Historical Reminisciences: Great Empires Of Yore (Part 17)

By Mike Ozekhome, SAN

ASHANTI EMPIRE (continues)

Two weeks ago, we delved into the theocratic system of government of the Ashantis, their means of livelihood, communication, population and way of life. This great empire remained an alliance of several large city-states which acknowledged the sovereignty of the ruler of Kumasi and the Ashanti Kingdom, known as the Asantehene. Today, we shall be concluding our 4 part series of the Ashanti Empire.

THE ASHANTIS’ MILITARY PROWESS AND WARS

The Ashanti armies served the empire very well, supporting its long period of expansion and subsequent resistance to European colonization. Armament was primarily with firearms; but some historians hold that indigenous organizations and leaderships probably played a more crucial role in Ashanti military successes. These were perhaps, more significant, considering that the Ashanti had numerous troops from conquered or incorporated peoples, and faced a number of revolts and rebellions from these peoples over its long history. The political genius of the symbolic “golden stool” and the fusing effect of a national army however, provided the unity needed to keep the empire viable. Total potential strength was some 80,000 to 200,000 making the Ashanti army bigger than the well-known Zulu, and comparable to possibly Africa’s largest- the legions of Ethiopia. The Ashanti army was described as a fiercely organized one whose king could “bring 200,000 men into the field and whose warriors were evidently not cowed by Snider rifles and 7-pounder guns. While actual forces deployed in the field were less than potential strength, tens of thousands of soldiers were usually available to serve the needs of the empire. Mobilization depended on small cadres of regulars, who guided and directed levees and contingents called up from provincial governors. Organization was structured around an advance guard, main body, rear guard and two right and left wing flanking elements. This provided flexibility in the forest country the Ashanti armies typically operated in. The approach to the battlefield was typically via converging columns. Tactics included ambushes and extensive maneuvers on the wings. Unique among African armies, the Ashanti deployed medical units to support their fighters. This force was to expand the empire substantially and continually for over a century, and defeated the British in several encounters.

From 1806 until 1896, the Ashanti Kingdom was in a perpetual state of war involving expansion or defence of its domain. Ashanti exploits against other African forces made it the paramount power in the region. Its impressive performance against the British also earned it the respect of European powers.

In 1806, the Ashanti pursued two rebel leaders through Fante territory to the coast. The British refusal to surrender the rebels led to an Ashanti attack. This was devastating enough that the British handed over a rebel; the other escaped. In 1807, disputes with the Fante led to the Ashanti–Fante War, in which the Ashanti were victorious under Asantehene Osei Bonsu (“Bonsu the whale”).

In the 1811 Ga–Fante War, a coalition of Asante and Ga fought against an alliance of Fante, Akwapim and Akim states. The Asante war machine was successful early on defeating the alliance in open combat. However, Asante were unable to completely crush their enemies and were forced to withdraw from the Akwapim hills in the face of unconventional warfare. They did, however, manage to capture a British fort.

In 1814, the Ashanti launched an invasion of the Gold Coast, largely to gain access to European traders. In the Ashanti–Akim–Akwapim War, the kingdom faced the Akim–Akwapim alliance. After several battles, some of which went in favor of the Asante and, some of which went in favor of the outnumbered Akim–Akwapim alliance, the war ended. Even though the outnumbered Akim–Akwapim won some key battles and had moments of glory by 1816, the Ashanti Kingdom was established on the coast.

The first of the Anglo-Ashanti wars occurred in 1823. In these conflicts, the Ashanti Kingdom faced off, with varying degrees of success, against the British Empire residing on the coast. The root of the conflict traced back to 1823, when Sir Charles Mac Carthy, resisting all overtures by the Ashanti to negotiate, led an invading force. The Ashantis defeated this force, killed Mac Carthy, took his head for a trophy and swept on to the coast. However, disease forced them back. The Ashantis were so successful in subsequent wars that in 1826, they again moved on the coast. At first, they fought very impressively in an open battle against superior numbers of British allied forces, including Denkyirans. However, the novelty of British rockets caused the Ashanti army to withdraw. In 1831, a treaty led to 30 years of peace, with the Pra River accepted as the border.

