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{{short description|Subbranch of Oromo people in Ethiopia}} |
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The '''Yejju Oromo''' |
The '''Yejju Oromo''' are a sub-clan of the [[Barento]] branch of [[Oromo people]]. They are one of the northernmost communities of [[Oromo people]] residing in [[Ethiopia]], along with the [[Raya Azebo|Raayyaa]].<ref name=Factbook>{{Cite web|title=Africa :: Ethiopia — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-worldfactbook/countries/ethiopia/|access-date=2020-06-29|website=www.cia.gov}}</ref> |
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The Yejju Oromo, originally from southern Ethiopia, emerged as kingmakers and founder of the '''Warra Sheik''' dynasty, which would make Christian Ethiopia a puppet in the hands of the Yejju regents.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mennasemay |first=Maimire |date=2012 |title=Abba Bahrey's Zenahu LeGalla: Towards an Ethiopian Critical Theory |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41756933 |journal=International Journal of Ethiopian Studies |volume=6 |issue=1/2 |pages=1–28 |issn=1543-4133}}</ref> From the beginning of the [[Zemene Mesafint]] era until the [[Battle of Ayshal|defeat]] of [[Ali II of Yejju|''Ras'' Ali of Yejju]] by [[Tewodros II]] in 1853, the Emperors of Ethiopia became, in the words of the Chronicals, "little more than [[Oromo people#Origins and nomenclature|''Galla'']] (Oromo) puppets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Some developments in Ethiopia during the era of the Mesafint |url=https://www.degruyter.com/database/IABO/entry/iab19710158/html?lang=en |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=De Gruyter |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Ancel |first=Stéphane |date=2016-07-07 |title=Éloi Ficquet and Wolbert G.C. Smidt, eds, The Life and Times of Lïj Iyasu of Ethiopia: New Insights |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.15460/aethiopica.18.1.794 |journal=Aethiopica |volume=18 |pages=276–278 |doi=10.15460/aethiopica.18.1.794 |issn=2194-4024}}</ref> The court of [[Gondar]] would primarily be in the hands of the Oromo and the offical language of the court would change from [[Amharic]] to [[Oromo language|Afaan Oromo]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nb4AzgEACAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en |title=The Ethiopian royal chronicles |publisher=University Microfilms |language=en}}</ref> The title of [[Ras (title)|''Ras'']], the third highest title in the kingdom besides [[Emperor of Ethiopia|Negusa Nagast]] (Emperor) and [[Negus]] (King) fell to the dynasties of the Yejju Oromo. Throughout this era, members of this lineage wielded significant political authority in Abyssinia, effectively governing the empire.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8hBCmu3EO8gC&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Research Review |date=1969 |publisher=University of Ghana, Institute of African Studies |language=en}}</ref> |
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According to tradition Yejju claim origin from the sixteenth century scholar Umar who had settled in the region during [[Adal Sultanate]] occupation of Ethiopia.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Aregay |first1=Merid |title=Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. |publisher=University of London |page=139 |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.308149}}</ref> The Warra Sheik who ruled the "House of Yejju" would rule most of Ethiopia during the [[Zemene Mesafint]], or the "Ages of Judges", changing the language in the court of Gondar to the [[Oromo language]].<ref name=Factbook/><ref>[[Richard Pankhurst (historian)|Richard Pankhurst]], ''The Ethiopian Royal Chronicles'', (London: Oxford University Press, 1967), pp. 139–43.</ref> |
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==Origins== |
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As a result of their [[Oromo expansion|expansions]], the Oromo settled in modern day [[Wollo Province|Wollo]] and established dynasties, two of the most notable ones being the Mammedoch and the Warra Sheik. The Mammedoch dynasty had its origin from the [[Arsi people|Arsi]] under the leadership of their clan leader, Babo.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Melaku |first=Misganaw |author-link= |date=2019 |title=Social and Political History of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916 |location=United States of America |publisher=Transaction Publishers |page=93}}</ref> The Warra Sheik dynasty had its origins in [[Boorana|southern Ethiopia]], who would also invade northwards, specifically [[Angot]]. However, there are other origin theories of the Yejju. According to professor Muhammad Hassan, the El-Ejju, an Oromo clan, would be converted by [[Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi|Ahmad Gragn]] and would be defeated by Christian forces thereby under the command of their leader, Sheikh Umar, the El-Ejju would settle in Angot.