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108-605: Hobyo was founded as a coastal outpost by the Ajuran Empire during the 13th century. In the late 17th century the Hiraab successfully revolted against the Ajuran Sultanate who had been ruling Hobyo since the 13th century and established an independent Hiraab Imamate . According to Bernhard Helander of Uppsala University , "the Imam of Hawiye is a hereditary position that traditionally

216-556: A seaport which serves the town. For air transportation, the city is served by the Obbia Airport . In August 2019, Qatar initiated a project to build the port of Hobyo as part of the development agreements signed between Somalia and Qatar in December 2018. Ajuran Empire The Ajuran Sultanate ( Somali : Saldanadda Ajuuraan , Arabic : سلطنة الأجورانية ), natively referred to as Ajuuraan , and often simply Ajuran ,

324-500: A flourishing trade with foreign nations. The southeastern city-states of Kilwa , Mombasa , Malindi , Pate and Lamu were all systematically sacked and plundered by the Portuguese. Tristão da Cunha then set his eyes on Ajuran territory, where the Battle of Barawa was fought. After a long period of engagement, the Portuguese soldiers burned the city and looted it. Fierce resistance by

432-560: A hereditary nobility, titled aristocrats, a state flag, as well as a professional army. Both sultanates also maintained written records of their activities, which still exist. Initially, Ali Yusuf Kenadid 's goal was to seize control of the neighboring Majeerteen Sultanate, which was then ruled by his cousin Boqor Osman Mahamud . However, he was unsuccessful in this endeavor, and was eventually forced into exile in Yemen . A decade later, in

540-662: A major naval base and port for the Italians. The then Prime Minister of Italy , Benito Mussolini , regarded Greater Somalia ( La Grande Somalia ) as the crown jewel in Italy's colonial empire on the continent. He viewed himself less as an invader than as a liberator of the occupied Somali territories, including the Ogaden region, to which the Ethiopian Empire laid claim. On this basis, he justified his plan to invade Ethiopia. In October 1935,

648-584: A non-stop flight from Rome . They were welcomed by the Governor Maurizio Rava and other colonial administrators. The King then traveled to Villabruzzi on 5 November and then returned to Mogadishu, where he celebrated his 65th birthday on 11 November. Following his visit to Italian Somaliland, new maps and 14 stamps were published. To commemorate his visit, an Arch of Triumph was constructed in Mogadishu in 1934. By 1935, Mogadishu began to serve as

756-648: A notable level of development with a small manufacturing area with agricultural industries (sugar mills, etc.). In the second half of 1940, Italian troops invaded British Somaliland , and ejected the British. The Italians also occupied Kenyan areas bordering Jubaland around the villages of Moyale and Buna . Although the Italian leadership believed were unsure where the British army would land first, Operation Canvas, to capture southern Somalia occurred first in January 1941, whereas

864-718: A part of the Carabinieri . They were organised into a battalion commanded by Major Alfredo Serranti that defended Culqualber (Ethiopia) for three months until this military unit was destroyed by the Allies . After heavy fighting, all the Italian Carabinieri, including the Somali troops, received full military honors from the British. In 1935, there were over 50,000 Italian settlers living in Italian Somaliland, constituting 5% of

972-479: A policy of assimilation of the Somalis. Many Somalis were enrolled in the Italian colonial army, and thousands of Italian colonists moved to live in Mogadishu. The city grew in size and some small manufacturing companies opened up. The Italians also settled in agricultural areas around the capital, such as Jowhar and Janale ( Genale ). In 1930, there were 22,000 Italians living in Italian Somaliland, representing 2% of

1080-742: A skillful combination of warfare , trade linkages and alliances . In the fifteenth century, for example, the Ajuran Empire was the only hydraulic empire in Africa at the time. As a water dynasty, the Ajuran state monopolized the water resources of the Shebelle and Jubba rivers . Through hydraulic engineering , it constructed many of the limestone wells and cisterns of the state that remain in use til today. The rulers developed new systems for agriculture and taxation, which continued to be used in parts of