THE BRITISH FORMAL ANNEXATION OF THE ASHANTI KINGDOM

With the exception of a few Ashanti light skirmishes across the Pra in 1853 and 1854, the peace between the Ashanti Kingdom and the British Empire had remained unbroken for over 30 years. Then, in 1863, a large Ashanti delegation crossed the river pursuing a fugitive, Kwesi Gyana. There was fighting, casualties on both sides, but the governor’s request for troops from England was declined and sickness forced the withdrawal of his West Indian troops. The war ended in 1864 as a stalemate, with both sides losing more men to sickness than any other factor.

In 1869, a European missionary family was taken to Kumasi. They were hospitably welcomed, but were used as an excuse for war in 1873. Also, Britain took control of Ashantis land claimed by the Dutch. The Ashanti invaded the new British protectorate. General Wolseley and his famous Wolseley ring were sent against the Ashantis. This was a modern war, replete with press coverage (including by the renowned reporter Henry Morton Stanley) and printed precise military and medical instructions to the troops. The British government refused appeals to interfere with British armaments manufacturers who were unrestrained in selling to both sides.

All Ashanti attempts at negotiations were disregarded. Wolseley led 2,500 British troops and several thousand West Indian and African troops to Kumasi. The capital was briefly occupied. The British were impressed by the size of the palace and the scope of its contents, including “rows of books in many languages.” The Ashanti had abandoned the capital after a bloody war. The British burned down the palace.

In January, 1896, the British formally annexed the Ashanti Kingdom to the British Empire. The British and their allies suffered considerable casualties in the war, losing numerous soldiers and high ranking army officers; but in the end, the firepower was too much to overcome for the Ashantis. The Asantehene (the king of the Ashanti) signed a British treaty in July, 1874, to end the war.

In 1895, the Ashantis turned down an unofficial offer to become a British protectorate. The Ashanti Kingdom wanted to keep French and European colonial forces out of the Ashanti Kingdom territory (and its gold), the British were anxious to conquer the Ashanti Kingdom once and for all. Despite being in talks with the kingdom about making it a British protectorate, Britain began the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War in 1895, on the pretext of failure to pay the fines levied on the Asante monarch after the 1874 war. The British were victorious and the Ashanti Kingdom was forced to sign another treaty.

THE ASHANTIS WAY OF LIFE

Standing among families was largely political. The royal family typically topped the hierarchy, followed by the families of the chiefs of territorial divisions. In each chiefdom, a particular female line provides the chief. A committee of several men eligible for the post elected the chief.

Education in the Ashanti Kingdom was conducted by Asante and imported scholars and Ashanti people would often attend schools in Europe for their higher education.

Tolerant parents were typical among the Ashanti. Childhood was considered a happy time and children could not be responsible for their actions. The child was not responsible for his actions until after puberty. A child was harmless and there was no worry for the control of his soul, the original purpose of all funeral rites. So, the ritual funerals typically given to deceased Ashantis were not as lavish for the children.

The Ashantis adored twins when they were born within the royal family, because they were seen as a sign of impending fortune. Ordinarily, boy twins joined the army; and twin girls were potential wives of the King. If the twins were a boy and a girl, no particular career awaited them. Women who bore triplets were greatly honoured because three was regarded as a lucky number. Special rituals ensued for the third, sixth, and ninth child. The fifth child (unlucky five) could expect misfortune. Families with many children were well respected and barren women scoffed at. So, readers, the black man had always held his forte against predators and foreign invaders.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.” (Winston Churchill).

LAST LINE

I am grateful to my numerous readers, local and global, for always keeping fate with the Sunday Sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian Project, by humble me, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb., Ph.D, LL.D. kindly, look forward to next week’s exciting dissertation.