BEHANZIN'S LETTER TO THE COLONIAL INSPECTOR, Fort de France 3 August 1903. 18901-12

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LETTER FROM BÉHANZIN TO THE INSPECTOR OF THE COLONIES, Fort de France, August 3, 1903. 18901-12

Short letter from Béhanzin to Mr. the Inspector of the Colonies. He is requesting a meeting to greet him.

"Fort de France, August 3, 1903.
Mr. Inspector,
It is as a sincere friend that I address you with greetings, asking you to kindly determine a day when you could receive me.
I would be very pleased to convey as soon as possible to the French government delegate in Martinique, the assurance of my friendly feelings towards France and its government.
Please accept, Mr. Inspector, my best regards.
Béhanzin".

Dimensions: 17.3 cm x 10.7 cm. 1 page.
Good condition.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
On March 30, 1894, Béhanzin was deported by the colonial authorities to the island of Martinique. Along with his family and entourage, he resided at Fort Tartenson and then in a supervised residence on the heights of Fort De France.

Béhanzin (Gbêhanzin, Gbèhanzin) or Gbèhin azi bô ayidjlè Ahossou Gbowelé, born in 1845 and died in 1906, was a king of Abomey. Son of King Glélé, he was initially known as Ahokponu and later as Prince Kondo from 1875 onwards. Tradition holds him (excluding Queen Hangbè and Adandozan) as the eleventh king of Abomey. During his reign, the kingdom of Dahomey was defeated, leading to the establishment of the Dahomey colony, with the annexation of Porto-Novo by King Toffa, his cousin and enemy.
Ruling as King of Dahomey from January 6, 1890, to January 15, 1894, when he surrendered and was removed from the throne in 1892, he died in exile in Algiers.
Behanzin is regarded as a hero by many Beninese people: he is an essential and popular figure in the national collective memory.

Reference : 18901-12

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