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94-804: As a Ali Madahweyn Dir sub-clan, the Jaarso have immediate lineal ties with the Gurgura , Akisho , Gadabuursi , Issa , the Bajimal, the Bursuk , the Madigan Dir , the Garre (the Quranyow sub-clan to be precise as they claim descent from Dir , Gurre, Gariire other Dir sub-clans and they have lineal ties with the Hawiye (Irir), Hawadle , Ajuran , Degoodi , Gaalje'el clan groups, who share

188-421: A Muslim Ethiopia. Amda Seyon's royal chronicle states that Sabr ad-Din proclaimed: In fact, after his first incursion, Sabr ad-Din appointed governors for nearby and neighboring provinces such as Fatagar and Alamalé (i.e. Aymellel, part of the " Guragé country"), as well as far-off provinces in the north like Damot , Amhara , Angot , Inderta , Begemder , and Gojjam . He also threatened to plant khat at

282-534: A contemporary note written in a manuscript now kept in the island monastery of Lake Hayq , which mentions that in 1309 AM (1316/7 AD), Emperor Amda Seyon successfully campaigned against the Pagan Damot ( ዳሞት መንግስት ) as well as Muslim Harla Kingdom and Hadiya Kingdom . The note describes his conquest of Damot , many of whose people he exiled to another area, and then the conquest of Hadiya, to whose people he did likewise. Though his early control of these regions

376-553: A cousin of the prophet Muhammad ( c.  570 – 632 ) and an older brother of Ali ibn Abi Talib ( c.  600 – 661 ) and Ja'far ibn Abi Talib ( c.  590 – 629 ). They trace their lineage to Aqil through Samaale (the source of the name 'Somali'), the purported forefather of the northern pastoralist clans such as the Dir, the Hawiye , and – matrilineally through the Dir– the Isaaq and

470-505: A division of Damot fought the Beta Israel in the north, while another went to fight in the campaigns in the south against the Sultanate of Ifat . The Emperor improved the imperial army, which until his reign was not as heavily armed as his Muslim adversaries. The 14th century Arab historian al-Umari noted regarding Ethiopian troops that Despite the wide variety of weapons ascribed to

564-651: A local ruler. From the reign of Amde Tseyon, Chewa regiments , or legions, formed the backbone of the Empire military forces. The Ge’ez term for these regiments is ṣewa (ጼዋ) while the Amharic term is č̣äwa (ጨዋ). The normal size of a regiment was several thousand men. Each regiment was allocated a fief (Gult), to ensure its upkeep ensured by the land revenue. The central army was divided into independent regiments, each with its own specialized name, such as Qeste-Nihb , Hareb Gonda , and Tekula . The independent regiments competed for

658-494: A member of the deputation sent by the Emperor named Ti'yintay on his way back from Cairo. Haqq ad-Din tried to convert Ti`yintay, killing him when this failed. The Emperor responded by invading Ifat accompanied by, according to Amda Seyon's royal chronicler, only seven horsemen, and killed many of the sultan's soldiers. Part of the army then followed him and destroyed the province's capital, Ifat, and Amda Seyon took much of its wealth in

752-632: A mission to Cairo in 1321-2 threatening to retaliate against the Muslims in his kingdom, and threatened to send a legion in conquest of Egypt after diverting the course of the Nile if the sultan did not end his persecution. Though Al-Nasir Muhammad ignored the envoys, fear of the diversion of the Nile in Egypt would continue for centuries. As a result of the dispute and threats, Haqq ad-Din I , sultan of Ifat, seized and imprisoned

846-700: A revolt against the Italians during the colonial period. This revolt was mainly led by the Biimaal section of the Dir. The Biimaal clan is widely known for leading a resistance against the colonials in southern Somalia .The Biimaal violently resisted the imposition of colonialism and fought against the Italian colonialists of Italian Somaliland in a twenty-year war known as the Bimal revolt in which many of their warriors assassinated several Italian governors. This revolt can be compared to

940-467: A settlement called Geberge and demanded that all of the Christian inhabitants either convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax. Most of the inhabitants choose to retain their religion by declaring their neutrality and agreeing to pay the tax, others agreed to be converted, among those converted were 50 Christian nobles. The Imam, much pleased with their conversion, appointed Amir Husain al- Gaturi as governor of

1034-612: A tradition that at this time the Ge'ez translation of the Bible was revised. Also worth mentioning is that four of the Soldiers Songs were composed during the reign of Amda Seyon, and are the earliest surviving extants of Amharic to date. Lastly, Amda Seyon is the first king recorded as having donated to the library of the Ethiopian community at Jerusalem . "These devastating victories settled

