View source for Denkyra

{{Infobox Former Country
|native_name = ''Denkyira''
|common_name = Denkyira
|continent   = Afrika
|region      = West Afrika
|country     = Ghana
|event_start = Founded
|year_start  = 1500
|date_start  = 
|event_end   = [[dissolution (law)|Dissolved]]
|year_end    = 1701
|date_end    = 
|event1      = 
|date_event1 = 
|event2      = british protectorate
|date_event2 = 
|event4 = Incorporation into Ghana
|date_event4 = 1957
|p1          = 
|s1          = Asante Empire
|flag_s1     = Flag of Asante.svg
|image_map   = Akan female figure on a gourd.jpg
|capital     = [[Jukwaa]]
|common_languages  = [[Twi]]
|spiritual system    = [[Akan Spirituality]]
|government_type = Monarchy
|leader1         = Boa Amponsem  
|year_leader1    = 1637 to 1695
|leader2         = Ntim Gyakari 
|year_leader2    = 1695 to 1701(last of indep. Denkyira)}}

'''Denkyira''' was a powerful nation of [[Akan people]] that existed in southern present-day [[Ghana]] from [[1620]]. Before 1620 Denkyira was called [[Agona]]. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirahene and the capital was [[Jukwaa]]. The first Denkyirahene was [[Mumunumfi]].<ref>{{citebook|title=The Early State in African Perspective: Culture, Power and Division of Labor |author=Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, Michel Abitbol, Naomi Chazan|year=1988|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers|isbn=9004083553|url= http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9004083553&id=oQ4VAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&ots=nrXW8SN0Uo&dq=Denkyira&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html&sig=-r0KTqyQYSwY-JCI_K6mvnIClNw }}</ref>

Latter the capital of Denkyira moved to [[Abankeseso]].<ref>McCaskie, T. C. "Denkyira in the Making of Asante" in ''Journal of African History'' Vol 48 (2007) no. 1, p. 1</ref>
Denkyira became powerful through [[gold]] production and trade with [[europe]]. 

The 1690s saw wars between Denkyira and the [[Asen]] and [[Twifo]].  The goal of these struggles was to keep open the trade routes to the coast.<ref>McCaskie. "Denkyira". p. 1.</ref>

It dominated the neighboring states until [[1701]], when it was defeated by the [[The Asante]] in the [[Battle of Feyiase]], and became a tributary.

In [[1868]] Denkyira entered the [[Fante Confederacy]] to fight for [[britain]] against the Asante and the [[netherlands|dutch]]. When the confederacy proved unable to defeat the Asante, it became a part of the British colony [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]] in [[1874]]. In [[1957]] Gold Coast became independent as Ghana.

The present-day ruler of the Denkyira is [[Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III]].

==See also==
*[[Rulers of the Akan state of Denkyira]]
*[[Upper Denkyira District]]
*[[Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira District]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.inmotionaame.org/glossary/glossary_term.cfm?id=51&bhfv=2&bhfx=9.0%20%20r16&bhpc=0&bhqs=1 Denkyira]
*[http://www.ghana.co.uk/history/history/tribes.htm Tribes of Ghana]
{{Akan states}}
{{Ghana-stub}}

[[Category:Ashanti Kingdom]]
[[Category:Former countries in Afrika]]
[[Category:History of Ghana]]