Battle of Chelenqo: Difference between revisions

Battle of Chelenqo
	Part of Menelik's Expansions
	; Harar as depicted in Sir Richard Francis Burton's book 'First Footsteps in East Africa: Or, An Exploration of Harar'; published 1856.
Date	9 January 1887
Location	Chelenqo, Emirate of Harar
Result	Decisive Shewan victory Capture of the city of Harar;
Belligerents
Shewa	Emirate of Harar
Commanders and leaders
Negus Menelik; Ras Makonnen	'Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur
Strength
20,000–25,000 Shewan troops	3,000–4,000 Harari troops
Casualties and losses
Minimal, around 100 dead, 600-700 wounded	Substantial, est. 1,000 dead

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 21:10, 24 October 2024

The Battle of Chelenqo^[2] was an engagement fought on 9 January 1887 between the Abyssinian army of Shewa under Negus Menelik and Emir 'Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur of Harar. The Harari forces were routed, and Negus Menelik afterwards occupied and annexed the city of Harar.

Background

Negus Menelik, in response to Italian control of parts of Eritrea and the port of Massawa, had begun to import firearms and munitions through the French-controlled ports of Djibouti. By 1886, Emir 'Abd Allah of Harar had blocked transport of these arms through his territories.

The massacre of the Italian explorer Count Pietro Porro and his entire party in April 1886, allegedly at the emir's command, gave the Negus an excuse to march on Harar.^[3] Menelik had desired control of the city of Harar for some time. Menelik's general suffered a defeat at the hands of the Emirate of Harar's forces in late 1886 at the Battle of Hirna.^[4] Menelik would however make a second attempt to invade the Emirate of Harar in January 1887 offering 'Abd Allah the same kind of autonomy that Abba Jifar II of the Kingdom of Jimma enjoyed; the Emir refused this offer.

According to Abdullahi Mohammed, the Emir of Harar assembled an army from various districts within the town:^[5]

"In the war fought between Amir Abdullahi Muhammed (1885-87) and Emperor Menilik II, the army of the former seems to have been recruited from the city's four quarters: Assum Beri, Asma'din Bari, Badro Bari and Suqutat Bari."

Battle

According to historian El Amin Abdel Karim Ahmed:^[6]

"The Harari Chronicle maintains that Menilek and 'Abdullāhi became involved in an exchange of arrogant challenges just before the battle commenced. Menilek boasted about the numerical superiority of his forces while 'Abdullāhi reminded him of the forcefulness of is own men."

Knowing that he was heavily outnumbered, and his troops had only obsolete matchlocks and a few cannons, Emir 'Abd Allah decided to attack on early in the morning of Ethiopian Christmas (January 9), expecting the Shewans to be unprepared and befuddled with food and alcohol. However, Negus Menelik was worried about a surprise attack, and kept his men at alert.

The Amir misjudged the quality of these troops and attempted to repeat his earlier success with a second night attack. "Had he allowed the enemy to attack the walled city, where his few Krupp cannon might have been effective, the Shewans might have suffered a defeat with serious political consequences," Marcus notes.^[7] The Emir's men opened fire at 11:00 am. The Shewan soldiers quickly responded and Makonnen's column destroyed the enemy artillery; within twenty minutes, Menelik's troops were victorious.^[8] Menelik pursued the retreating emir to Harar, whose ancient walls would not long resist his assault. Once Menelik reached Harar, the Amir fled with his wives and children into the desert country east of Harar leaving his uncle Ali Abu Barka to negotiate the city's surrender.^[7] With the occupation, the independence of Harar came to an end.

Consequences

Finally having conquered Harar, Menelik extended trade routes through the city, importing valuable goods such as arms, and exporting other valuables such as coffee. He would place his cousin, Makonnen Wolde Mikael in control of the city.