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1128-489: A traditional constitution called Xeer Jaarso also known (Xeerka lixda Jaarso), characterized by power-sharing principles, uniting the community in their pursuit of stability and order. According to oral tradition, as narrated by Jaarso elders, The Jaarso Code or Conduct is older than 1200 years and In order to establish their governance and decision-making process, the elders of Jaarso held a 6-month meeting in Marar and Mulisa. All

1222-504: Is a title similar to an archbishop), and is described as being revered and feared like God by the kings and rulers in the region. The chronicle ascribes blame to Salīh, stating that it was he "who gathered the Muslim troops, kings, and rulers" against the Emperor. As a result of these instigations and conditions, Sabr ad-Din I , governor of Ifat as well as brother and successor to Haqq ad-Din, showed defiance to Amda Seyon by confiscating some of

1316-524: Is one of the largest and most prominent Somali clans in the Horn of Africa . They are also considered to be the oldest Somali stock to have inhabited the region. Its members inhabit Djibouti , Somalia , Ethiopia ( Somali , Harar , Dire Dawa , Oromia and Afar regions), and northeastern Kenya ( North Eastern Province ). Like the great majority of Somali clans , the Dir trace their ancestry to Aqil ibn Abi Talib ( c.  580 – 670 or 683 ),

1410-455: The Abyssinians masters of the region, and from then on there gleams around the name Abyssinians that halo which belongs to the great conquering nations. However, in the long run these victories failed to achieve the desired end." "The campaigns of Amda-Siyon did not create an empire, but they did lay a proper foundation for the creation of a nation later inspire Emperor Emperor Menelik ii for

1504-449: The Darod . Although these genealogical claims are historically untenable legends, they do reflect the longstanding cultural contacts between Somalia (especially, though not exclusively, its most northern part Somaliland ) and Southern Arabia . The history of Islam being practised by the Dir clan goes back 1400 years. In Zeila , a Dir city, a mosque called Masjid al-Qiblatayn is known as

1598-589: The East Hararghe Zone and are predominant clan in the historic towns of Jinacsani or Chinaksen , Funyaan Bira and Hubat today known as Ejersa Goro . The sixteenth-century ruler of Adal who conquered Abyssinia, Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi was born in Hubat. Either Jinacsani or Funyan Bira is believed by archaeologist to be Dakkar , which served as the first capital of the Adal Sultanate after its founding in

1692-530: The Ethiopian-Adal war in the sixteenth century, the people of Hargaya fought in the army of Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi leader of Adal Sultanate . It might not be the same Hargaya, but researcher Dilebo Lapiso and other Ethiopian Archeologists are stating Hargaya may be associated with Jaarso. One of the Adalite military leaders, who was also from Dhanka sub-clan and fought alongside Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi

1786-469: The Horn of Africa in the fourteenth century." It is argued that sufficient evidence shows that Amda Seyon was the son of Wedem Arad . However, when a deputation of monks led by Basalota Mika’el accused him of incest for marrying Emperor Wedem Arad's concubine Jan Mogassa and threatened to excommunicate him, he claimed to be the biological son of the Emperor's brother Qedma Asgad ; this explanation may have had its origins in court gossip. Whatever

1880-654: The Red Sea : "I, King Amdä-ṣiyon, went to the sea of Eritrea [i.e. "Red Sea"]. When I reached there, I mounted on an elephant and entered the sea. I took up my arrow and spears, killed my enemies, and saved my people." During his campaign, the emperor also met the famous monk Ewostatewos , who was on his way to Armenia . Around 1320, Sultan an-Nasir Muhammad of the Mamluk Sultanate based in Cairo began persecuting Copts and destroying their churches. Amdä Seyon subsequently sent

1974-539: The Solomonic dynasty . He is best known in the so called chronicles as a heroic warrior against the Muslims, and is sometimes considered to have been the founder of the Ethiopian Empire. Amda Seyon's chronicles however appear to be highly unreliable as it was written a hundred years after his reign and conflates conflicts involving successive Ethiopian emperors. Nonetheless the text state most of his wars were against

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2068-723: The 10th century, the Jarso clan a sub-division of Dir established the Dawaro Sultanate centred in Hararghe Highlands. Dir is one of the oldest clans in the Horn of Africa. According to the Muslim chronicles, two of the oldest monarchies in the northern region, the Ifat and Adal sultanates, were led by Dir. The Dir, along with the Akisho , Gurgura , Issa and Gadabuursi subclans of the Dir represent

2162-512: The Afran Qallo tribes . The Dir were supporters of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi during his 16th century conquest of Abyssinia ; especially the Gurgura , Issa , Bursuk and Gadabuursi . In his medieval Futuh Al-Habash documenting this campaign, the chronicler Shihāb al-Dīn indicates that thousands of Dir soldiers took part in Imam Ahmad's Adal Sultanate army. The Dir clan also led