1188-506: A threat, Sultan Kenadid was eventually exiled to Aden in Yemen and then to Eritrea . His son Ali Yusuf Kenadid succeeded him on the throne. In 1924, Governor Cesare Maria De Vecchi adopted a policy of disarmentation of the northern Somali sultanates. Sultan Ali Yusuf Kenadid was thereafter in turn exiled. The Dubats colonial troops and the Zaptié gendarmerie were extensively used by De Vecchi during these military campaigns. However, unlike

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1296-516: A treaty with the Italians , making his realm an Italian protectorate . His rival Boqor Osman would sign a similar agreement vis-a-vis his own Sultanate the following year. Both rulers had signed the protectorate treaties to advance their own expansionist objectives. In signing the agreements, the rulers also hoped to exploit the rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure

1404-587: A wing of the Italian Army's Infantry Division, as was the case in Libya and Eritrea . The Zaptié were considered the best: they provided a ceremonial escort for the Italian Viceroy ( Governor ) as well as the territorial police. There were already more than one thousand such soldiers in 1922. In 1941, in Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, 2,186 Zaptìé plus an additional 500 recruits under training officially constituted

1512-422: Is held by a person of the first-born branch." Along with Mareeg , Hobyo developed as a coastal outpost by the Ajuran Empire during the 13th century. However, in the late 17th century the Hiraab successfully revolted against the Ajuran Sultanate and established an independent Hiraab Imamate According to Bernhard Helander of Uppsala University , "the Imam of Hiraab is a hereditary position that traditionally

1620-578: Is held by a person of the first-born branch." Lee Cassanelli in his book The Shaping of Somali society provides a historical picture of the Hiraab Imamate . He writes: "According to local oral tradition, the Hiraab imamate was a powerful alliance of closely related groups who shared a common lineage under the Gorgaarte clan divisions. It successfully revolted against the Ajuran Sultanate and established an independent rule for at least two centuries from

1728-669: The Società Geografica Italiana in 1876. The next year, the travel journal L’Esploratore was established by Manfredo Camperio. The "Società di Esplorazioni Commerciali in Africa" was created in 1879, with the Italian industrial establishment involved as well. The "Club Africano", which three years later became the "Società Africana D’Italia", was also established in Somalia in 1880. The first recorded act of Somali resistance began in October 1893, when Vincenzo Filonardi disembarked at

1836-540: The 1959 parliamentary election , SYL would capture an even greater share of votes by winning 75.58% of the total ballot. Italian was an official language in Italian Somaliland during the Fiduciary Mandate, as well as in the first years of independence. By 1952, the majority of Somalis had some understanding of the language. On 1 July 1960, the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) and

1944-522: The Amministrazione fiduciaria italiana della Somalia (AFIS) began its rule. A deployment of 6,500 troops landed in Somalia to assist the establishment of AFIS under the leadership of Giovanni Fornari . Fornari's three year tenure would mark the most difficult years of the Trusteeship. The first half of AFIS's decade long rule would be marked by animosity and conflict between the Italian authorities and

2052-558: The Arabs and Swahilis under Portuguese rule and sent an envoy to the Turkish corsair Mir Ali Bey for a joint expedition against the Portuguese. He agreed and was joined by a Somali fleet in order to attack the Portuguese colonies in Southeast Africa . The Somali-Ottoman offensive managed to drive out the Portuguese from several important cities such as Pate , Mombasa and Kilwa . However,

2160-467: The Bimaal and Wa'dan revolts near Merca marked the beginning of Somali resistance to Italian expansion , coinciding with the rise of the anti-colonial Dervish movement in the north. By the end of 1927, following a two year military campaign against Somali rebels, Rome finally asserted authority over the entirety of Italian Somaliland. In 1936, the region was integrated into Italian East Africa as

2268-663: The Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II and Italy signed the Treaty of Wuchale . Italy gained control of the ports of the Benadir coastal area with the concession of a small strip of land on the coast from the Sultan of Zanzibar, and over the following decades, Italian settlement was encouraged. In 1905, Italy assumed the responsibility of creating a colony in southern Somalia, after several failed attempts. This followed revelations that

