The tragedy of Tsoede,the King of Nupe.

THE SOLILOQUIES OF THE ELDERSTATESMAN:

"Pride goeth before a fall"

In 1535,King Tsoede of Tapa( Nupe) led his army and routed Oyo's. He occupied Oyo-Ile and annexed the Oyo Kingdom. The Alafin then-Onigbogi fled with his family to Borgu. History recorded that Oyo never recovered until the 17th century when they tried to revive their old kingdom by building another capital at Oyo-Igboho.

Basking in the euphoria of defeating the Oyo coastal kingdom,pride took over and Tsoede turned his eyes on the greatest coastal kingdom of all time-the Idu( Benin) empire. Despite warnings from his top generals that great Benin is not in the same military category with Oyo,King Tsoede of Nupe was adamant and marched on Benin. The reigning king of Benin was at that time Oba Esigie the great philosopher. When he was told about the Nupes ill-designs,he laughed and said" the Butterfly thinks himself a bird"

Now,in those days,the Oba leads his army himself into battles when he deemed such a battle a very challenging one. But in the less challenging ones,he allows his generals to do that and also,in the case of an irritant like Tsoede,he wouldn't want to waste the time of his numerous generals. He usually send a little division of the army with probably a commander not above the rank of a colonel to do the job.

In the case of Nupe and Tsoede army,Oba Esigie sent a sub-division in the Esan Command to deal with it and in 1537,a small but efficient dispatch of Esan Warriors defeated the Nupe Army and killed King Tsoede and brought his head to Benin city the capital which head was given to the vultures to feast on.
The tragedy of King Tsoede sent shivers to all the mini kingdoms and acephalous communities in the middle-Niger areas. Benin became a dreaded word so much so that if a recalcitrant child refused to stop crying despite all entreaties from the mother,all she needs to do is to shout,Benin warriors are coming and the child will immediately shut up and scamper into the mother's arms. If you doubt this story,as an Edo man,just walk up to a middlebelter and see how much respect he will accord you. Oba Esigie ensured the respect is forever...

I am proud of my roots...aren't you?