the 17th to 19th centuries.

Colony

The French takeover and colonization of the Kingdom of Dahomey began in 1872. The First Franco-Dahomean War in 1890 further weakened it. The Second Franco-Dahomean War resulted in it becoming a French protectorate in 1894.

A decree dated 22 June 1894 created the Colonie de Dahomey et dépendances ('Colony of Dahomey and Dependencies'), which