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hassen |first=Mohammed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fg1zCgAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Oromo+and+the+Christian+Kingdom+of+Ethiopia:+1300-1700+yejju&hl=en |title=The Oromo and the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia: 1300-1700 |date=2015 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-84701-117-6 |language=en}}</ref> The Oromo firmly ensconced Wollo and dominated political and social life quickly in their new settlement. On the other side of [[Abyssinia]], skirmishes broke out between [[Amhara people|Amhara]] and [[Tigrayans|Tigrayan]] principalities for supremacy within the Abyssinian kingdom. [[Bakaffa|Bakaffa I,]] an Amhara prince, appealed to the Oromo neighbors to assist him in battle against the Tigrayans in the north. Many Oromos did not seem to care about jockeying for power but had been in a competition for land against the Tigrayans to the north of them so they complied 20,000 well-armed cavalry to assist the Amhara against the enemy. |
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Shihab ad-Din, in his ''Futuḥ al-Ḥabasha'', mentions the Yejju as allies of Imam [[Ahmad Gragn]], who inhabited the region of "Kewet".<ref>Shihab ad-Din, ''Futuḥ al-Ḥabasha: The Conquest of Abyssinia'', translated by Paul Lester Stenhouse (Hollywood: Tsehai, 2003), p. 229 {{ISBN|0-9723172-5-2}}</ref> It is not known what religion they professed before this time, although Shihab ad-Din mentions that some had converted to Islam.<ref>Shihab ad-Din, ''Futuḥ al-Ḥabasha'', p. 291</ref> According to historian [[Richard Pankhurst (historian)|Richard Pankhurst]], Yejju also knew the speech of the Muslims which he states was [[Harari language]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yates |first1=Brian |title=INVISIBLE ACTORS: THE OROMO AND THE CREATION OF MODERN ETHIOPIA (1855-1913) |publisher=B.A, Morehouse College |page=41 |url=https://atolche.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/oromo20invisible.pdf}}</ref> During the 16th century [[Oromo expansion]]s, they were defeated and replaced as a sub-clan of the Barento branch of Oromo people, who would still go by the name of Yejju.<ref name=Melaku-98>{{Cite journal |last=Melaku |first=Misganaw Tadesse |date=2020 |title=Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916 |url=https://etd.uwc.ac.za:443/xmlui/handle/11394/7290 |journal=University of the Western Cape |language=en |pages=98–99}}</ref> |
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Their support was decisive and Amhara nobles sent an invitation and a plea for the fighting force to stay on in [[Gondar]] to defend the [[Negus]] and to act as a deterrent to future threats from Tigray. Many of the Oromo cavalry stayed in the Gondar region, especially after [[Bakaffa]], who is know the Negus, married the widow of a high-ranking Oromo. The Oromos who resided in Gondar now would become close confidants to the Negus and significantly place substantial political influence within the kingdom.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keller |first=Edmond J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ts7ErVABO0C&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Revolutionary Ethiopia: From Empire to People's Republic |date=1988 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-20646-6 |language=en}}</ref> |
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The Yejju were ruled by the "Warra Sheik," or descendant of Sheikh Omar. According to oral tradition Sheikh Omar had come from Arabia, settled in Ethiopia where he married several women and had numerous children.<ref name=Melaku-98/> His descendants (the Yejju dynasty) dominated Ethiopia during the [[Zemene Mesafint]] period.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prouty |first1=Chris |url=https://archive.org/details/empresstaytumeni0000prou |title=Empress Taytu and Menilek II: Ethiopia, 1883-1910 |publisher=Addis Ababa University |year=1986 |page=28}}</ref> |
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By the time [[Iyasu II]], the son of Bakaffa, came into power Oromo influence in the court was enormous and unsettled the Amhara nobles who questioned Oromo authority. [[Oromo language|Afaan Oromo]] is to have said dominated the Imperial court. A Scottish traveller, [[James Bruce]], who visited Gonder during the period under discussion, wrote that "Nothing was heard at the palace but the Afaan Oromo language".<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |date=1989 |title=The Early History of Ethiopian Horse-Names |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40733033 |journal=Paideuma |volume=35 |pages=197–206 |issn=0078-7809}}</ref> In addition to this, marriage alliances between Yejju Oromo and elite Amhara were frequent. It was [[Mentewab]], the wife of Bakaffa, who arranged marriage alliance between her son Iyasu II and a Muslim Oromo princess from Wollo, Wabi, the daughter of Amito, a powerful Wolloye chief. From this union, [[Iyoas I]] was born who later succeeded his father Iyasu II. This dynastic marriage alliance had remarkable importance for the Oromo lords of Wollo in gaining further access to the royal court and dominating the Empire since the 1780s. The son, born of this union, was sent to Wollo and eventually returned to rule in Gondar. This period of that