"The exact period when the army was formed is unknown, although some historians attribute it to the 18th century, when French slaver Jean-Pierre Thibault described seeing groups of third-rank ahosi wives (who were deemed not beautiful enough to share a man’s bed or had not borne children), armed with long poles and acting as police.
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In any case, the warriors are said to have been originally started by the third King of Dahomey, King Houegbadja who ruled from 1645 – 1685. Although these Amazon warriors are said to have been initially made up of hunters known as gbeto, they were later comprised of the ahosi and slaves from conquests on neighbouring villages and tribes.
(Cont)
By the time of King Houegbadja’s son, King Agaja, who reigned from 1708 – 1732, the Dahomey Amazons were established as bodyguards armed with muskets and were used as militia to defeat neighbouring kingdoms. Later, King Ghezo (ruling from 1818 – 1858) initiated this even further, placing great importance on the army by increasing its budget and formalizing its structure from ceremonial to a serious military entity. He did this by recruiting soldiers from foreign captives, although some were free Dahomean women. It is important to note that a number of the Amazon warriors became soldiers voluntarily, while others were involuntarily enrolled due to their husbands or fathers reporting about their behaviour."
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/benin/articles/meet-the-dahomey-amazons-the-all-female-warriors-of-west-africa/
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In any case, the warriors are said to have been originally started by the third King of Dahomey, King Houegbadja who ruled from 1645 – 1685. Although these Amazon warriors are said to have been initially made up of hunters known as gbeto, they were later comprised of the ahosi and slaves from conquests on neighbouring villages and tribes.
(Cont)
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/benin/articles/meet-the-dahomey-amazons-the-all-female-warriors-of-west-africa/