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2376-597: The Horn of Africa as late as the 19th century. The rule of the later Ajuran rulers caused multiple rebellions to break out within the empire, and at the end of the 17th century, Ajuran disintegrated into several successor states, the most notable being the Geledi Sultanate . Italian Somaliland Italian Somaliland ( Italian : Somalia Italiana ; Arabic : الصومال الإيطالي , romanized :  Al-Sumal Al-Italiy ; Somali : Dhulka Soomaalida ee Talyaaniga )

2484-486: The Horn of Africa was among the largest in the region. At the height of its reach, the empire covered most of southern Somalia as well as eastern Ethiopia , with its domain at one point extending from Hafun in the north to Kismayo in the south, and Qelafo in the west. The European Age of Discovery brought Europe's then superpower the Portuguese Empire to the coast of East Africa, which enjoyed

2592-663: The Muzaffar clients in Mogadishu and other coastal cities by the Abgaal imam who then established the Hiraab Imamate taking residence in Mogadishu was a significant setback, and the defeat of the Silis Kingdom by a former Ajuran general in the interior of the state, Ibrahim Adeer , who established the Gobroon dynasty . Taxation and the practice of primae noctis were the main catalysts for

2700-634: The Near East , East Asia , and the wider world. The Ajuran are believed to be the first Africans to have contact with China . The Ajuran Empire traces its name back to the Arabic word; إيجار (Ījārā), which means to rent or tax. A name well deserved for the exorbitant tributes paid to the Empire. The Ajuran is regarded as a successor to its more influential predecessor, the Adal Sultanate . The precise origins of

2808-586: The Ottoman Empire , and with the import of firearms through the Muzzaffar port of Mogadishu , the army began acquiring muskets and cannons . The Ottomans would also remain a key ally during the Ajuran-Portuguese wars . Horses used for military purposes were raised in the interior, and numerous stone fortifications were erected to provide shelter for the army in the coastal districts. In each province,

2916-464: The Shabelle river , large homes and stone fortifications along with the creation of large stone wells, many of which were still in use well into the 20th century. Notably, the Ajuran were the first to impose a regular system of tribute on the surrounding population. The empire fielded a powerful army, which may have employed firearms towards the end of its dominant period around 1650. As a 'water dynasty',

3024-591: The Somali Republic . The late 19th century had a huge impact in the Horn of Africa . The Somali Sultans that then controlled the region, such as Yusuf Ali Kenadid , Boqor Osman Mahamuud , Ahmed Yusuf, and Olol Dinle entered into treaties with one of the European colonial powers Great Britain and France , or Abyssinia . At the end of the 19th century, a growing social-political movement developed within Italy to start expanding its influence, since many other European countries had already been doing so, which

3132-468: The Somali calendar . This irrigation system was supported by numerous dikes and dams. To determine the average size of a farm, a land measurement system was also invented with moos , taraab and guldeed being the terms used. The Ajuran State had a standing army with which the governors ruled and protected their subjects. The bulk of the army consisted of recruited soldiers who did not have any loyalties to

3240-597: The Somalia Governorate . This would last until Italy's loss of the region in 1941, during the East African campaign of World War II . Italian Somalia then came under British military administration until 1950, when it became a United Nations trusteeship , the Trust Territory of Somalia under Italian administration . On 1 July 1960, the Trust Territory of Somalia united with the former British Somaliland to form

3348-506: The former British Somaliland united to form the Somali Republic , with Mogadishu as the nation's capital. This day is celebrated as Somalia's Independence Day . A government was formed by Abdullahi Issa and Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal and other members of the trusteeship and protectorate governments, with Abdulcadir Muhammed Aden as President of the Somali National Assembly , Aden Abdullah Osman Daar as President of

