Denkyira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denkyira
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| 1500 (16th century)–1701 (18th century) | |||||||||
Location of Denkyira (bottom-left of map); The core area of the Ashanti Nation (green marking) and Denkyira (bottom-left of map) at the beginning of the 1890s.
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| Capital | Dunkwa-on-Offin | ||||||||
| Common languages | Twi dialect of Akan | ||||||||
| Religion | Asante Ancestor worship religion and mythology | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
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• 1637 to 1695
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Boa Amponsem I | ||||||||
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• 1695 to 1701(last of indep. Denkyira)
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Ntim Gyakari | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Established
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1500 (16th century) | ||||||||
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• Renamed Upper Denkyira and Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira of Central Ashantiland on the Ashantiland Peninsula
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1957 | ||||||||
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• Dissolved into Ashanti Kingdom
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1701 (18th century) | ||||||||
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Denkyira was a strong nation of the Akan people. It existed before the 1620s in what is now Ghana. Like all Akan groups, they came from the Bono state. Before 1620, Denkyira was known as Agona.
The ruler of Denkyira was called the Denkyirahene. Their first capital city was Jukwaa. The first Denkyirahene was a leader named Mumunumfi. Later, the capital moved to Abankeseso. Today, the main town for Denkyira is Dunkwa-on-Offin.
Contents
About Denkyira: A Powerful Kingdom
Denkyira grew powerful because of its gold production. They traded this gold with European countries. This trade brought them a lot of wealth and influence.
Trade and Influence
In the 1690s, Denkyira fought wars with nearby states like Asen and Twifo-Heman. These fights were important. They helped Denkyira keep control of trade routes to the coast. This allowed them to trade with the Fante State and European traders.
Denkyira, along with the Fante states, controlled trade with Europeans in Western Ghana. Meanwhile, the Akwamu kingdom controlled trade in Eastern Ghana. Denkyira was very strong and ruled over many smaller states. Only the Fante, Akwamu, and Akyem states were not under their control.
The Rise of the Ashanti Empire
The Asantes were once under Denkyira's rule. They had to pay taxes to the Denkyira Kingdom. This changed in 1701. With the help of a wise person named Okomfo Anokye, the Asante people defeated Denkyira. This happened at the Battle of Feyiase.
After this battle, Denkyira became a state that paid taxes to the Ashanti Empire. The Denkyirahene at that time was Ntim Gyakari. He was the last independent ruler of Denkyira.
Later History and Modern Times
In 1868, Denkyira joined the Fante Confederacy. This was a group of Fante states that had allied with the British. At the same time, the Asante Kingdom was allied with the Dutch people.
The most recent ruler of Denkyira was Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III. His death was announced in December 2016. Today, the areas that were once part of Denkyira are known as Upper Denkyira and Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira. These are located in the Central Ashantiland area of Ghana.
See also
In Spanish: Denkyira para niños