References

^ Gibbs, Camila. Past And Present In Harar (PDF). Ethiopia In Broader Perspective: Papers of the XIII International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. p. 4.
^ also spelled Chalanko, Chalenko, Calanqo, Calanko, Chelenko, etc.
^ Harold G. Marcus, The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844-1913, (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1995), p. 91 ISBN 1-56902-010-8
^ Caulk, Richard (1971). "The Occupation of Harar: January 1887". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 9 (2): 10–11. JSTOR 41967469.
^ Mohammed, Abdullahi. Agri Agri and Berti Berti: Conventional Military Training in the Amirate of Harar (PDF). p. 151.
^ Abdel Karim, El Amin. A Historical Study of the Shawan-Amhara Conquest of the Oromo and Sidama Regions of Southern Ethiopia 1865-1900. University of Khartoum. p. 145.
^ ^a ^b Marcus, Harold G. (2002). A History of Ethiopia. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-520-22479-7.
^ Pétridès, S. Pierre (1963). Le héros d’Adoua, Ras Makonnen, Prince d’Éthiopie. Éditions Plon. p. 44.

[1] Gibbs, Camila. Past And Present In Harar (PDF). Ethiopia In Broader Perspective: Papers of the XIII International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. p. 4.

[2] so spelled Chalanko, Chalenko, Calanqo, Calanko, Chelenko, etc.

[Marcus-91-3] Harold G. Marcus, The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844-1913, (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1995), p. 91 ISBN 1-56902-010-8

[4] Caulk, Richard (1971). "The Occupation of Harar: January 1887". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 9 (2): 10–11. JSTOR 41967469.

[5] Mohammed, Abdullahi. Agri Agri and Berti Berti: Conventional Military Training in the Amirate of Harar (PDF). p. 151.

[6] Abdel Karim, El Amin. A Historical Study of the Shawan-Amhara Conquest of the Oromo and Sidama Regions of Southern Ethiopia 1865-1900. University of Khartoum. p. 145.

[Marcus-83-7] Marcus, Harold G. (2002). A History of Ethiopia. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-520-22479-7.