2256-566: The Christians has now come to an end; and it has been given to us, for you will reign on in Siyon [i.e. Ethiopia]. Go, ascend [the mountains], and fight the king of the Christians; you will defeat him, and rule him together with his peoples." A second religious leader is noted as having fomented trouble in the region, specifically in Adal and Mora . He is called " Salih whose title was Qazī " (which it notes

2350-466: The Dir, a Proto-Somali , together with the Hawiye trace ancestry through Irir son of Samaale. Dir is regarded as the father-in-law of Darod, the progenitor of the Darod clan Although some sources state it was the daughter of Hawiye who Darod married. Dir clan lineages: According to others, Dir had a fifth son, Qaldho Dir. DNA analysis of Dir clan members inhabiting Djibouti found that all of

2444-516: The Emperor assembled a large army that consisted of units from all over the country. This army was defeated in the disastrous Battle of Shimbra Kure , but the Imam later returned back to Harar . In the summer of 1531, the Adalites returned to Dawaro where they occupied the province, they soon ravaged the province and destroyed a large church that was erected by the Emperor's predecessor. The Imam then arrived at

2538-461: The Emperor's goods in transit from the coast (i.e. Zeila ), similar to what his brother had done before him. Amda Seyon was furious with Sabr ad-Din, saying to him, "You took away the commodities belonging to me obtained in exchange for the large quantity of gold and silver I had entrusted to the merchants... you imprisoned the traders who did business for me." Sabr ad-Din's rebellion was not an attempt to achieve independence, but to become emperor of

2632-430: The Ethiopian troops by al-Umari, swords and daggers were not often used by the Ethiopian army, which was mainly armed with bows, spears, and shields for defense, along with mounted soldiers. The Muslims, however, are described as having "swords, daggers, iron sticks [ dimbus ]" and other weapons useful in close quarters, and al-Umari notes that "the arrows of the warriors of the Muslim borderlands are bigger" than those of

2726-399: The Muslim sultanates to the southeast, which he was able to fight and always defeat, and substantially enlarge his kingdom by gradually incorporating a number of neighboring states. His supposed conquests of Muslim borderlands were said to have greatly expanded Christian territory and power in the region, which were maintained for centuries after his death. Amda Seyon asserted the strength of

2820-400: The Muslims of Ethiopia were the Emperor's servants. Amda Seyon rejected the governor's pleas, declaring: Amda Seyon continued and was attacked twice in skirmishes before making camp. The Muslims returned during the night in much greater numbers, and attacked him with an army raised from the seven "great clans" of Adal: Gebela, Lebekela, Wargar , Paguma, and Tiqo. During the battle, Amda Seyon

2914-499: The Royal chronicle as "Sumey (-shehal)" and "Simiy (-shihal)." Inze-Aygab also appears once as "Yanz-Aygeb." d. According to Taddesse Tamrat, though the royal chronicle describes Amda Seyon as being armed with a sword, the chronicler only refers to the Emperors skill with the bow and arrow, spear, and shield; Taddesse further notes in a footnote that swords seem to only be used in

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3008-498: The Solomonic army. The Ethiopian army's strength was mainly numerical, but Amda Seyon did much to improve his army's equipment, increasing the use of swords and daggers (probably obtained through Muslim traders), and creating a special regiment armed with swords. The Emperor also formed a special regiment of shield-bearers that was probably used to guard his archers. Trade flourished under Amda Seyon. Archeological investigations in

3102-458: The battle and sent fresh troops who had not fought to pursue the surviving enemies. They were able to reach the survivors on the banks of a nearby river by morning and kill them, taking many swords, bows, spears, and clothes. Jamal ad-Din, despite being his appointee, also joined the rebellion, collaborating with the ruler of Adal imam Salih to encircle the Emperor, to which the ruler of Adal responded by mobilizing his forces. The Ethiopian army

3196-537: The battle became the target of the local Christian populace who massacred all those who they could find. The Emperor then appointed Khalid, a Christian who had converted to Islam but that had reverted back to Christianity, as the provincial governor of Dawaro. Gelawdewos later faced problems with the Portuguese, he then banished 140 of them to the province of Dawaro. The presence of the Portuguese greatly displeased Khalid, he therefore ordered them to be killed or expelled from

3290-732: The best known is the Kebra Nagast , which is said to have been translated from Arabic then. Other works from this period include the Mashafa Mestira Samay Wamedr ("The Book of the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth") written by Giyorgis of Segla , and the Zena Eskender ("History of Alexander the Great"), a romance wherein Alexander the Great becomes a Christian saint. Ullendorff has identified

