Reign of Alafin Abiodun; last period of Oyo imperial prosperity

Following his defeat of Basorun Gaha in 1774, Alafin Abiodun enjoyed what tradition describes as 'a long and prosperous reign'. A contemporary French archival source (AN, C.6/26, dated June 1789) reports the death of 'the King of the Ailliots' in April 1789, which Law identifies as Abiodun's death. This gives Abiodun a reign of roughly fifteen years as sole effective ruler. Earlier scholars placed Abiodun's death as late as c. 1800–1810, but Law argues the contemporary record is authoritative.