eventually followed would be known as the "Era of Princes", or the [[Zemene Mesafint]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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As early as 1890, under the reign of [[Menelik II]], the homeland of the Yejju was organized into an Ethiopian province (awrajja) named after them. It was bordered by the Alewuha River to the north, separating it from Raya Qobbo awrajja, the Mille River to the south, separating it from Were Babu district, the Afar Depression to the east, and the highlands of Ambassel to the west. Woldiya served as its capital city. With the adoption of [[ethnic federalism]] in 1994 and the abolishment of the [[Awrajja|awrajja administrative structure]], Yejju was divided between the districts of [[Habru]], [[Weldiya|Weldiya town]], and the mid-altitude portion of [[Guba Lafto]]. Due to the [[Cultural assimilation|assimilation]] of Yejju Oromos into the dominant [[Habesha peoples|Habesha]] culture during the 20th century, the descendants of the Yejju, presently found in the Amhara Region, identify as [[Amhara people|Amharas]].<ref>[http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Ethiopia%20Administrative%20Map%20%28As%20of%2027%20Mar%202013%29.pdf Ethiopia Administrative Map as of 2013]</ref> |
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== Zemene Mesafint era == |
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The death of Iyoas I would spark the Zemene Mesafint which would last until 1855. [[Mikael Sehul|''Ras'' Mikael Sehul of Tigray]], the killer of Iyoas, became the sole leader of the kingdom. Afraid of the politically influential Oromos who already stand in a political influencial position, Sehul endeavored to win their support by granting them increased political sway and arranging royal marriages. Nonetheless, a group of Oromo princes conspired together to overthrow him. Sehul managed to flee back to his home province of Tigray.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abir |first=Mordechai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hwtAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Ethiopia: the Era of the Princes: The Challenge of Islam and Re-unification of the Christian Empire, 1769-1855 |date=1968 |publisher=Praeger |isbn=978-0-582-64517-2 |language=en}}</ref> After disposing Sehul, the confederate Oromos put a "worthless" Amhara on the throne called Socinios, given the title "Kings of Kings". In the coming decades, the guardianship of the King of Kings passed into the hands of a Yejju Oromo family. The founder of this new dynasty of the Oromo regents was [[Ali I of Yejju|''Ras'' Ali I of Yejju]], who ruled the province of [[Begemder|Begamder]] and [[Amhara Region|Amhara]] from his centre in [[Debre Tabor|Debra Tabor]]. |
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When Sehul died in 1779, his son Wolde Gabriel succeded him as the governor of Tigre and took up battle against the Oromo authority in Gondar but fell in battle to [[Aligaz of Yejju|''Ras'' Aligaz of Yejju]], the brother of ''Ras'' Ali I. ''Ras'' Aligaz would succeed ''Ras'' Ali I after his death and after a period for struggle among Tigrayan nobility, [[Wolde Selassie]] would become the new governor of Tigray. In essence, the conflicts between the governors of Tigray and the Oromo lords revolved around the desire of the Tigrayans to overthrow the Oromo oligarchy and claim the title of Negus, while the Oromo aimed to maintain the status quo by manipulating the Amharas as puppets for their own political and social advantage. |
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After the death of ''Ras'' Aligaz, his nephew [[Gugsa of Yejju|''Ras'' Gugsa of Yejju]] rose to power. After the death of Wolde Selassie, Tigray fell into a political crisis. The regent Oromos continued to expand into Gojam, Semien, Showa, Lasta, and to a lesser degree, Tigray. Initially the ''[[Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles#Men's military titles|Dejazmatch]]'' Zadwe of Gojjam and Damot tried to oppose the Oromo ascendancy and their spread into eastern Gojjam but was defeated by ''Ras'' Gugsa. Zadwe's territories were given to ''Ras'' Gugsa's son, [[Alula of Yejju]]. |
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Until the death of ''Ras'' Gugsa in 1825, northern Ethiopia was relatively quiet. The death of the ''Ras'' was, however, a signal for power among all important lords in the country. Local warlords formed coalitions to overcome the regent Oromo nobility of Begamder and Amhara. In the end, [[Yimam of Yejju|''Ras'' Yimam of Yejju]], another son of ''Ras'' Gugsa allied with the young [[Wube Haile Maryam|Wube Haile of Semien]] to defeat the coalition. |
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The political crisis in Tigray had come to an end in 1822 with [[Sabagadis Woldu]] becoming the victor. It had become evident that the new governor was planning to form a Tigrayan-Amhara coalition to oppose the regent Oromos in Gondar whom he accused of being Muslims. He was convinced that modern firearms could tip the scales against the fierce Galla cavarly, thus understanding that European support was much needed. He dispached a letter to King George IV in which he requested for military and technical aid. Sabagadis attempted to gain a foothold on the coast of the Red Sea for the British monarch to take so that he may breach the wall of isolation around Ethiopia and create a bridge to Christian Europe. |