3384-619: The call of jihad and they are mentioned in the Futuh Al Habasha ;: Conquest of Abyssinia as source dating back as far as the 16th century, by author: Shihabudin Ahmad bin Abd al-Qadir 'Arab Faqih or ' Arab Faqih . Arab Faqih notes Th clan of the Härti, people of Mait, the tribe of Jairan, the tribe of Mazzar. the tribe of Barsub all of these were Somalis and they were ordered by the Imam to hold

3478-764: The capital and killed many soldiers, but Sabr ad-Din once again escaped. Amda Seyon's forces then grouped together for a final attack, destroying one of his camps, killing many men, women, and children, taking the rest prisoner, as well as looting it of its gold, silver, and its "fine clothes and jewels without number." Sabr ad-Din subsequently sued for peace, appealing to Queen Jan Mengesha, who refused his peace offer and expressed Amda Seyon's determination not to return to his capital until he had searched Sabr ad-Din out. Upon hearing this, Sabr ad-Din realized that his rebellion futile and surrendered himself to Amda Seyon's camp. Amda Seyon's courtiers demanded that Sabr ad-Din be executed, but he instead granted him relative clemency and had

3572-437: The capital, a stimulant used by Muslims but forbidden to Ethiopian Orthodox Christians . Sabr ad-Din's rebellion, with its religious support and ambitious goals, was therefore seen as a jihad rather than an attempt at independence, and it was consequently immediately joined by the nearby Muslim province of Dewaro (the first known mention of the province), under the governor Haydera, and the western province of Hadiya under

3666-483: The conquests, though some were undoubtedly kept as servants to the royal court, while others were exported to slave markets or given to private citizens. Those who were to serve the Emperor were given military training, probably under a commander from the same region and loyal to the Emperor. Most of these groups were broken down into smaller sections due to their size; for instance, in Amda Seyon's 1332 (or 1329) campaigns,

3760-531: The country's history. He is famous for never losing a battle. His tomb is believed to be in Adi Qelebes. Two different years have been offered for when these extensive military actions occurred is disputed. In his translation of The Glorious Victories , G.W.B. Huntingford follows James Bruce in placing this in 1329. Huntingford notes that Amda Seyon is recorded as celebrating Easter on 28 Miyazya (= 24 April in 1329), which would best fit that year. However,

3854-487: The crops of their country". The "wicked plans of Haydara" of Dawaro were thus "brought to nothing" as the chronicler states. Dawaro was then grouped together with other kingdoms such as Hadiya, Fatagar and Ifat as a tributary kingdom to the Ethiopian Empire under the leadership of Jamal Ad-Din I . According to the Egyptian historian, Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari , Dawaro was measured five days journey by two or 100 kilometers by 40. It

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3948-399: The crucial question as to which of the powers, Christian or Muslim. The victories of Amda-Siyon help Abyssinians survive." States Mohammed Hassen , "It made the southern region the nerve centre of Ethiopian history. Henceforth for the next two centuries, the southern region remained the source from which the stream of history flowed in different channels. In short, the wars of Amda-Siyon made

4042-406: The early 15th century by Sabr ad-Din . Enrico Cerulli , Bahru Zewde and other historians identify Dakkar as being located one km southeast of Harar . However, Richard Pankhurst states that the city was situated near the village of Funyan Bira and G. W. B. Huntingford believes that it was in the town of Chinaksen near Jigjiga . The Jaarso (as Jairan) were one of the first clans to accept

4136-476: The extensive military campaigns Amda Seyon undertook in the plains drained by the Awash River . Beginning on 24 Yakatit (18 February), the Emperor led his army against a number of enemies; another document, referring to this year, states that he defeated 10 kings. Rebellion in the Muslim provinces stemmed from the threat to Islam by Amda Seyon, magnified by the earlier loss of trade from his campaigns. This defiance

4230-454: The first part of the empire to be confronted by the forces of Imam Ahmad. The Imam carried out a raid on the province in 1526-7. His men was said to take considerable loot such as horses, slaves and sheep. The Adalites planned to return to their country, but the "infidels of Dawaro" assembled a large army against them, this force was subsequently defeated. Not long after this Emperor Dawit I received news of an impending larger invasion of Dawaro,

4324-486: The form of gold, silver, bronze, lead, and clothing. Amda Seyon continued his reprisals throughout all of the provinces of Ifat, pillaging Kwelgora , Biqulzar , Gidaya , Hubat , Fedis , Qedsé, Hargaya , and Shewa , populated mainly by Muslims, taking livestock, killing many inhabitants, destroying towns and mosques, as well as taking prisoners. As a result of Amda Seyon's reprisals, other Muslim states tried to attack his army, seeing that his army had become weak from

4418-530: The generally accepted year for this campaign is 1332, which is the opinion of such authorities as August Dillmann , Carlo Conti Rossini , and Enrico Cerulli . Taddesse Tamrat points to another document which dates Amda Seyon's 18th regnal year to 498 Year of Grace , which confirms that the year 516 in The Glorious Victories is correct and that the campaigns took place in AD 1332. Emperor Amda Seyon's army

