Rulers & Emperors · Head-to-head
Mubarak Al-Sabah vs Behanzin
Yes — based on their recorded years, Mubarak Al-Sabah (1840–1915) and Behanzin (c. 1844–1906) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Mubarak Al-Sabah
Known as Mubarak the Great, he seized the rulership of Kuwait by assassinating his half-brother and half-brother's adviser, then went on to shape the foundations of the modern Kuwaiti state.
Key achievements
- Seized the rulership of Kuwait in 1896 by assassinating his half-brother and predecessor Muhammad Al-Sabah, along with Muhammad's brother and adviser Jarrah
- Ruled the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from 1896 until his death in 1915
- Negotiated a 1899 agreement with Britain that placed Kuwait under British protection, shielding it from Ottoman control
- Established the foundations of the Al-Sabah dynasty that continues to rule Kuwait today
Fast fact
Kuwait's constitution requires its ruling Emir to be a direct descendant of Mubarak Al-Sabah, a lasting legacy of the dynasty he secured through violence in 1896.
Full profile of Mubarak Al-Sabah →Behanzin
The King of Dahomey who led fierce resistance against French colonial forces before being defeated and exiled in the 1890s.
Key achievements
- Became King of Dahomey around 1889-1890, taking the name Behanzin upon his coronation
- Led Dahomey's military, including the famed women warrior corps, against French invasion
- Fought two wars against French colonial forces in the early 1890s
- Was eventually defeated and exiled after French forces captured his kingdom's capital
Fast fact
Behanzin commanded the Dahomey Amazons, an elite corps of women warriors, during his military campaigns against French colonial forces.
Full profile of Behanzin →Who lived first, Mubarak Al-Sabah or Behanzin?
Mubarak Al-Sabah (1840–1915) lived first, before Behanzin (c. 1844–1906), based on their recorded years.
Were Mubarak Al-Sabah and Behanzin contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Mubarak Al-Sabah (1840–1915) and Behanzin (c. 1844–1906) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Mubarak Al-Sabah and Behanzin have in common?
Both Mubarak Al-Sabah and Behanzin are grouped among our Rulers & Emperors figures and lived during the Modern Era.