View source for Royal Palaces of Abomey

==Background==
Between 1695 and 1900, twelve [[king]]s successively ruled the kingdom, each of them constructing a lavish palace on the royal grounds in Abomey. These palace complexes came to be filled with dwellings, murals, sculptures and a series of [[bas-relief]]s. As their society had no written documents, these bas-reliefs now serve as a unique record of the past, portraying significant events in the evolution of the Fon people and their empire, relating the [[military]] victories and power of each king and documenting the Fon people's [[myth]]s, [[custom]]s and [[ritual]]s. The bas-reliefs show that the military strength of the kingdom was partly based on a contingent of female warriors who matched their male counterparts in fierceness and courage.
The key event in the growth of the military and economic power of the kings of Abomey was the conquest of Ouidah by King Agadja (1708-1740), allowing this port to become the major trading hub for the kingdom, and the slave trading which took place there was run as a royal [[monopoly]].