4512-403: The governor of nearby Tembien to join him. Amda Seyon responded swiftly, killing the governor, dividing the titles, and awarding them to different individuals of lowly origin. The Emperor's appointees were unpopular, described as "men who were not born from Adam and Eve who were called Halestiyotat ," a term literally meaning "bastard of mixed or low origins". To consolidate his control in

4606-550: The individuals belonged to the Y-DNA T1 paternal haplogroup. The main subclans of the Dir today are: 1. Mahe 2. Madaluug 3. Madoobe 4. Madahweyne For the first time since several centuries the Dir clan which widely dispersed in the Horn of Africa has successfully convened a meeting with all the major Dir subclans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Suldaan Dhawal, of the Habr 'Affan Gadabuursi

4700-666: The individuals belonged to the Y-DNA T1 paternal haplogroup and in Dire Dawa 82% a city in Ethiopia with a majority Dir population, which after the Issa and Gurgura , the Jaarso makes 3rd largest group in the city. All genetic analysis carried out on the Jaarso male clan members have so far shown that they exclusively belong to the T1 paternal haplogroup. Dir (clan) The Dir ( Somali : Dir )

4794-415: The king's favor, who "raised" and "nourished" them from childhood. The regiments were led by an intimately loyal commander directly responsible to Amda Seyon. His own son, Saf-Asegid, commanded one of these divisions, as did Amda Seyon's brother-in-law. Moreover, the commander of Qeste-Nihb , Simishehal, along with his colleague Inze-Aygeb, were described as the "most beloved" officers of the Emperor, who

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4888-417: The land of Sharkha and imprisoned its governor Yoseph. These efforts extended Ethiopian rule for the first time across the Awash River , gaining control of Dawaro , Bale , and other Muslim states. At the close of this campaign, the chronicles states that Amda Seyon would eventually return to the highlands, never again to set foot in the Muslim territories, which the chronicler claims was unprecedented in

4982-430: The late 1320s the ruler of the province, Haydara, ended up siding with Sabr ad-Din I during his rebellion and "treacherously" executed some of the Emperor's messengers. Amda Seyon, incensed by this act of rebellion, at once set out with his troops. On reaching Dawaro he "laid waste the country from one end to the other". He killed young men, took women and children prisoners, seized livestock "without number" and "destroyed

5076-418: The leaves of the trees or the grass in the fields." Despite the extravagance he bestowed on his men, many chose not to fight due to the inhospitability of Ifat's mountainous and arid terrain and the complete absence of roads. Nevertheless, they advanced on 24 Yakatit , and an attachment was able to find the rebellious governor and put him to flight. Once the remainder of Amda Seyon's army arrived, they destroyed

5170-563: The left The Sultanate of Dawaro a sub-clan of the Jaarso are also mentioned in the Futuh Al Habasha : Conquest of Abyssinia as source dating back as far as the 16th century, by author: Shihabudin Ahmad bin Abd al-Qadir 'Arab Faqih or ' Arab Faqih. Dawaro is one of the six major sub-clans of the Jaarso and the earliest mention of this province comes from the Royal Chronicle of Emperor Amda Seyon . After occupying Ifat , Amda Seyon then proceeded to garrison Dawaro. However, in

5264-573: The local Gurgura clan. The Somali Dir clan used to be the predominant inhabitants of Hararghe Highlands in the medieval times until the weakening of Adal Sultanate the Oromos took advantage of the crippling state and decided to invade and occupy the Haraghe Highlands and assimilate the local native Somali population which were Gurgura and Bursuk who were all sub-clans of Dir a major Somali tribe tree and were later confederated into Oromo Ethnics,

5358-549: The locals reached a high level of intensity during the reign of Dawit I , who then encouraged the settlement of Ethiopian military colonists to the peripheral province. However, the Ethiopian troops stationed in the region were in constant danger as their positions soon came under the attacks of Sultan Jamal ad-Din II . Emperor Zara Yaqob consolidated the supremacy of the Christian empire in Dawaro and appointed Fitawrari Barje as governor of

5452-488: The long campaigns. The people of Gebel and Wargar who historian Taddesse Tamrat associates with Warjih , were reportedly "very skilled in warfare," subsequently attacked and pillaged some Christian regions. The people of Medra Zega and Manzih ( Menz ), then Muslims, also surrounded and attacked the Emperor's army, who defeated them and killed their commander Dedadir, a son of Haqq ad-Din. The most important primary source for his reign, The Glorious Victories , describes

