Visesegan was an African official, the favorite wife of
Glele,
King of Dahomey
The King of Dahomey (''Ahosu'' in the Fon language) was the ruler of Dahomey, an African kingdom in the southern part of present-day Benin, which lasted from 1600 until 1900 when the French Third Republic abolished the political authority of the ...
. Visesegan was
tononu of the Dahomey, a rank comparable to being the head of the wives. The first records of her date to 1863, when
Richard Burton
Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...
recorded that she was one of Yavedo's assistants. She rose to be the most powerful woman by the 1870s, being in charge of other women living in the palace. Visesegan was additionally the wealthiest woman in the palace and controlled commercial licenses. She first supported Ahanhanzo
and later her son Sasse Koku as the successor to her husband. When
Béhanzin
Béhanzin ( – 10 December 1906) is considered the eleventh (if Adandozan is not counted) King of Dahomey, modern-day Republic of Benin. Upon taking the throne, he changed his name from Kondo.
Biography
He succeeded his father, Glele, and ...
became king instead, Visesegan led an attempt to overthrow him, which ultimately was unsuccessful. She lost her property as a result. She had also advocated for "accommodating" the French, who were becoming increasingly involved in the region.
Visesegan died in 1912.
References
{{Reflist
1912 deaths