Orompoto
Encyclopedia
Orompoto was an Alaafin
of Oyo
, also the empire's titled ruler. He was the brother of his predecessor, Eguguojo
. He was considered a skillful warrior
and was known according to Oyo tales of his inadvertent victory at the battle of Illayi. While fighting his enemies, he lost three leaders of the van, called Gbonkas in Oyo. The third, however, fell with his teeth grinding and his mouth grinning, the enemies thought he was alive and was making a mocking gesture and were overwhelmed by what they considered their inability to wrestle with the Oyo gbokas. The enemies later decided to call it quits, with the Oyo later claiming victory.
Orompoto used horses extensively in military battles and may have obtained them from Borgu
.
Alaafin
Alaafin or Man of the Palace in the Yoruba language was the title of the emperor of the medieval Oyo empire of northwestern Yorubaland. It was retained through the fall of that state as the official title of the ceremonial ruler of the contemporary Oyo clan....
of Oyo
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
, also the empire's titled ruler. He was the brother of his predecessor, Eguguojo
Eguguojo
Eguguojo was the Alaafin of Oyo during the sixteenth century.It was during his reign that the capital city was moved from Oyo ile to Oyo Igboho , after a protracted battle with the Nupes and also as a result of internal fighting. Prior to the establishment of New Oyo, his grandfather had gone on an...
. He was considered a skillful warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
and was known according to Oyo tales of his inadvertent victory at the battle of Illayi. While fighting his enemies, he lost three leaders of the van, called Gbonkas in Oyo. The third, however, fell with his teeth grinding and his mouth grinning, the enemies thought he was alive and was making a mocking gesture and were overwhelmed by what they considered their inability to wrestle with the Oyo gbokas. The enemies later decided to call it quits, with the Oyo later claiming victory.
Orompoto used horses extensively in military battles and may have obtained them from Borgu
Borgu
Borgu was a 15th-16th century state in West Africa, partitioned between the Great Britain and France by the Anglo-French Convention of 1898. It lies in what is now Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.People of Borgu were known as Bariba and Borgawa....
.