5546-470: The most native and indigenous Somali clan tree in Harar . The city Dire Dawa was originally called Dir Dhabe and used to be part of Adal Sultanate during the medieval times and was exclusively settled by Dir which is a major Somali tribe and after the weakening of Adal Sultanate, the Oromos took advantage and were able to penetrate through the city and settle into these areas and also assimilate some of

5640-487: The most power among the northern provinces and held the title Hasgwa and Aqabé Tsentsen ('keeper of the fly whisks – an ancient Aksumite title) and threatened the Amhara -based lineage currently in power. As early as 1305, Tesfane Igzi' referred to Enderta as "his kingdom," his son and successor, Ya'ibika Igzi, did not even mention the Emperor in his 1318/9 land grant. Ya'ibika Igzi eventually rebelled, unsuccessfully inviting

5734-408: The new Solomonic dynasty and therefore legitimized it. These expansions further provided for the spread of Christianity to frontier areas, sparking a long era of proselytization, Christianization , and integration of previously peripheral areas. According to British historian Edward Ullendorff , "Amda Seyon was one of the most outstanding Ethiopian kings of any age and a singular figure dominating

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5828-424: The political system he wanted. Pankhurst notes He then declared the province under his authority, and appointed governors His legacy, both feared and admired, continued to influence geopolitics and military strategy in the region to this day. The Jaarso clan members consist 6 major sub-clans and are preserved their lineage and is as follows. DNA analysis of Dir clan members inhabiting Djibouti found that all of

5922-419: The province's apostate Christians. The Emperor was first given the priests, deacons, and soldiers, who were each given 30 lashes and imprisoned as slaves. He then turned to the other traitors, whom Jamal ad-Din refused to hand over. Amda Seyon again ravaged Ifat and deposed Jamal ad-Din, appointing Nasir ad-Din, another brother of Sabr ad-Din, as governor. Having finished campaigning in Ifat, he took his army to

6016-523: The province. Control of the province would later fall under Ahmad's nephew, Vizier Abbas, who ruled over Dawaro as well as neighboring Fatager and Bali. Following the Imam's death and defeat at Wanya Daga , Abbas launched a fierce attack on a number of Christian towns. The young Emperor, Gelawdewos , made his way to confront him and Abbas rushed with his army to meet the Emperor. Gelawdewos was entirely victorious in this engagement and Abbas with all his captains were killed. The remaining Muslims who had survived

6110-637: The province. Dawaro was soon invaded by the Adal Sultan Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din who faced the forces of Zara Yaqob at the Battle of Gomit , but he was defeated and killed. The next time Dawaro is mentioned is in the Futuh al-Habasa , the history of the conquests of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi . The province of Dawaro, because of its location to the east and its relative proximity to the Adal Sultanate became

6204-517: The province. Khalid attempted to ambush the Portuguese with a large army, but as soon as the assault began they shot and killed Khalid, after which most of his supporters would become their vassals. The Emperor was said to be very pleased with this outcome as he had always distrusted the governor. The Jaarso clan also has a sub-division of the Dhanka sub-clan called Hargaya. Hargaya was a historical Muslim state in present-day eastern Ethiopia . During

6298-444: The rainy season was soon approaching. Amda Seyon refused, however, saying to them: The new governor of Ifat also beseeched him to return, giving him many gifts, stating that his country was ruined and begging him not to "ravage it again," so that its inhabitants may recover and work the land for the Emperor. He promised him that if he left that Ifat and its inhabitants would serve the Emperor with their trade and tribute and that he and

6392-432: The rebellious governor imprisoned. Amda Seyon then appointed the governor's brother, Jamal ad-Din I , as his successor in Ifat. Just as the Ifat rebellion had been quelled, however, the neighboring provinces of Adal and Mora just north of Ifat rose against the Emperor. Amda Seyon soon also put down this rebellion. After much campaigning, Amda Seyon's troops were exhausted and wished to return to their homes, pleading that

6486-455: The region, Amda Seyon established a military colony of non- Tigrayan troops at Amba Senayata, the center of the rebellion, and appointed his queen consort , Bilén Saba (ብሌን ሳባ, as governor of Enderta, along with a new batch of officials below her. The Queen ruled indirectly however, which caused unrest in the province as the population heavily resented Amhara rule. This induced the Emperor to appoint one of his sons, Bahr Seged, as governor, who

6580-452: The right-wing commander of the cavalry regiment Korem (named after the region/town of the same name ) in 1332 then part of Angot , in Bete Amhara . His central army further consisted of regional regiments similar to those of his local militias. They were drawn mainly from newly conquered provinces and shared a cultural and linguistic heritage. Most soldiers were probably prisoners taken in