[8] Pétridès, S. Pierre (1963). Le héros d’Adoua, Ras Makonnen, Prince d’Éthiopie. Éditions Plon. p. 44.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|1887 battle between the Ethiopian Empire and Emirate of Harar}}
-{{Infobox Military Conflict
+{{Infobox military conflict
-|image= Harar.png
-|caption=Harar as depicted in Sir Richard Francis Burton's book 'First Footsteps in East Africa: Or, An Exploration of Harar'; published 1856.
+| image             = Harar.png
+| caption           = Harar as depicted in Sir Richard Francis Burton's book 'First Footsteps in East Africa: Or, An Exploration of Harar'; published 1856.
-|partof= [[Menelik's Expansions]]
+| partof            = [[Menelik's Expansions]]
-|conflict=Battle of Chelenqo
+| conflict          = Battle of Chelenqo
-|date=January 9, 1887
+| date              = 9 January 1887
-|place=[[Chelenqo]], [[Ethiopia]]
+| place             = [[Chelenqo]], [[Emirate of Harar]]
-|result=Decisive Shewan victory
+| result            = Decisive Shewan victory
 *Capture of the city of [[Harar]]
-|combatant1={{flagicon|Ethiopian Empire|old}}[[Shewa]]
+| combatant1        = {{flagicon|Ethiopian Empire}} [[Shewa]]
-|combatant2=[[Emirate of Harar]]
+| combatant2        = [[Emirate of Harar]]
-|commander1= {{flagicon|Ethiopian Empire|old}} ''[[Negus]]'' [[Menelik II|Menelik]]<br>{{flagicon|Ethiopian Empire|old}} [[Ras Makonnen]]
+| commander1        = ''[[Negus]]'' [[Menelik II|Menelik]]<br/> [[Makonnen Wolde Mikael|Ras Makonnen]]
-|commander2=[['Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur]]
+| commander2        = [['Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur]]
-|strength1=20,000–25,000 Shewan troops
+| strength1         = 20,000–25,000 Shewan troops
+| strength2         = 3,000<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gibbs |first1=Camila |title=Past And Present In Harar |url=https://everythingharar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Constructing-Past-and-Present-in-Harar-Gibb.pdf |publisher=Ethiopia In Broader Perspective: Papers of the XIII International Conference of Ethiopian Studies |page=4}}</ref>–4,000 Harari troops
-|strength2= 3,000–4,000 Harari troops
-|casualties1= Minimal, around 100 dead, 600–700 wounded
+| casualties1       = Minimal, around 100 dead, 600-700 wounded
-|casualties2= Substantial, est. 1,000 dead
+| casualties2       = Substantial, est. 1,000 dead
 }}
 {{Campaignbox Menelik's Expansions or 'Agar Maqnat'}}
-The '''Battle of Chelenqo''' (also spelled '''Chalanko''', '''Chalenko''', '''Calanqo''', '''Calanko''', '''Chelenko''', etc.) was an engagement fought on 9 January 1887 between the army of [[Shewa]] under ''[[Negus]]'' [[Menelik II|Menelik]] and Emir [['Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur]] of [[Emirate of Harar|Harar]]. The [[Harari people|Harari]] forces were routed, and Negus Menelik afterwards occupied and annexed the city of Harar.
+The '''Battle of Chelenqo'''<ref>also spelled Chalanko, Chalenko, Calanqo, Calanko, Chelenko, etc.</ref> was an engagement fought on 9 January 1887 between the [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinian]] army of [[Shewa]] under ''[[Negus]]'' [[Menelik II|Menelik]] and Emir [['Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur]] of [[Harar]]. The [[Harari people|Harari]] forces were routed, and Negus Menelik afterwards occupied and annexed the city of Harar.
 ==Background==
 Negus Menelik, in response to [[Kingdom of Italy|Italian]] control of parts of [[Eritrea]] and the port of [[Massawa]], had begun to import firearms and munitions through the [[French colonial empire|French-controlled]] ports of [[Djibouti]]. By 1886, Emir 'Abd Allah of Harar had blocked transport of these arms through his territories.
+The massacre of the Italian explorer Count [[Pietro Porro]] and his entire party in April 1886, allegedly at the emir's command, gave the Negus an excuse to march on Harar.<ref name=Marcus-91>Harold G. Marcus, ''The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844-1913'', (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1995), p.&nbsp;91 {{ISBN|1-56902-010-8}}</ref>
-The massacre of the Italian explorer Count [[Pietro Porro]] and his entire party in April 1886 at Jildessa,<ref>Baynes-Rock, Marcus (2015). "Chapter 1: Past Finding Around Harar". Among the Bone Eaters: Encounters with Hyenas in Harar. University Park, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 978-0-271-06720-9</ref> allegedly at the emir's command, gave the [[Negus]] a ''casus belli'' to march on Harar<ref>Harold G. Marcus, ''The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844–1913'', (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1995), p. 91 {{ISBN|1-56902-010-8}}</ref> based on protecting trade, with the added impetus to foreclose Italian takeover of the city.<ref name="Marcus-1995-91to92">{{harvnb|Marcus|1995|pages=91–92}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bahru |first=Zewde |year=2002 |title=A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855–1991 |location=Athens, Ohio |publisher=Ohio University Press |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=7pYpDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT86 86] |isbn=978-0-85255-786-0 }}</ref> In late 1886 Menelik II moved troops toward Harar.