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3456-613: The invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. Effective Italian control remained largely limited to the coastal areas until the early 1920s. After the collapse of the Dervish movement, wherein Diiriye Guure was sultan and wherein Mohammed Abdullah Hassan' was emir, rebellion and revolt occurred, with disputes arising between different clans in the colony. The government of the time served as a mediator while maintaining close control over

3564-484: The "Guard Corps of Benadir", served as the territory's formal military corps. At the start of its establishment, the force had 2,600 Italian officers. Between 1911 and 1912, over 1,000 Somalis from Mogadishu served as combat units along with Eritrean and Italian soldiers in the Italo-Turkish War . Most of the troops stationed never returned home until they were transferred back to Italian Somaliland in preparation for

3672-555: The 16th and 17th centuries the Ajurans successively defied Portuguese hegemony on the Indian Ocean by employing a new coinage which followed the Ottoman pattern, thus proclaiming an attitude of economic independence in regard to the Portuguese. The late 15th and 17th centuries saw the arrival of Muslim families from Arabia , Persia , India and Spain to the Ajuran realm of territories,

3780-545: The 1880s, Kenadid returned from the Arabian Peninsula on a British ship with a band of Hadhrami musketeers and a group of devoted lieutenants. With their assistance, he managed to establish a sultanate in 1884. In the late 19th century, all extant Somali monarchs entered into treaties with one of the colonial powers, Abyssinia, Britain or Italy except the Dhulbahante. Likewise, in late 1888, Sultan Kenadid entered into

3888-694: The Ajuran Empire minted its own Ajuran currency . It also utilized the Mogadishan currency originally minted by the Sultanate of Mogadishu , which later became incorporated into the Ajuran Empire. Mogadishan coins have been found as far away as the present-day country of the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East . The urban centers of Merca , Mogadishu , Barawa , and their respective ports became profitable trade outlets for commodities originating from

3996-586: The Ajuran Empire sent ambassadors to China to establish diplomatic ties, creating the first ever recorded African community in China and the most notable Somali ambassador in medieval China was Sa'id of Mogadishu who was the first African man to set foot in China in medieval history. In return, Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), dispatched one of the largest fleets in history to trade with

4104-472: The Ajuran Empire successfully resisted Oromo invasions from the west and fought against Portuguese incursions from the east. The Ajuran were among the great centres of commerce in the contemporary African world. Trading routes dating from ancient and early medieval periods of Somali maritime enterprise were strengthened and re-established, foreign trade and commerce in the coastal provinces flourished with ships sailing to and from kingdoms and empires in

4212-613: The Ajuran Empire. Its origin lies in the Garen Kingdom that during the 13th century ruled parts of the Somali Region of Ethiopia . With the migration of Somalis from the northern half of the Horn region southwards, new cultural and religious orders were introduced, influencing the administrative structure of the dynasty . A system of governance began to evolve into an Islamic government. Through their genealogical Baraka , which came from

4320-668: The Ajuran monopolized the Jubba and Shabelle rivers through hydraulic engineering. Historically, the Sultanate of Mogadishu was confined by the Adal Sultanate in the north. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Ajurans routinely aligned themselves politically with the Adalites. Described as one country by Ibn Battuta , a journey to Mogadishu from the town of Zeila took him eight weeks to complete. The Ajuran Empire's sphere of influence in

4428-411: The Ajuran vary as they are rooted in traditional Somali folklore. It was in the 13th century the Ajuran first appeared and began gaining power. For several centuries they exerted strong political influence on the inland pastoralists, while also embracing coastal trade and infrastructure. The sultanate functioned for approximately three centuries. The House of Garen was the ruling hereditary dynasty of

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4536-526: The Bale Sultanate not being directly under Ajuran rule, the two kingdoms were deeply connected and Bale was heavily influenced by Ajuran. His tomb lies in the town of Sheikh Hussein in what is considered the most sacred place in the country for Ethiopian Muslims, in particular those of Oromo ethnic descent. In the mid-17th century, the Oromo people collectively began expanding from their homeland towards

