Military Leaders · Head-to-head
Samory Toure vs Behanzin
Yes — based on their recorded years, Samory Toure (c. 1828–1900) and Behanzin (c. 1844–1906) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Samory Toure
A Malinke Muslim leader who built a powerful West African empire and led a determined years-long resistance against French colonial conquest.
Key achievements
- Founded an empire stretching across parts of present-day Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast
- Led a prolonged military resistance against French colonial forces from the 1880s through the 1890s
- Reorganized his empire's military and administration to sustain a long anti-colonial campaign
- Became one of the most significant African leaders resisting European colonization in the late 19th century
Fast fact
Samory Toure's forces resisted French colonial expansion for nearly two decades before he was finally captured in 1898 and exiled to Gabon, where he died.
Full profile of Samory Toure →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, Samory Toure or Behanzin?
Samory Toure (c. 1828–1900) lived first, before Behanzin (c. 1844–1906), based on their recorded years.
Were Samory Toure and Behanzin contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Samory Toure (c. 1828–1900) and Behanzin (c. 1844–1906) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Samory Toure and Behanzin have in common?
Both Samory Toure and Behanzin are grouped among our Military Leaders figures and lived during the Modern Era.