Benin City

=== Edo people ===
According to tradition, the original people and founders of the [[Kingdom of Benin|Ẹdo Empire]] and the Edo people initially were ruled by the kings known as the Ogiso (meaning King of the sky) dynasty who called the land [[Igodomigodo]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji |title=benin-kingdom-edo-yoruba-territory-ooni-ife-adeyeye-ogunwusi. |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/198255-benin-kingdom-edo-yoruba-territory-ooni-ife-adeyeye-ogunwusi.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}}</ref> Igodo, the first [[List of the Ogiso|Ogiso]], wielded much influence and gained popularity as a good ruler. He died after a long reign and was succeeded by [[Ere (ogiso)|Ere]], his eldest son. A battle for power soon erupted between the wife of the last [[List of the Ogiso|Ogiso]] and prince Ekaladerhan, son of the last [[Ogiso]]. Prince Ekaladerhan was framed by his father's wife and sentenced to death. The men sent to kill him, however, released him at [[Ughoton]]. The exiled prince made his way to where he changed his name to Izoduwa, meaning "I have found prosperity". It was during this period of confusion in Benin that the elders, led by Chief Oliha, mounted a search for the banished Prince Ekaladerhan – whom the Ife people now called [[Oduduwa]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edo People – Edo Nigeria Association of Western Australia|url=https://enawa.org.au/edo-people/|access-date=2021-07-09|language=en-AU}}</ref>

The exiled Ekaladerhan, now Oduduwa, refused to come to Benin because of how he was treated, having found out that he wasn't killed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Guardian |date=2017-02-12 |title=Remapping the inter-twinned histories of Nigeria's ethnic nationalities |url=https://guardian.ng/art/c74-arts/remapping-the-inter-twinned-histories-of-nigerias-ethnic-nationalities/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}</ref> He devised to send one of his sons, Oramiyan. He refused to return from Ile-Ife but sent his son Ọranmiyan to become king in his place.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The kingdom of Benin|language=en-GB|work=BBC Bitesize|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zpvckqt/articles/z3n7mp3|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Prince [[Ọranyan|Ọranmiyan]] took up residence in the palace built for him at Uzama by the elders, now a coronation shrine. Soon after he married a beautiful lady, Ẹrinmwide, daughter of Osa-nego, the ninth ''Enogie'' of [[Egor]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benin Obas|url=https://www.edoworld.net/Obas1.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.edoworld.net}}</ref> He and Erinmwide had a son. After some years he called a meeting of the people and renounced his office, remarking that the country was a land of vexation, ''Ile-Ibinu'', and that only a child born, trained, and educated in the arts and mysteries of the land could reign over the people.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pynith|date=2020-03-21|title=the history of Benin city you need to know - LPV Forum|url=https://lpvforum.com/the-history-of-benin-city-you-need-to-know|access-date=2021-07-09|website=lpvforum.com|language=en}}</ref> The country was afterward known by this name. He caused his son born to him by Ẹrinmwide to be made King in his place and returned to Benin land. After some years in Ife, he left for Benin, where he also left a son behind upon leaving, and his son Ajaka ultimately became the first [[Oba of Benin|Oba]] of Benin of the present line, while Ọranmiyan himself was reigning as Ọọni of Ifẹ. Therefore, Ọranmiyan of Ife, the father of Ẹwẹka I, the Ọba of Benin, was also the father of Ajaka, [[Alaafin of Oyo|Alaafin]] of [[Oyo Empire|Ọyọ]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benin City {{!}} Hometown.ng™|date=24 November 2016|url=https://hometown.ng/listing-item/benin-city/|access-date=2020-06-08|language=en-US}}</ref> Ọọni of Ifẹ. Ọba Ẹwẹka later changed the name of the city of Ile-Binu, the capital of the Benin kingdom, to "Ubinu." This name would be reinterpreted by the [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] as "Benin" in their own language. Around 1470, Ẹwuare changed the name of the state to Ẹdo.<ref>''The Sun'' (Nigeria), Wednesday, 17 September 2008.</ref> This was about the time the people of Ọkpẹkpẹ migrated from Benin City. Alternatively, the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba nation]] has a different conception of [[Oduduwa]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-02-10|title=Benin Kingdom in Edo is Yoruba territory -- Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/198255-benin-kingdom-edo-yoruba-territory-ooni-ife-adeyeye-ogunwusi.html|access-date=2021-07-09|language=en-GB}}</ref> According to Yoruba tradition, because of his power and military might, he was able to defeat the enemies invading Benin and that is why the people of Benin made him the King or Ọba of Benin. In any case, it is agreed upon by both the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] and the [[Edo people|Edo]] that [[Oduduwa]] sent his son Prince Oranmiyan of Ife to rule Benin City and founded the Oba dynasty in Benin City.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-02-22|title=The Place Of Oranmiyan In The History Of Ile - Ife|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/the-place-of-oranmiyan-in-the-history-of-ile-ife/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Benin City {{!}} History & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Benin-City|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

Benin [[imperialism]] was started in the last decade of the [[13th century|thirteen century]] by [[Oba Ewedo]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Toyin |first1=Falola |editor1-last=Akinwunmi |editor1-first=Ogundiran |title=Precolonial Nigeria |publisher=African World Press Inc |isbn=978-1592212194 |pages=264–265 |edition=2005 |year=2005 }}</ref>