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A West African empire and kingdom that covered central Ghana, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire through the late 17th century and the early 20th century, the Ashanti Empire was ruled from the late 17th century through the early 20th century. As well as being one of the wealthiest empires in Africa at the time, the Ashanti Empire maintained a complex and sophisticated government.
The Ashanti tribes were vulnerable to attacks from rival tribes for several years because they lacked centralized authority. Under Osei Tutu I, power, military, and political administration were centralized under one authority.
Through alliances with neighbouring peoples, the Ashanti Kingdom founder became more powerful, eventually founding the Ashanti Union in 1700. Through conquest, diplomatic alliances, and strategic alliances, Osei Kofi Tutu I established the Ashanti Kingdom.
He established Kumasi as his capital, and with his chief priest, he created the Golden Stool legend as a means of legitimizing his control. In Ashanti society, the throne is a symbol of authority and resistance to foreign imperial rule.
Having united spiritually and practically, the other Asante kingdoms fought together against the Denkyira who had submitted the Ashantis to several years of servitude. Osei Kofi Tutu I is credited with learning military warfare when he stayed with another powerful tribe the Akwamu.
He employed these tactics and eventually defeated his enemies. Osei Kofi Tutu I is revered among the Ashantis as the founder of a kingdom that eventually grew to become an empire in West Africa.
King Osei Kofi Tutu's foundation aided his successors in raiding and defeating stronger tribes, allowing Ashanti to become a regional hegemonic power with cultural influence that extended beyond its borders. Osie Kofi Tutu is believed to have died in 1717 while waging war against the Akyem tribe, and his body was never recovered.