List of rulers of the Yoruba state of Oyo
Oyo, Oyo State, is the seat of the line of the rulers of Oyo. Their territory, a constituent rump state, is located in contemporary Nigeria. Since the 1900 political absorption into Southern Nigeria of the kingdom that it once served as a metropolitan center, the traditional monarchy has been either a tool of British indirect rule or a legally recognised traditional polity within the republic of Nigeria.
In the Yoruba language, the word 'oba' means ruler or king. It is also common for the rulers of the various Yoruba domains to have their own special titles. In Ọ̀yọ empire, the oba is referred to as the Aláàfin, meaning owner of the palace.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| c.1300 | Foundation of Oyo Empire | |
| c.1300 | Oranyan, Alaafin | grandson or some say son, of Oduduwa, founder of Ife and ancestor to all kings of Yorubaland. His incredibly long reign positiones him as a more legendary figure or at least semi-historical. |
| c. to c. | Ajaka, Alaafin | Succeeded his father, Oranyan. He was said to be a peaceful and calm king, unlike his father, and brother, and his peacefulness caused his more angry and powerful brother to take over and overthrow him. |
| c. to c. | Shango, Alaafin | Another son of Oranyan, he was appointed by the Oyo Mesi after dethroning his brother, Ajaka, he reigned for 7 years, after which he became regarded as an orisha, a god in Yoruba mythology, making the reality of the accounts about him questionable. |
| c. to c. | Ajaka (restored), Alaafin | Ajaka returned to the throne after the death of his brother. |
| c. to c. | Aganjusola, Alaafin | Son of Ajaka who succeeded his father. He was said to have tamed many wild animals, and he also reigned for an incredibly long time. He is synonymous with the Yoruba deity of the same name, putting the historicity of the accounts about him into question. |
| c.1400 to c.1457 | Kori, Alaafin | Succeeded his father, Aganju, who died while he was still a child. The early period of his reign was overseen by his mother as regent. He waged a war with town of Ede. Under Alaafin Kori, the city of Oyo Ile expanded to include the region referred to as metropolitan Oyo. He is also regarded to have reigned over 50 years making him the longest reigning Alaafin. |
| c. 1457 to c. 1500 | Oluaso, Alaafin | Succeeded his father, Kori. He was said to be handsome and had up to 1,460 children by his hundreds of wives. |
| c. 1500 to c. 1537 | Onigbogi, Alaafin | Nupe expanded to occupy Oyo's capital, driving the Alaafin away from his capital in 1535. He fled to take refuge with the Borgu |
| ???? to ???? | Ofiran, Alaafin | Crowned a King in exile. He retook some of Oyo's original territory from the Nupe. |
| ???? to ???? | Eguguojo, Alaafin | Created Igboho as new capital. |
| c. 1550 to ???? | Orompoto, Alaafin | Sister of Eguguojo. Drove the Nupe away from Oyo in 1555. |
| ???? to ???? | Ajiboyede, Alaafin | |
| c.??? to ???? | Abipa, Alaafin | Rebuilt Oyo-ile back as capital after 80 years |
| ???? to ???? | Obalokun, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Oluodo, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Ajagbo, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Odarawu, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Kanran, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Jayin, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Ayibi, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Osiyago, Alaafin | |
| c. ??? to 1730 | Ojigi, Alaafin | |
| c. ??? to ??? | Gberu, Alaafin | |
| ??? | Amuniwaiye, Alaafin | |
| ??? to ???? | Onisile, Alaafin | |
| 1754 | Labisi, Alaafin | |
| ??? | Awonbioju, Alaafin | |
| ???? | Agboluaje, Alaafin | |
| ??? to ???? | Majeogbe, Alaafin | |
| c. 1770 to 1789 | Abiodun, Alaafin | |
| 1789 to 1796 | Awole Arogangan, Alaafin | |
| 1796 to 1797 | Adebo, Alaafin | |
| 1797 | Makua, Alaafin | |
| 1797 to 1802 | vacant, vacant | |
| 1802 to 1830 | Majotu, Alaafin | |
| 1830 to 1833 | Amodo, Alaafin | |
| 1833 to 1835 | Oluewu, Alaafin | |
| 1837 to 1859 | Atiba Atobatele (at new capital), Alaafin | |
| 1859 to 1875 | Adelu, Alaafin | |
| 1876 to 1888 | Adeyemi I Alowolodu, Alaafin | |
| 1888 to 1905 | Adeyemi I Alowolodu (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1905 to 1911 | Lawani Agogoja (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1911 to 1944 | Siyanbola Onikepe Oladigbolu I (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1944 to 1945 | Regent (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1945 to 1955 | Adeyemi II Adeniran (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1955 to 1956 | Regent (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1956 to 1960 | Bello Gbadegesin Oladigbolu II (as British Vassal), Oba | |
| 1960 to 1968 | Bello Gbadegesin Oladigbolu II (as Nigerian Traditional Monarch), Oba | |
| 19 November 1970 to Present | Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (as Nigerian Traditional Monarch), Oba | |
See also
External links
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