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Caulk |first=Richard A. |year=1971 |title=The Occupation of Harar: January 1887 |journal=Journal of Ethiopian Studies |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=1–20 |publisher=Institute of Ethiopian Studies |jstor=41967469 }}</ref> Menelik had desired control of the city of Harar for some time. Although the army of Shewa was a veteran force with contemporary rifles, and numbered in the thousands, Negus Menelik sought to avoid war, and in January 1887, offered 'Abd Allah the same kind of autonomy that [[Abba Jifar II]] of the [[Kingdom of Jimma]] enjoyed; the Emir refused this offer. Menelik would send word to Amir Abdullah, ruler of the historic city of Harar which was pivotal to Muslim East Africa, to accept his suzerainty. The Amir suggested that Menelik should accept Islam. Menelik promised to conquer Harar and turn the principal mosque into a church, saying "I will come to Harar and replace the Mosque by a Christian Church. Await me." The Medihane Alam Church is proof Menelik kept his word.<ref>Have Pen, Will Travel, M.J. Akbar, 2010</ref><ref>The Crown and the Pen: The Memoirs of a Lawyer Turned Rebel, Bereket H. Selassie, p.226 (2007) https://books.google.com/books?id=5kicAAAAMAAJ&q=menelik+harar+mosque&dq=menelik+harar+mosque&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2trGy2qH4AhU9JjQIHcxtD-QQ6AF6BAgLEAM#menelik%20harar%20mosque</ref><ref>Super Powers in the Horn of Africa, Madan M. Sauldie p.48 (1987) https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8AtAQAAIAAJ&q=menelik+harar+mosque&dq=menelik+harar+mosque&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2trGy2qH4AhU9JjQIHcxtD-QQ6AF6BAgEEAM#menelik%20harar%20mosque</ref>
+Menelik had desired control of the city of Harar for some time. Menelik's general suffered a defeat at the hands of the [[Emirate of Harar]]'s forces in late 1886 at the [[Battle of Hirna]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Caulk |first1=Richard |title=The Occupation of Harar: January 1887 |journal=Journal of Ethiopian Studies |year=1971 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=10–11 |jstor=41967469 }}</ref> Menelik would however make a second attempt to invade the [[Emirate of Harar]] in January 1887 offering 'Abd Allah the same kind of autonomy that [[Abba Jifar II]] of the [[Kingdom of Jimma]] enjoyed; the Emir refused this offer.
+According to Abdullahi Mohammed, the Emir of Harar assembled an army from various districts within the town:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mohammed |first1=Abdullahi |title=Agri Agri and Berti Berti: Conventional Military Training in the Amirate of Harar |page=151 |url=https://everythingharar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Agri-Agri-and-Berti-Berti-Conventional-Military-Training-in-the-Amirate-of-Harar-Mohammed.pdf}}</ref>
-==Prelude==
-A year before the battle of Chelenqo near [[Hirna]], a few troops led by Menelik's general made an attempt to invade Harar. Menelik's informant Asme Giyorgis, conceded the initial push towards Harar by Walda Gabryiel was a failure as the Amir's soldiers used [[fireworks]] to startle his men, forcing a retreat. According to Harold Marcus, his army "was in poor shape, reduced to a relatively small number by sickness and desertions."<ref>Harold G. Marcus, ''The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844–1913'', (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1995), p. 91</ref>
+{{quote|"In the war fought between Amir Abdullahi Muhammed (1885-87) and Emperor Menilik II, the army of the former seems to have been recruited from the city's four quarters: Assum Beri, [[Asmadin Bari|Asma'din Bari]], [[Badro Bari]] and Suqutat Bari."}}
-==The Battle==
-[[File:The incident of Ethiopia.jpg|thumb|Abyssinian troops overrunning eastern Muslims]]
-Knowing that he was heavily outnumbered, and his troops had only obsolete [[matchlock]]s and a few [[cannon]]s, Emir 'Abd Allah decided to attack on early in the morning of [[Christmas traditions#Ethiopia and Eritrea|Ethiopian Christmas]] (January 9), expecting the Shewans to be unprepared and befuddled with food and alcohol. However, Negus Menelik had worried about a surprise attack, and kept his men at alert.
+==Battle==
-The Emir's men opened fire at 11:00 am. The Shewan soldiers quickly responded and routed the Harari infantry with few casualties. Menelik pursued the retreating emir to Harar, whose ancient walls would not long resist his assault. The Amir misjudged the quality of these troops and attempted to repeat his earlier success with a second night attack. "Had he allowed the enemy to attack the walled city, where his few [[Krupp]] cannon might have been effective, the Shoans might have suffered a defeat with serious political consequences," Marcus notes. However, the battle destroyed the Amir's army, the Amir fled, with his wives and children, into the desert country east of Harar. He left his uncle Ali Abu Barka to submit to Menelik and ask clemency for the people of Harar.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Marcus |first=Harold G. |year=2002 |title=A History of Ethiopia |location=Berkeley, California |publisher=University of California Press |page=83 |isbn=978-0-520-22479-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hCpttQcKW7YC }}</ref><ref name="Marcus-1995-91to92" /> With the occupation, the independence of Harar came to an end.
