Houegbadja was the first of the dynasty to set up the kingdom in Abomey proper: he founded the city by building his palace (named "Agbome"--in the midst of the ramparts) near the area of Guedevi, a few kilometers to the northwest of Bohicon. He was a wise ruler, respected by the people. He enacted laws, named ministers and developed the bureaucracy, religious cult, and political culture that would characterize Dahomey. Houegbadja's symbols were a fish (houe), fish trap (adja), and war club hoe (kpota).
Houegbadja was succeded by his son, Houessou Akaba.