carving out their own spheres. The book notes the collapse preceded Usman dan Fodio's jihad by eight years and was not caused by the Fulani.