6674-522: The same ancestor Samaale . The Jarso Ali Madaweyn are a vast clan that stretch from Diida Waleed (near Jijiga ) to the Awash region; they also extend onto the areas northwestern Fafan Zone . The Jaarso are the majority clan in Jarso (woreda) , Funyan Bira and in the East Hararghe Zone . The Jarso clan faced a series of problems, including Ethnic conflict , civil wars, clan border disruptions due to massive Oromo and Somali clans migration, which caused societal chaos. In response, Jaarso established

6768-422: The sight of the powerful armies of Jamal ad-Din and of Adal, the sick Amda Seyon noted: "Have you forgotten, besides, that it was I who raised, you, nourished you, and covered you with ornaments of gold and silver and precious clothes!" c. Simshehal's name also appears as "Semey" in a list of governors with the title Ma'ikele-Bahr (lit. "between the rivers/seas," a northern maritime province) and in

6862-499: The site of where early companions of the Prophet established a mosque shortly after the first Migration to Abyssinia By the 7th century, a large-scale conversion to Islam was taking place in the Somali peninsula, first spread by the Dir clan family, to the rest of the nation. The early Adal Kingdom (9th century to 13th century) was an exclusive kingdom with its capital being Zeila . In

6956-516: The six Jaarso sub-clans participated and every sub-clan had at least one member. The elders were chosen for their knowledge of the law and wisdom and especially their knowledge for the neighboring folks. Normally a Xeer (law) to be excepted by the people has to have Multiple chieftains or clan leaders whom in this case will serve as judges and the number of the judges were 6. The Jaarso are mainly found in Jarso (woreda) , and northwestern Fafan Zone , in

7050-440: The south, Amda Seyon had to turn north to strengthen his control over areas that had in the meanwhile gained more autonomy. The northern Tigrayan Enderta Province had increasingly been asserting its independence since the Solomonic restoration under Yekuno Amlak in 1270. During Yekuno Amlak's time, the governor of Enderta was Ingida Igzi' , who was succeeded by his son, Tesfane Igzi'. As governor of Enderta, Tesfane Igzi' had

7144-405: The town and their livestock, as well as killing many of its inhabitants. Amda Seyon then continued to Degwi, killing numerous neighboring Warjih pastoralists, who had previously attacked and pillaged some Christian areas earlier in his reign. The chronicle described the people as "very wicked," as they "neither knew God nor feared men". Before the end of the month of December, Amda Seyon ravaged

7238-401: The town of Gu'ét, where he killed many men and captured numerous women and cattle. The Emperor then invaded the region of modern Somaliland , where he defeated an attack by the people of Harla . Amda Seyon then advanced to the town of Dilhoya. The town had previously deposed his governor by immolation, along with other Christian men and women, to which the Emperor responded by taking and looting

7332-471: The trade and wealth of the eastern Muslim provinces. For the first time, the Muslim presence in the region was threatened, which later resulted in alliances between the Muslim provinces (which often rebelled) when they had previously acted more independently of each other. In the same year as his campaigns against the southern regions of Damot and Hadiya, the emperor also campaigned against the more northerly province of Gojjam . After his 1316/7 campaigns in

7426-555: The treasuries of Ethiopian churches and monasteries have recovered coins , textiles and other objects that prove the existence of trade with the Byzantine Empire . Taddesse Tamrat also notes that he had a Syrian secretary from a Christian family of Damascus , who helped him keep in close touch with events in the Middle East . Some of the earliest works of Ethiopian literature were written during Amda Seyon's reign. Perhaps

7520-530: The truth of Amda Seyon's parentage, the imperial history known as the Paris Chronicle records that he expressed his rage at his accusers by beating one of them, Abbot Anorewos of Segaja , and exiling the other ecclesiastics to Dembiya and Begemder . It is not known how Amda Seyon became Emperor. However, a few pieces of information indicate that he may have been involved in the succession struggle against Wedem Arad . Taddesse Tamrat reports that he found

7614-423: The unification of modern Ethiopia . In no concrete manner was there a creative marriage of cultures, a passage of ideas, an equal sharing of wealth. To the Christians the conquest meant constant enrichment." a. Taddesse Tamrat notes that, according to Jules Perruchon, Tekula literally means "jackal," while Qeste-Nihb means "the sting of the bee." b. Seeing many of his soldiers flee at

7708-497: The vassal local ruler Ameno. Sabr ad-Din divided his troops into three parts, sending a division north-westwards to attack Amhara , one northwards to attack Angot, and another, under his personal command, westward to take Shewa . Amda Seyon subsequently mobilized his soldiers to meet the threat, endowing them with gifts of gold, silver, and lavish clothing – so much so that the chronicler explains that "in his reign gold and silver abounded like stones and fine clothes were as common as

