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 the second Ife dynasty and ancestor to most kings of Yorubaland. |
| 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 having beeen combined with Jakuta, an earlier orisha in Yoruba mythology |
| 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 reigned for an incredibly long time. He is synonymous with the Yoruba deity of the same name |
| 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, Iyayun 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. O ni ki ogbogbo Oluaso, O le je iya Oluaso - is a saying often interpreted as he living a long but challenging life |
| 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 after a period of regency by his Mother, Oba Adasobo. He is sometimes considered the 10th Alaafin when the regency of Iyayun and Adasobo are counted. He retook some of Oyo's original territory from the Nupe. |
| ???? to ???? | Eguguojo, Alaafin | Created Igboho as new capital. |
| 1555 to 1575 | Orompoto, Alaafin | Sister of Eguguojo, and first break of the Father-Son succession pattern since Aganju succeeded Ajaka. Drove the Nupe away from Oyo in 1555. |
| ???? to ???? | Ajiboyede, Alaafin | |
| c.??? to ???? | Abipa, Alaafin | Born 20 years after the Fall of Oyo-Ile. Rebuilt Oyo-ile back as capital after 80 years in 1615 |
| ???? to ???? | Obalokun, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Oluodo, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Ajagbo, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Odarawu, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Kanran, Alaafin | He was killed during a mutiny of his army |
| ???? to ???? | Jayin, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Ayibi, Alaafin | |
| ???? to ???? | Osiyago, Alaafin | Assassinated by a personal enemy |
| c. ??? to 1730 | Ojigi, Alaafin | He conquered the Dahomey Kingdom |
| c. ??? to ??? | Gberu, Alaafin | |
| ??? | Amuniwaiye, Alaafin | Assassinated by a personal enemy |
| ??? to 1754 | Onisile, Alaafin | |
| July 1754 | Labisi, Alaafin | He never formally ruled, and was instead on the 17th day of his installation ceremony before being compelled to commit suicide by Bashorun Gaa |
| July 1754 to October 1754 | Awonbioju, Alaafin | He ruled for about 130 days, before being compelled to suicide by Bashorun Gaa |
| 1754 to c.1768 | Agboluaje, Alaafin | He was forced to commit suicide by Bashorun Gaa after refusing to declare war against the town of Ifonyin |
| c.1768 to c.1774 | Majeogbe, Alaafin | Brother of Agboluaje |
| c. 1774 to April 1789 | Abiodun, Alaafin | Defeated Bashorun Gaa with the support of Oyabi, the Aare Ona Kakanfo |
| 1789 to 1796 | Awole Arogangan, Alaafin | Son of Agboluaje, he installed Afonja as Aare Ona Kakanfo, a distant relative to the Oyo royal family. He was overthrown by Afonja and his army where he committed suicide by poison. |
| 1796 to 1797 | Adebo, Alaafin | He ruled for about 130 days, likely by suicide or murder |
| 1797 | Makua, Alaafin | He ruled for only two months |
| 1797 to 1802 | vacant, vacant | The Bashorun, Ashamu served as regent during this period |
| 1802 to 1830 | Majotu, Alaafin | Is said to have been quite old when he ascended the throne. |
| 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 12 November 1894 | Adeyemi I Alowolodu, Alaafin | Last independent Alaafin of Oyo. On November 12, 1894, the town of New Oyo was bombarded and brought forcibly under British colonial rule. |
| 12 November 1894 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 22 April 2022 | Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (as Nigerian Traditional Monarch), Oba | |
See also
External links
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