4644-542: The Benadir Company had tolerated or collaborated in the perpetuation of the slave trade. The administrative regulator was Governor Mercantelli, with the six subdivisions of Brava , Merca , Lugh , Itala, Bardera , and Jumbo. Following the assassination of an Italian Lieutenant by anti-colonial Somali rebels, Italian troops razed all villages east of the river Shabeelle in a nearly hundred-kilometre range in reprisal, while seizing livestock and killing Somali residents in

4752-478: The Empire were Mogadishu and Barawa . The state religion was Islam , and thus law was based on Sharia . Through their control of the region's wells, the Garen rulers effectively held a monopoly over their nomadic subjects as they were the only hydraulic empire in Africa during their reign. Large wells made out of limestone were constructed throughout the state, which attracted Somali and Oromo nomads with their livestock. The centralized regulations of

4860-406: The Garen rulers by the coastal sultans of the state. A political device that was implemented by the Garen rulers in their realm was a form of ius primae noctis , which enabled them to create marriages that enforced their hegemonic rule over all the important groups of the empire. The rulers would also claim a large portion of the bride's wealth, which at the time was 100 camels. For trade,

4968-438: The Indian Ocean , and commercial enterprise as far as East Asia . The Ajuran Empire also minted its own Ajuran currency . Many medieval bronze coins inscribed with the names of Ajuran Sultans have been found in the coastal Benadir province , in addition to pieces from Muslim rulers of Southern Arabia and Persia . Through the use of commercial vessels, compasses, multiple port cities, light houses and other technology,

5076-422: The Majeerteen, managed to conquer Hobyo and established The Kingdom of Hobyo in 1884. From 1900 to 1910, Hobyo was ruled by Yusuf Ali Kenadid who established the Sultanate of Hobyo in 1884. As with the Majeerteen Sultanate , the Sultanate of Hobyo exerted a strong centralized authority during its existence, and possessed all of the organs and trappings of an integrated modern state: a functioning bureaucracy,

5184-457: The Portuguese governor sent envoys to Portuguese India requesting a large Portuguese fleet. This request was answered and it reversed the previous offensive of the Muslims into one of defense. The Portuguese armada managed to re-take most of the lost cities and began punishing their leaders, but they refrained from attacking Mogadishu, securing the city's autonomy in the Indian Ocean. The Ottoman Empire would remain an economic partner. Throughout

5292-441: The Portuguese who sent a punitive expedition under João de Sepúlveda, where he bombarded Mogadishu and captured Turkish vessels, compelling its ruler to sign a peace deal with the Portuguese. Barawa would also sign peace with the Portuguese after being sacked. The Ottoman-Somali cooperation against the Portuguese on the Indian Ocean reached a high point in the 1580s when Ajuran clients of the coastal cities began to cooperate with

5400-426: The SYL's plans for independence. In the 1956 parliamentary election , the Somali Youth League would win 54.29% of votes versus 26.01% for the nearest party, the Hizbia Digil Mirifle Somali. The growing power of the SYL would lead Italian officials to take a more conciliatory stance towards the organization. The SYL would also earn 416 of the 663 seats in the 1958 municipal election, with the HDMS securing 175 seats. By

5508-454: The Somali National League (SNL), that were then agitating for independence — that Somalia achieve independence within ten years. In 1949, when the British military administration ended, Italian Somaliland became a United Nations trusteeship known as the Trust Territory of Somaliland . Under Italian administration, this trust territory lasted ten years, from 1950 to 1960, with legislative elections held in 1956 and 1959 . On 1 April 1950,

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5616-428: The Somali Youth League. Numerous SYL officials who had gained positions of prominence during the era of British Military Administration were either demoted, removed from their positions or imprisoned by Italians officials. These attempts to marginalize the league would lead to demonstrations across the country which were strongly repressed by the government, who had at the time come to decision not cooperate or concede to

5724-447: The Somali coast in exchange for grain and wood. Trading relations were established with Malacca in the 15th century, with cloth, ambergris and porcelain being the main commodities of the trade. In addition, giraffes, zebras and incense were exported to the Ming Empire of China. Hindu merchants from Surat and Southeast African merchants from Pate seeking to bypass both the Portuguese blockade and Omani interference used