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In 1830, Sabagadis succeeded in forming a loose coalition with the Christian rulers of Gojjam, Lasta, and Semien against [[Marye of Yejju|''Ras'' Marye of Yejju]], the brother and predecessor of ''Ras'' Yimam. However, ''Ras'' Marye was forewarned of the plot and dealt with his opponents singly. After defeating ''Dejazmatch'' Goshu in Gojjam, he marched with the bulk of his army to Lasta then quickly turned to Semien and attacked Wube. Sebagadis, who was watching his border with Lasta, did not come to the aid of his ally and Wube perferred to submit to the ''Ras'' rather than face him alone. |
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After his success in isolating Sebagadis, Marye decided to put an end to the Tigrayan threat. At the head of the Oromo contingents from Wollo, Yejju, Begamder and Amhara, he advanced beyond Takkaze into Tigray. Sebagadis had meanwhile mobilized his forces and the [[Battle of Debre Abbay|two armies met at Mai Islami near Debra Abbai]]. Although the Tigrayans had far more firearms, due to the equipment by the British, the matchlocked men were poorly employed and the Oromo cavalry won the field after a most bloody fight in which the ''Ras'' was killed. Sebagadis had surrendered to Wube and was handed over to the Oromos to be executed in retaliation for the death of the ''Ras.'' |
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A year after the execution of Sebagadis, people all over the Amhara countries were still lamenting Sebagadis, despite him being Tigrayan: <blockquote>Alas! Sebagadis, the friend of all, |
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Has fallen at Daga Shaha, by the hand of Aubeshat! |
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Alas! Sebagadis, the pillar of the poor, |
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Has fallen at Daga Shaha, weltering in his blood! |
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The people of this country, will they find it a good thing |
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To eat ears of corn which have grown in the blood |
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Who will remember St. Micheal of November to give alms? |
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Mariam (Marye), with five thousand Gallas, had killed him |
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For half of a loaf, for cup of wine, |
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The friend of the Christians has fallen at Daga Shaha. |
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</blockquote> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 11:02, 13 March 2024
The Yejju Oromo are a sub-clan of the Barento branch of Oromo people. They are one of the northernmost communities of Oromo people residing in Ethiopia, along with the Raayyaa.[1]
The Yejju Oromo, originally from southern Ethiopia, emerged as kingmakers and founder of the Warra Sheik dynasty, which would make Christian Ethiopia a puppet in the hands of the Yejju regents.[2] From the beginning of the Zemene Mesafint era until the defeat of Ras Ali of Yejju by Tewodros II in 1853, the Emperors of Ethiopia became, in the words of the Chronicals, "little more than Galla (Oromo) puppets.[3][4] The court of Gondar would primarily be in the hands of the Oromo and the offical language of the court would change from Amharic to Afaan Oromo.[5] The title of Ras, the third highest title in the kingdom besides Negusa Nagast (Emperor) and Negus (King) fell to the dynasties of the Yejju Oromo. Throughout this era, members of this lineage wielded significant political authority in Abyssinia, effectively governing the empire.[6]
Origins
As a result of their expansions, the Oromo settled in modern day Wollo and established dynasties, two of the most notable ones being the Mammedoch and the Warra Sheik. The Mammedoch dynasty had its origin from the Arsi under the leadership of their clan leader, Babo.[7] The Warra Sheik dynasty had its origins in southern Ethiopia, who would also invade northwards, specifically Angot. However, there are other origin theories of the Yejju. According to professor Muhammad Hassan, the El-Ejju, an Oromo clan, would be converted by Ahmad Gragn and would be defeated by Christian forces thereby under the command of their leader, Sheikh Umar, the El-Ejju would settle in Angot.[8] The Oromo firmly ensconced Wollo and dominated political and social life quickly in their new settlement. On the other side of Abyssinia, skirmishes broke out between Amhara and Tigrayan principalities for supremacy within the Abyssinian kingdom. Bakaffa I, an Amhara prince, appealed to the Oromo neighbors to assist him in battle against the Tigrayans in the north. Many Oromos did not seem to care about jockeying for power but had been in a competition for land against the Tigrayans to the north of them so they complied 20,000 well-armed cavalry to assist the Amhara against the enemy.
