Osei Tutu was one of the founders and first ruler of the Asante (Ashanti) empire. Under Osei Tutu’s rule, the confederacy of Asante states was transformed into an empire with its capital at Kumasi. Osei Tutu and his priest-counselor Okomfo Anokye succeeded in merging these states into the Asante Union, a union that was solidified by the famous Golden Stool. This was a carefully orchestrated political and cultural process, which was implemented in successive stages. Territorial expansion under Osei Tutu was rapid for the Ashanti Empire. The highly organized Ashanti Army included cavalry, infantry, scouts, royal bodyguards, and other units with the Asantehene as the supreme military commander. This military organization was far more advanced than most of Ashanti’s neighbors.