7802-753: The war of the Mad Mullah in Somaliland . The Biimaal mainly lives in Somalia , the Somali region of Ethiopia , which their Gaadsen sub-clan mainly inhabits and in the NEP region of Kenya . The Biimaal are pastoralists. They were also successful merchants and traders in the 19th century. In the 19th century they have engaged in multiple wars with the Geledi clan, which they were victorious in. I.M. Lewis and many sources maintain that

7896-403: Was distressed when he learned of their injury at the Battle of Hagera . The specialized regiments tied their fortune to that of the Emperor and were most likely taken from the best soldiers from around the country. Amda Seyon used them whenever quick action had to be taken, and their regiment commanders would often serve the role of governor in times of crises in certain provinces, as did Digna,

7990-451: Was elected the head and representative of the Dir clan in the Horn of Africa . Amda Seyon I of Ethiopia Amda Seyon I , also known as Amda Tsiyon I ( Ge'ez : ዐምደ ፡ ጽዮን ʿamda ṣiyōn , Amharic : አምደ ፅዮን āmde ṣiyōn , "Pillar of Zion"), throne name Gebre Mesqel (ገብረ መስቀል gäbrä mäsḳal , "Servant of the Cross"), was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1314 to 1344 and a member of

8084-416: Was encircled by the two armies in the Battle of Das , but Amda Seyon was able to defeat them, despite being ill. He then led his army against Talag , the capital of Adal, where the brother of the governor of Adal and three of the governor's sons surrendered. The Emperor then defeated another governor-king, retraced his steps, returning to Bequlzar in Ifat, where he commanded Jamal ad-Din to deliver him all of

8178-477: Was encouraged and perhaps even instigated by religious leaders in Ifat and other Muslim provinces. The "false prophet" reported as having fled from Hadiya during the 1316/7 campaigns continued spreading propaganda against the king in Ifat, where he was one of Sabr ad-Din's advisors. The chronicle states: The false prophet fled to the land of Ifat and lived there propagating his false teaching... And when Säbrädīn asked him for council he told him saying: "The kingdom of

8272-436: Was infuriated, invading Hadiya and killing many people, and taking Amano prisoner along with many of his subjects. Bel'am, however was able to escape the emperor by fleeing to Ifat . These conquests represented a significant advancement of Amda Seyon's eventual goal of controlling the inland trade previously controlled by the Muslims in Ifat and farther east. Hadiya's conquest deeply affected the slave trade and consequently hurt

8366-571: Was later in 1328 also given control of the maritime provinces under the title of Ma'ikele Bahr ("Between the Rivers/Seas"). In 1329, the Emperor campaigned in the northern provinces of Semien , Wegera , Tselemt , and Tsegede , in which many had been converting to Judaism and where the Beta Israel had been gaining prominence. Amda Seyon was also wary of Muslim power along the Red Sea coast and therefore headed to area in modern Eritrea bordering

8460-741: Was mentioned in “The Ethiopian Borderlands” a book by the British historian Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst Pankhurst states Lenbä Dengel dispatched a large army in an attempt to regain the control of the territory, but one of the Imam’s kinsmen Sultan Muhammäd defeated it. Under Muhammad’s astute leadership, the Adal Sultanate forces achieved unprecedented triumphs, expanding their dominion into territories such as Bali province and more important areas. However, his strategic brilliance wasn’t just about battlefield tactics, he also knew how to win without fighting through political strategic and interference by shaping

8554-411: Was minimal, it is evident by 1332 (or 1329) that Hadiya had been fully integrated, providing troops for his 1332 campaigns against the Sultanate of Ifat . The King of Hadiya, Amano, refused to visit the emperor and give his tribute, encouraged by, according to Amda Seyon's chronicler, a Muslim "prophet of darkness" named Bel'am. According to the emperor's Chronicle, Bel'am told him to rebel: The emperor

8648-465: Was much smaller than Ifat , but resembled it in that it produced cereals and fruits, and reared horses and beasts of burden. Trade however was less developed. A type of "primitive currency" called hakunas was used which were pieces of iron as long as a needle. A cow would cost 5,000 hakunas , a goat 3,000 hakunas . The social customs of Dawaro were also very similar to that of Ifat with both regions being inhabited by Muslims. Christian proselytization of

8742-561: Was remarkably similar to the organization of the army during ancient Aksumite times . It consisted of two parts: the first, his central army, was very effective and closely attached to the Royal Court; the second was a much larger local militia raised in times of local crises. These local units would, as in Aksumite times, form a distinctive unit and fight together, maintaining their local character and were divided into smaller units each headed by

8836-405: Was struck from the rear by an enemy's sword, cutting his girdle around his waist and his battle dress, but the Emperor was able to turn and kill the attacker with his spear before he could strike again. According to James Bruce , the imperial army had been infiltrated by foreign agents from Harar , however Amda Seyon's men were able to apprehend and execute them. Amda Seyon emerged victorious from

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