Their support was decisive and Amhara nobles sent an invitation and a plea for the fighting force to stay on in Gondar to defend the Negus and to act as a deterrent to future threats from Tigray. Many of the Oromo cavalry stayed in the Gondar region, especially after Bakaffa, who is know the Negus, married the widow of a high-ranking Oromo. The Oromos who resided in Gondar now would become close confidants to the Negus and significantly place substantial political influence within the kingdom.[9]
By the time Iyasu II, the son of Bakaffa, came into power Oromo influence in the court was enormous and unsettled the Amhara nobles who questioned Oromo authority. Afaan Oromo is to have said dominated the Imperial court. A Scottish traveller, James Bruce, who visited Gonder during the period under discussion, wrote that "Nothing was heard at the palace but the Afaan Oromo language".[7][10] In addition to this, marriage alliances between Yejju Oromo and elite Amhara were frequent. It was Mentewab, the wife of Bakaffa, who arranged marriage alliance between her son Iyasu II and a Muslim Oromo princess from Wollo, Wabi, the daughter of Amito, a powerful Wolloye chief. From this union, Iyoas I was born who later succeeded his father Iyasu II. This dynastic marriage alliance had remarkable importance for the Oromo lords of Wollo in gaining further access to the royal court and dominating the Empire since the 1780s. The son, born of this union, was sent to Wollo and eventually returned to rule in Gondar. This period of that eventually followed would be known as the "Era of Princes", or the Zemene Mesafint.[4]
Zemene Mesafint era
The death of Iyoas I would spark the Zemene Mesafint which would last until 1855. Ras Mikael Sehul of Tigray, the killer of Iyoas, became the sole leader of the kingdom. Afraid of the politically influential Oromos who already stand in a political influencial position, Sehul endeavored to win their support by granting them increased political sway and arranging royal marriages. Nonetheless, a group of Oromo princes conspired together to overthrow him. Sehul managed to flee back to his home province of Tigray.[11] After disposing Sehul, the confederate Oromos put a "worthless" Amhara on the throne called Socinios, given the title "Kings of Kings". In the coming decades, the guardianship of the King of Kings passed into the hands of a Yejju Oromo family. The founder of this new dynasty of the Oromo regents was Ras Ali I of Yejju, who ruled the province of Begamder and Amhara from his centre in Debra Tabor.
When Sehul died in 1779, his son Wolde Gabriel succeded him as the governor of Tigre and took up battle against the Oromo authority in Gondar but fell in battle to Ras Aligaz of Yejju, the brother of Ras Ali I. Ras Aligaz would succeed Ras Ali I after his death and after a period for struggle among Tigrayan nobility, Wolde Selassie would become the new governor of Tigray. In essence, the conflicts between the governors of Tigray and the Oromo lords revolved around the desire of the Tigrayans to overthrow the Oromo oligarchy and claim the title of Negus, while the Oromo aimed to maintain the status quo by manipulating the Amharas as puppets for their own political and social advantage.
After the death of Ras Aligaz, his nephew Ras Gugsa of Yejju rose to power. After the death of Wolde Selassie, Tigray fell into a political crisis. The regent Oromos continued to expand into Gojam, Semien, Showa, Lasta, and to a lesser degree, Tigray. Initially the Dejazmatch Zadwe of Gojjam and Damot tried to oppose the Oromo ascendancy and their spread into eastern Gojjam but was defeated by Ras Gugsa. Zadwe's territories were given to Ras Gugsa's son, Alula of Yejju.
