The emergence of the Asante kingdom was a tribute to two men: Opemsuo Osei Tutu I (1695-1731) and his mystic friend and sage, Okomfo Anokye, whose vision, remarkable prowess and geniuses founded a kingdom that rivaled the territorial borders of the old Ghana empire. Legend has it that in order to win independence from Denkyira, then a powerful state, Osei Tutu (then Kumasihene) and his friend, Okomfo Anokye called a meeting of all the clan heads of each of the Asante settlements to Kumasi. These settlements included Juaben, Nsuta, Bekwai, Mampong, Kokofu and Esumeja.
 

During the meeting, Okomfo Anokye commanded a Golden Stool (Asikadwa) Kofi) from the heavens, which landed on the laps of Osei Tutu. Okomfo Anokye declared the stool to be symbol of the new Asante union (Asanteman) in unity and spirit (sunsum). Each chief then swore allegiance to the Golden Stool and to Osei Tutu as the Asantehene (King of Asante), by holding a golden sword to the Golden Stool. Subsequently the new Asante union proceeded to inflict a terrible defeat on Denkyira, the enemy state. According to etymology, Asante is a derivation of "Osa -nti" or "warlike".

 
The primary purpose of the Asante union was to fight against the rule and domination of the King of Denkyira. The Asante kingdom ranks among the few monarchical states in the world, with a long and sustained system of governance. There have been 16 kings since its formation, from Opemsuo Nana Osei Tutu 1(1695-1731) to the present king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (1999 - ). Even though history gives all the credit for the founding of Asante Nation or Kingdom to King Osei Tutu I, the real empire builder was Katakyie Opoku Ware 1(1731-1742). He prevented the break up of the union after the debacle of the Asante army at River Pra in Akyem. As the successor of Nana Osei Tutu, Otumfuo Opoku Ware I, initiated (among his many accomplishments, the institution of the Great Oath (Ntamkesie Miensa, Kromantse, ne Memenda) into Asante jurisprudence.

The oath is solemnly invoked to mark the defeat and death of Nana Ose Tutu at Kromantse near Pra River during the war against Akyem. At the time of Opoku Ware I's death in 1742, the Asante empire extended to the kingdoms of Fante, Akyem Akuapem, Aowin, Denkyira, Sefwi, Wassa, Assin Gonja, Ga-Adangbe, Kwawu, Bono, Ahafo and parts of Togo. Another contribution of Otumfuo Opoku Ware was the introduction of the famous Asante traditional ballet-like dance Adowa and music.

Between 1750 and 1814 the inaction of some of the Asante kings diminished some of the territorial holdings of the empire. This was due in part to the resident administration, which also happened to be the same defeated kings, neglect in administering those possessions and those (partly due to successful rebellions sometimes promoted by British intrigue) in some of those states which waged war against Asante rule. 

The cumulative effect of Asante's hegemony, or insurance against the threat of Asante domination in the coastal regions of Ghana was the signing of a treaty, the "Bond of 1844" between the British and most of the coastal chiefs - whereby their lands were ceded to the British crown, and their people brought under British protection for 100 years. It took nine wars and a period of 80 years (1823-901) before the British could subdue the Asante militarily. 

In 1895 the Asantes were overwhelmed by a better trained military, most of them brought all the way from West Indies and Hausaland (Northern Nigeria), and equipped with better and superior fire power such as cannons and rockets. Asantehene Nana Agyeman Prempeh 1(1822-1932), seeing the imminent defeat of the Asante army with the resulting possibility of the capture of the Golden Stool, surrendered himself and was exiled to the Seychelles Island with a retinue of other chiefs, and later, the legendary woman Yaa Asantewaa, Queen mother of Ejisu. Notwithstanding, the British Governor Hodgson, on a visit to Kumasi in 1900 demanded to sit on the Golden Stool as an honor to Queen Victoria. Incensed that such gesture would be sacrilegious to the Stool, Asantefuo, led by Yaa Asantewaa, Queen mother of Ejisu led an insurrection against the British in consequence of which Kumasi was burnt to the ground. Asante lost its military power and political sovereignty and became a British protectorate. The war of 1900, however gave Asantes time to make a clone of the Golden Stool which was taken by the British after the war instead of the original Golden Stool.

In 1902 Asante was divided into four administrative districts: Mampong-Kumasi, Ashanti-Akim, Bekwai, Sunyani and Wenchi. Each district managed its own affairs and was headed by a District Commissioner which in turn reported to the Regional Commissioner in Kumasi. Twenty eight years after the exile of Nana Agyeman Prempeh I, the British allowed him to return as Kumaishene. However, in 1938, the Asante Sante Union was restored and Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Premph II  (1932-1970) was recognized as the Asantehene. In 1945 Asante became formally part of the Gold Coast colony and elected its first two representative to the Colony's Legislative Council in 1946.

In 1957 Gold Coast achieved independence from Britain and became Ghana. The Northwestern part of Asante, Wenchi, Sunyani and part of Kumasi district were carved out to become the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana in 1960. In spite of Ghana's post independence tumultuous history, Asantefuo as Ghanians, are playing their part as members of “a pluralistic society" in the socio-economic development of their country. Asantes are found everywhere in Ghana as civil servants, merchants, businessmen and bankers, lawyers, engineers, physicians, etc.

The term Asante transcends geographic expression. It connotes a state of mind of a people who cherish their glorious culture and look forward to a future with optimism. In the words of one perceptive foreign writer: "What the Ashanti have left today are the basic things that have enabled them to survive and to call themselves as great people - now numbering over 2 million strong. They have their won language and literature, their religion and local government. They are hard working, independent farmers, craftsmen and traders. To such people the future is bound to be kind."