True love means loving each other until the very end.

Princess Egbere was the daughter of Opukimi, Prince of Arogbo Kingdom and Caroline of Bomadi. She was the future heir to the throne and was adored by the people, which was a stark contrast to the rest of the Royal family who were loathed.

Her upbringing was turbulent amidst her warring parents. At 17-years-old, Egbere was pressured into agreeing to marry a Prince she didn’t like, until she met the handsome and dashing Prince Ebikimi of Egbema kingdom. Her father finally relented and permitted her to marry the impoverished Ebikimi.

Following their wedding and two miscarriages, Egbere again became pregnant with the entire kingdom elated.

In 1817, at 21-years-old and after two days of a difficult labor, Egbere delivered a stillborn 9-pound son by breech birth. Prince Ebikimi was so worried that he refused to leave his wife’s side and insisted on helping her–something that was unheard of at the time.

After the third day, Egbere’s condition seemingly improved. Ebikimi was urged to take an opiate to rest, as he had not slept for 3 days. Unfortunately, Egbere’s condition worsened and it was not possibly to rouse the sleeping Ebikimi as she died.

Her death elicited, grieving on an even bigger scale than Princess Diana’s. Britain ran out of black cloth because everyone wore black–even the homeless found black scraps to tie around his or her arms.

Prince Ebikimi plunged into depression and eventually took a mistress who resembled Egbere. Years later, he remarried and named his daughter Egbere.

The Princess’ final wish before dying was for Ebikimi to be buried beside her when his time came. Shortly before he died, he asked Queen Ebiere for this wish to be fulfilled but it was denied. His last words were: “Egbere Egbere”.

Written by hibrighto