Until the death of Ras Gugsa in 1825, northern Ethiopia was relatively quiet. The death of the Ras was, however, a signal for power among all important lords in the country. Local warlords formed coalitions to overcome the regent Oromo nobility of Begamder and Amhara. In the end, Ras Yimam of Yejju, another son of Ras Gugsa allied with the young Wube Haile of Semien to defeat the coalition.
The political crisis in Tigray had come to an end in 1822 with Sabagadis Woldu becoming the victor. It had become evident that the new governor was planning to form a Tigrayan-Amhara coalition to oppose the regent Oromos in Gondar whom he accused of being Muslims. He was convinced that modern firearms could tip the scales against the fierce Galla cavarly, thus understanding that European support was much needed. He dispached a letter to King George IV in which he requested for military and technical aid. Sabagadis attempted to gain a foothold on the coast of the Red Sea for the British monarch to take so that he may breach the wall of isolation around Ethiopia and create a bridge to Christian Europe.
In 1830, Sabagadis succeeded in forming a loose coalition with the Christian rulers of Gojjam, Lasta, and Semien against Ras Marye of Yejju, the brother and predecessor of Ras Yimam. However, Ras Marye was forewarned of the plot and dealt with his opponents singly. After defeating Dejazmatch Goshu in Gojjam, he marched with the bulk of his army to Lasta then quickly turned to Semien and attacked Wube. Sebagadis, who was watching his border with Lasta, did not come to the aid of his ally and Wube perferred to submit to the Ras rather than face him alone.
After his success in isolating Sebagadis, Marye decided to put an end to the Tigrayan threat. At the head of the Oromo contingents from Wollo, Yejju, Begamder and Amhara, he advanced beyond Takkaze into Tigray. Sebagadis had meanwhile mobilized his forces and the two armies met at Mai Islami near Debra Abbai. Although the Tigrayans had far more firearms, due to the equipment by the British, the matchlocked men were poorly employed and the Oromo cavalry won the field after a most bloody fight in which the Ras was killed. Sebagadis had surrendered to Wube and was handed over to the Oromos to be executed in retaliation for the death of the Ras.
A year after the execution of Sebagadis, people all over the Amhara countries were still lamenting Sebagadis, despite him being Tigrayan:
Alas! Sebagadis, the friend of all,
Has fallen at Daga Shaha, by the hand of Aubeshat!
Alas! Sebagadis, the pillar of the poor,
Has fallen at Daga Shaha, weltering in his blood!
The people of this country, will they find it a good thing
To eat ears of corn which have grown in the blood
Who will remember St. Micheal of November to give alms?
Mariam (Marye), with five thousand Gallas, had killed him
For half of a loaf, for cup of wine,
The friend of the Christians has fallen at Daga Shaha.
References
- ^ "Africa :: Ethiopia — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ Mennasemay, Maimire (2012). "Abba Bahrey's Zenahu LeGalla: Towards an Ethiopian Critical Theory". International Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 6 (1/2): 1–28. ISSN 1543-4133.
- ^ "Some developments in Ethiopia during the era of the Mesafint". De Gruyter. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ a b Ancel, Stéphane (2016-07-07). "Éloi Ficquet and Wolbert G.C. Smidt, eds, The Life and Times of Lïj Iyasu of Ethiopia: New Insights". Aethiopica. 18: 276–278. doi:10.15460/aethiopica.18.1.794. ISSN 2194-4024.
- ^ Pankhurst, Richard. The Ethiopian royal chronicles. University Microfilms.
- ^ Research Review. University of Ghana, Institute of African Studies. 1969.
- ^ a b Melaku, Misganaw (2019). Social and Political History of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916. United States of America: Transaction Publishers. p. 93.
- ^ Hassen, Mohammed (2015). The Oromo and the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia: 1300-1700. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 978-1-84701-117-6.
- ^ Keller, Edmond J. (1988). Revolutionary Ethiopia: From Empire to People's Republic. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-20646-6.
- ^ Pankhurst, Richard (1989). "The Early History of Ethiopian Horse-Names". Paideuma. 35: 197–206. ISSN 0078-7809.
- ^ Abir, Mordechai (1968). Ethiopia: the Era of the Princes: The Challenge of Islam and Re-unification of the Christian Empire, 1769-1855. Praeger. ISBN 978-0-582-64517-2.