Kingdom of Benin Benin was an influential city-state in northwest Africa generally from the 15th to 17th century. It was founded by the Edo or Bini people in the 13th century, and by the early 14th century a royal court was in place. It was always ruled by a powerful king who was usually a former war leader. The kings, however, later became a more religious figure. The kingdom has been though to extend throughout what is presently southern Nigeria. One of its most successful kings was Ozoula. During his reign, from about 1480 to 1504, Benin established many commercial and diplomatic relations with Portugal. The kingd