Dahomey Amazons

Founded in the mid 17th century by the King Houegbadja, the Mino (called Dahomey Amazons by westerners due to their similarity with the mythical Amazons) were an elite force of female warriors in the Kingdom of Dahomey (present day Benin).

Originally, they were not called Mino, but the gbeto, trained not to take down humans, but to take out much more intimidating foes - elephants. Houegbadja's son, Agaja, then used these elephant hunters as an elite bodyguard, and sent them with the rest of Dahomey's army to conquer the neighboring Kingdom of Savi, in which they were successful.

Whereas most female forces were different, the Mino didn't discriminate on who could and couldn't join - young, old, ugly, beautiful, virgin, and whore were all welcome into their ranks. On top of that, women who were bad housewives and/or disobedient and aggressive often were put into the Amazons to...hone their skills.

Armed with Danish guns they received by trading slaves, these female warriors were also known for their skill with their guns. While for hundreds of years, they helped Dahomey to be a major regional power, the small state was invaded by France, and though they were noted for their incredible bravery, the Dahomey Amazon's legacy ended after two wars.