[8] Whydah troops pushed their way into the African interior, capturing millions of people through wars, and selling them to European and Arab slave traders.

[10] On 19 March 1727, The Boston News-Letter gave this report: WHYDAH IN AFRICA: the beginning of this month, Agaja the king of Dahomey came down unexpectedly with an army, and soon became master of this place, and the country adjacent Allada; the desolation which ensued was so great, that it is impossible to be represented!

The factory at Saber, once the king's town and Seat of Trade, was burnt to the ground, and in it a great quantity of merchandise.

Forty Europeans were carried into captivity, to the King of Dahomey's camp at Ardrah, but after having been detained about 14 days, seven of them were released and are now returning hither; they gave a melancholy account of their treatment.

Ouidah's importance arose from the fact that several European powers (French, Portuguese, English) competed for influence, weakening their overall authority.

This coincided with Ouidah's decline compared to Cotonou's better port access that French colonial rule consolidated.

[22] The English presence in Ouidah predates the fort, with the Royal African Company suffering initial setbacks before securing a permanent factory in 1684,[23][24] with guns often only used for salutes.

[26][27] Tensions with the French factory culminated in an exchange of fire in 1692, prompting the English to build proper fortifications.

They remained under African control, essentially acting as 'tenants' with limited powers, paying rent to local rulers.

These records document interactions with the local community, particularly those employed by the fort (both enslaved and free Africans) and those providing various services.

Enslaved Africans often came from distant regions, making escape attempts less likely, while temporary workers from places such as the Gold Coast sometimes settled permanently.

The Lemon family, as an example, descended from a fort soldier who married locally,[50] were even appointed royal guards by the Dahomian kings.

The king of Hueda sent a "fetishman" to make offerings at the grave of one such governor, believing that his spirit was calling his successor to the afterlife.

[10] The Route des Esclaves, by which slaves were taken to the beach, has numerous statues and monuments, including the Door of No Return, a memorial arch.

[10] The Market Center of Ouidah, which was established by Scouts more than 20 years ago, trains young people in agricultural skills, thus helping to reverse the exodus towards the cities.

[60] Other landmarks include:[10] This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 31 October 1996 in the Cultural category.