Page "Dahomey" Paragraph 8

The Dahomean state became widely known for its corps of female soldiers.

They were organized around the year 1729 to fill out the army and make it look larger in battle, armed only with banners. Dahomey female soldiers The women reportedly behaved so courageously they became a permanent corps.

In the beginning the soldiers were criminals pressed into service rather than being executed.

Eventually, however, the corps became respected enough that King Ghezo ordered every family to send him their daughters, with the most fit being chosen as soldiers.

Richard Francis Burton commented on the " masculine physique of the women, enabling them to compete with men in enduring toil, hardship and privations ," and Alfred Ellis concurred that the female soldiers, " endured all the toil and performed all the hard labour.