+According to historian El Amin Abdel Karim Ahmed:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Abdel Karim |first1=El Amin |title=A Historical Study of the Shawan-Amhara Conquest of the Oromo and Sidama Regions of Southern Ethiopia 1865-1900 |publisher=University of Khartoum |page=145 |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/666511823/AMHARA-CONQUEST-OF-THE-OROMO-and-SIDAMA-REGIONS-OF-SOUTHERN-ETHIOPIA-1865-PDFDrive}}</ref>
+{{quote|"The Harari Chronicle maintains that Menilek and 'Abdullāhi became involved in an exchange of arrogant challenges just before the battle commenced. Menilek boasted about the numerical superiority of his forces while 'Abdullāhi reminded him of the forcefulness of is own men."}}
-==Consequences==
-[[File:Harar Church construction.jpg|thumb|The construction of the octagonal Medhanealem Church in Harar]]
-Finally having conquered Harar, Menelik extended trade routes through the city, importing valuable goods such as arms, and exporting other valuables such as coffee. He would place his cousin, [[Makonnen Wolde Mikael]] in control of the city.
+Knowing that he was heavily outnumbered, and his troops had only obsolete [[matchlock]]s and a few [[cannon]]s, Emir 'Abd Allah decided to attack on early in the morning of [[Christmas traditions#Ethiopia and Eritrea|Ethiopian Christmas]] (January 9), expecting the Shewans to be unprepared and befuddled with food and alcohol. However, Negus Menelik was worried about a surprise attack, and kept his men at alert.
-The largest [[Mosque]] in Harar (known as Sheikh Bazikh, "The capital Mosque," or Raoûf) located in Faras Magala, and the local [[Madrassa]]{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} were turned into churches, notably "Medhane Alem church" in 1887<ref>The Masjid in Contemporary Islamic Africa, 2021, Michelle Moore Apotsos https://books.google.com/books?id=vic6EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT179&dq=menelik+harar+mosque&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2trGy2qH4AhU9JjQIHcxtDQQ6AF6BAgDEAM#v=onepage&q=menelik%20harar%20mosque&f=false</ref> by [[Menelik II]] after the conquest.<ref>Harar Jugol (Ethiopia), UNESCO, p.28, p.30 https://whc.unesco.org/document/151989</ref> "Asmaa'din Beri," one of the gates of the walls of Harar would later be named "Shewa Ber," [[Amharic]] for "Shewa Gate." Likewise, "Argob Bari" was renamed to "Axum Ber." Likewise, numerous massacres and executions would occur against the local [[Harari people|Harari]], [[Somalis|Somali]], and [[Oromo people|Oromo]] populations during Ras Makonnen's rule.
+The Amir misjudged the quality of these troops and attempted to repeat his earlier success with a second night attack. "Had he allowed the enemy to attack the walled city, where his few [[Krupp]] cannon might have been effective, the Shewans might have suffered a defeat with serious political consequences," Marcus notes.<ref name=Marcus-83>{{Cite book|last=Marcus |first=Harold G. |year=2002 |title=A History of Ethiopia |location=Berkeley, California |publisher=University of California Press |page=83 |isbn=978-0-520-22479-7 }}</ref> The Emir's men opened fire at 11:00 am. The Shewan soldiers quickly responded and Makonnen's column destroyed the enemy artillery; within twenty minutes, Menelik's troops were victorious.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pétridès |first=S. Pierre |title=Le héros d’Adoua, Ras Makonnen, Prince d’Éthiopie |page= <!-- or pages= -->44|date=1963|publisher=Éditions Plon}}</ref> Menelik pursued the retreating emir to Harar, whose ancient walls would not long resist his assault. Once Menelik reached Harar, the Amir fled with his wives and children into the desert country east of Harar leaving his uncle Ali Abu Barka to negotiate the city's surrender.<ref name=Marcus-83/> With the occupation, the independence of Harar came to an end.
+==Consequences==
+Finally having conquered Harar, Menelik extended trade routes through the city, importing valuable goods such as arms, and exporting other valuables such as coffee. He would place his cousin, [[Makonnen Wolde Mikael]] in control of the city.
 ==See also==
-*[[Battle of Azule]]
+*[[Battle of Embabo]]
 *[[Harar]]
 *[[Harari People]]
 *[[Ittu Oromo]]
-*[[Arthur Rimbaud]]
 == References ==
@@ Line 54: / Line 56: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Chelengo}}
 [[Category:1887 in Ethiopia]]
-[[Category:Battles involving Ethiopia]]
+[[Category:Battles involving the Ethiopian Empire]]
 [[Category:Conflicts in 1887]]
 [[Category:January 1887 events]]
 [[Category:Menelik's Expansion Campaigns]]
+[[Category:History of Harar]]