European powers are busy conquering and colonizing…

European powers are busy conquering and colonizing much of Africa at the close of the nineteenth century.

The French Third Republic is the main colonial power in what is today Benin.

The French had established commercial ties with the indigenous peoples of the area including one of West Africa's most powerful states at the time, the Kingdom of Dahomey.

In 1851, a Franco-Dahomean friendship treaty had been ratified, allowing the French to operate commercially and missionaries to enter the country.

By 1890, the Fon kingdom of Dahomey is at the height of its power, laying claim to almost all the coast of modern Benin plus much of south-central Benin as far north as Atcheribé.

One of Dahomey's most important tributaries is the small kingdom of Porto-Novo near the coast.

The kingdom had been at odds with Dahomey on and off since the middle of the eighteenth century.

In 1861, Porto-Novo had been attacked by British anti-slaving ships.

The kingdom had asked for and received French protection in 1863, but this arrangement had been rejected by Dahomey.

Another issue of contention is the status of Cotonou, a port the French believe is under their control because of a treaty signed by Dahomey's representative in Whydah.

Dahomey ignores all French claims there as well and continued to collect customs from the port.

In 1874, King Tofa had taken power in Porto-Novo and had reestablished French protection over the kingdom after Dahomey attacked it in 1882.

Dahomey had continued raiding the town, which culminated in an incident that brings the Fon people and the French to war.

In March 1889, Dahomey attacks a village on the Ouémé, where a village chief resides under the protection of the French.

After remarking that the flag of the tri-color will protect him, the Fon king commands one of his Dahomey Amazons to behead him and wrap his head in the flag.

France sends a mission to Dahomey's capital of Abomey to assert its claims to Cotonou and offer an annual payment.

The crown prince, and later king Béhanzin, receive the mission but nothing is achieved other than mutual distrust.