Ohuede

Ohuede (c. 1054 – c. 1112) na di twenty-seventh  (King) of Igodomigodo, one early historical state wey later join becum Benin Empire. E rule from about c. 1110, until im death and e establish wetin later becum di Ohuede dynasty. Im installation as Ogiso happen around c. 1110,, afta di death of Ehenneden wit no clear successor. Im rule last for two years, come end wit di accession of im pikin, Oduwa, in c. 1112. Im reign face economic challenges, governance wahala, and efforts to clear out di dynastic succession law dem.

 Background and How E Come Reign 
Ohuede bin born around 1054 for Ihinmwirin, one region wey dey inside Igodomigodo (modern-day Benin Kingdom). He be di  ("family head") of  Oriagba kin and e be distant relative of  Ehenneden, as e be di pikin of Oboite—the younger sibling of  Odoligie and likewise one descendant of Oriagba. E don reach di  ("senior community chiefs") age grade but e never reach di rank of  ("senior village chief"). Afta  Ehenneden death wit no heir, di  ("kingmakers") track im lineage go Oboite and choose Ohuede as di next ruler. When e be 56, Ohuede na Senior Noble for di Royal Council wey dey represent Ihinmwirin, and im advanced age, noble status, and ancestral link to  Oriagba all help am get chosen—though questions still dey about di legitimacy of im claim. Ohuede no wan tie im reign with di wider Oriagba family; him choose to separate im rule from di reign of im older relatives inside di kinship group. Im decision to use im own name as di base of one new house later lead to di recognition of wetin dem come know as di Ohuede dynasty.

Di  ("royal bards") record im ascension wit dis verse:  

 Reign and gormet 
When e come reign, Ohuede inherit kingdom wey dey face plenty economic wahala. One of im initiatives na di establishment of  ("workers' farms"), wey dem design to give land to artisans and craftsmen so dem fit support dem self. Dis one aim to reduce economic dependency on farming and boost specialisation for trade.

Ohuede still show small interest for governance. E prefer to take im leisure do farming, and e dey orways retreat go im estate or dey enjoy pastimes like to smoke im long pipe. Him absence for court weaken di central authority, allowing  ("Dukes") to take operate more autonomously. For example, as di capital no dey bring new minister appointments, plenty  begin to collect tolls and duties for trade routes wey pass through dia territories. Dis lack of coordination con cause downturn for trade, both for local and long-distance exchanges. External commerce, especially wit North Africa, suffer as dem face overlapping issues like violent conflict, religious wars, and rampant banditry for di Sahara; all these make di trans-Saharan routes dey more dangerous. Plus domestic disruptions—like declining guild oversight and one apprenticeship system wey don spoil—di economy of Igodomigodo contract, and production standards drop quick.

One notable but controversial proposal during im reign na to extend primogeniture law come allow woman succession if male heir no dey. Though Ohuede get one son—Oduwa—im introduce dis idea as safeguard against future succession wahala, recalling di political uncertainty wey  Ehenneden death without any heir bring. If Ehenneden get no male sibling like Oboite (Ohuede padi), di realm suppose adopt either rotational system—wey di Senior Nobles favour—or nominate one female relative, wey go trigger bigger controversy. Despite im pragmatic intention, di proposal receive heavy rejection from di Senior Nobles, wey view female succession as too early and no fit di kingdom's patriarchal traditions. Di resistance to woman rule continue, as later when  Ewuare try name him daughter, Edeleyo, as successor, dem reject am in similar way.

 Death and succession 
Ohuede die for 1112 AD, ending im brief reign. E succeed am without dispute by im seventh and only surviving pikin, Idugioduwa, wey become  Oduwa, and e rule from approximately . Di smooth transition still show say di monarchy na hereditary. However, di death of di six other children before im die stir popular superstitions about im bloodline. Especially, di Ihinmwirin community accuse Idugioduwa mama of witchcraft based on traditional divinations, and dem banish her. Idugioduwa then get raised by him uncle Igbinidu, an ironsmith for Ugboha, one city inside di kingdom.

 Legacy 
Ohuede legacy still dey debated. One historian Osayomwanbo Ero talk say im reign na one period of institutional decline, im still menshun di weak leadership, economic stagnation, and di erosion of central authority wey Ohuede get. On di other hand, Osarẹn Ọmọregie view Ohuede tenure as one transitional phase in di Ogiso monarchy, especially for di influence im get for debates on succession law. Di Ohuede dynasty na di shortest-lived Ogiso lineage, lasting only two decades before di transition to di Eweka dynasty. Ohuede keep di  royal salute custom, wey  Igodo introduce. Di salute mean "di king from di sky" and e don be one long lasting tradition among di Ogiso rulers.

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