![The Kingdom of Nri, in the Igbo language called Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì is a medieval Igbo Kingdom that originated around 900 AD to 1911. The Kingdom was then reinstated and is still in existence today, although influence and territory has significantly waned. It is among the oldest existing monarchies in Nigeria, and had its capital at Igbo-Ukwu.<br />The Kingdom of Nri was unusual in the history of world governments in that its leader exercised no military power over his subjects. The Kingdom's philosophy was peace, wisdom, justice, harmony and being one with creation. The basis of this pacification is in the Nri religious belief that violence was an abomination that polluted the earth. <br /><br />Unlike most contemporaneous kingdoms, slavery was frowned upon, thus the Kingdom of Nri was a place where all people were welcomed including outcasts from other communities and runaway slaves. <br /><br />The Nri Kingdom is popularly credited as being the cradle for Igbo civilization, culture, and religious practices, the latter being what they were revered for. Their religious institutions were so highly revered it instilled fear in people. <br />The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over much of Igboland, and was administered by a priest-king called the Eze Nri. <br />The Eze Nri's method of leadership which was a cult-like religious-polity, a theocratic (a community governed by a god or priests) indirect leadership style. Hence the undisputed influence over all Igbo territories. It was the base for all Igbo cultural, traditional and economic activities, and at its peak, its influence extended outside of Igbo lands however the kingdom did not have absolute control over the whole of Igbo lands.<br /><br />Origins (1 of many oral traditions)<br /><br />The Eri period is said to have started around 800 AD based oral tradition in the Anambra valley. It is said Eri ,who is believed to have established the Nri line of kingship, was sent by Chukwu (the Creator) from the sky to rule mankind; he (Eri) came down the Anambra River to near Aguleri. Eri is belived to have settled among the indigenous (Igbo) people, during which time he married daughters of the land who bore him children...[cont]](/img/aHR0cHM6Ly9zY29udGVudC5jZG5pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL3YvdDUxLjI5MzUwLTE1LzEyMzE0NjE4OF8yODAzODU3Nzk2NTUyMzE1XzgwODc5MTEzNTYzMDUwODIxMjJfbi5qcGc/c3RwPWRzdC1qcGdfZTM1X3AxMDgweDEwODAmX25jX2h0PXNjb250ZW50LmNkbmluc3RhZ3JhbS5jb20mX25jX2NhdD0xMDcmX25jX29oYz0yR1F1YlhGRS1lWVE3a052Z0VxT3ZDVyZlZG09QVBzMTdDVUJBQUFBJmNjYj03LTUmb2g9MDBfQVlEbFZNMG12VXE5TmZHV1R5UG52QWdnU3p5VHVYS2JPT2stenpRYk9YazJKUSZvZT02NjU0RjVDNyZfbmNfc2lkPTEwZDEzYg==.jpg)
The Kingdom of Nri, in the Igbo language called Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì is a medieval Igbo Kingdom that originated around 900 AD to 1911. The Kingdom was then reinstated and is still in existence today, although influence and territory has significantly waned. It is among the oldest existing monarchies in Nigeria, and had its capital at Igbo-Ukwu.
The Kingdom of Nri was unusual in the history of world governments in that its leader exercised no military power over his subjects. The Kingdom's philosophy was peace, wisdom, justice, harmony and being one with creation. The basis of this pacification is in the Nri religious belief that violence was an abomination that polluted the earth.
Unlike most contemporaneous kingdoms, slavery was frowned upon, thus the Kingdom of Nri was a place where all people were welcomed including outcasts from other communities and runaway slaves.
The Nri Kingdom is popularly credited as being the cradle for Igbo civilization, culture, and religious practices, the latter being what they were revered for. Their religious institutions were so highly revered it instilled fear in people.
The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over much of Igboland, and was administered by a priest-king called the Eze Nri.
The Eze Nri's method of leadership which was a cult-like religious-polity, a theocratic (a community governed by a god or priests) indirect leadership style. Hence the undisputed influence over all Igbo territories. It was the base for all Igbo cultural, traditional and economic activities, and at its peak, its influence extended outside of Igbo lands however the kingdom did not have absolute control over the whole of Igbo lands.
Origins (1 of many oral traditions)
The Eri period is said to have started around 800 AD based oral tradition in the Anambra valley. It is said Eri ,who is believed to have established the Nri line of kingship, was sent by Chukwu (the Creator) from the sky to rule mankind; he (Eri) came down the Anambra River to near Aguleri. Eri is belived to have settled among the indigenous (Igbo) people, during which time he married daughters of the land who bore him children...[cont]