Room II · 2 of 7 on the tour
Eighteen sovereigns and regents have succeeded one another since 1557. This room gathers the dynasty's interactive timeline, the portraits of the sovereigns, the regalia and the words of today's royal court. Every piece presented here is approved by the court before publication.
Centrepiece
Each band represents a reign, its width proportional to its length. Select a sovereign to discover their story.
1557 – 1642 · Founder
Victor of the buffalo trial, "he who tames the buffalo" conquered the hill of Tchébélou through cunning and friendship, founded Sa-Avalou there and gave his name — Gbaguidi, "true chief" — to a dynasty that still reigns today.
Room texts
Provisional texts based on the project presentation document (v3.2) — awaiting approval by the royal court and the town hall of Savalou.
Remarkably, the monarchy of Savalou has remained alive and continuous to this day: it survived vassalisation, the slave trade, colonisation and the transformations of the modern State. Eighteen sovereigns and regents have succeeded one another since 1557 — a historical backbone that the timeline below unrolls reign by reign.
Dada Ganfon Gbaguidi XV, enthroned in 2022, is one of Benin's recognised traditional monarchs. He is committed to philanthropy, education and cultural preservation, including with the diaspora. The royal palace, at the foot of the hills, remains a living place where the sovereign receives in ceremonial dress, surrounded by his dignitaries.
The collection
A collection in the making: each label shows the status of its piece — collection, research, or review by the royal court and the town hall.
01 · Court objects
Thrones, sceptres and ritual objects kept at the palace tell the continuity of royal power. Their digitisation is carried out in close collaboration with the court.
Royal palace of Savalou
HD photographs · notices FR/EN · Fon audio
02 · Living site
At the foot of the hills since the 18th century, residence of the dynasty and a living place: the sovereign receives there in ceremonial dress, surrounded by his dignitaries.
Savalou, foot of the hills
360° panorama · HD photographs · notice FR/EN
03 · Portrait gallery
From Soha Gbaguidi I to Dada Ganfon Gbaguidi XV, the gallery brings together portraits, archive photographs and documents, reign after reign.
Royal court · archives
Iconography · biographies FR/EN
04 · Intangible heritage
The ceremonies that make a king: documented in respect of ritual prohibitions, with the consent and under the control of the royal court.
Royal court
Audio testimonies · FR/EN transcripts