5832-545: The Somali nation. The fleet, under the leadership of the famed Hui Muslim Zheng He , arrived at Mogadishu while the city was at its peak in economic and social vibrancy. Along with gold , frankincense and fabrics , Zheng brought back the first ever African wildlife to China, which included hippos , giraffes and gazelles . The Ajurans developed a very rich culture combining various forms of Somali culture with Islamic architecture , astronomy , and art. Society evolved and flourished during this period. The majority of

5940-425: The Somali ruling elite and commoners. The most famous Somali scholar of Islam from the Ajuraan period is Sheikh Hussein , who was born in Merca , one of the power jurisdiction and cultural centers of the Ajuran Empire. He is credited with converting the Sidamo people living in the area of what is now the Bale Province, Ethiopia to Islam . He is also credited with establishing the Sultanate of Bale . Despite

6048-416: The Sultanates' respective administrations. In return for Italian arms and an annual subsidy, the Sultans conceded to a minimum of oversight and economic concessions. The Italians also agreed to dispatch a few ambassadors to promote both the Sultanates' and their own interests. The new protectorates were thereafter managed by Vincenzo Filonardi through a chartered company . An Anglo-Italian border protocol

6156-405: The area. On 5 April 1908, the Italian Parliament enacted a basic law to unite all of the parts of southern Somalia into an area called "Somalia Italiana". The colonial power was then divided between the Parliament, the metropolitan government, and the colonial government. The power of the colonial government was the only power that was changed. The civil governor controlled export rights, regulated

6264-429: The cities and towns were abandoned or destroyed: The Ajuran Empire relied on agriculture and trade for most of its income. Major agricultural towns were located on the Shebelle and Jubba rivers , including Kismayo and Afgooye . Situated at the junction of some of the busiest medieval trade routes, the Ajuran and its clients were active participants in the East African gold trade , the Silk Road commerce , trade in

6372-408: The city of Merca to create a colonial outpost. During the visit a captain of one of the Italian vessels, Lieutenant Maurizio Talmone, was assassinated. In late 1888, Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid sent a treaty request to Italy to make his Sultanate of Hobyo an Italian protectorate . His rival Boqor Osman Mahamuud was to sign a similar agreement vis-a-vis his own Majeerteen Sultanate (Majeerteenia)

6480-407: The city. Nevertheless, Tristão opted to storm and attempt to conquer the city, although every officer and soldier in his army opposed this, fearing certain defeat if they were to engage their opponents in battle. Tristão heeded their advice and sailed for Socotra instead. Over the next decades tensions remained high and the increased contact between Somali sailors and Ottoman corsairs worried

6588-447: The coastal markets, which generated enormous wealth for the merchants. Mogadishu, the center of a thriving weaving industry known as toob benadir (specialized for the markets in Egypt and Syria ), together with Merca and Barawa also served as transit stops for Swahili merchants from Mombasa and Malindi and for the gold trade from Kilwa . There were Jewish merchants from the Hormuz who brought their Indian textile and fruits to

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6696-434: The continued independence of their territories. However, the relationship between Hobyo and Italy soured when Sultan Kenadid refused the Italians' proposal to allow a British contingent of troops to disembark in his Sultanate so that they might then pursue their battle against the Dervish forces . Viewed as too much of a threat by the Italians, Sultan Kenadid was eventually exiled to Aden in Yemen and then to Eritrea , as

6804-465: The dominant clan and ethnic configurations and respect for Islam as the territory's religion. In 1928, the Italian authorities built the Mogadishu Cathedral ( Cattedrale di Mogadiscio ). It was constructed in a Norman Gothic style, based on the Cefalù Cathedral in Cefalù , Sicily . Following its establishment, Umberto , Prince of Piedmont , the heir apparent to the Italian throne, made his first publicized visit to Mogadishu. To commemorate

6912-554: The dominant party and had a moderate ideology. Hizbia Digil Mirifle Somali (HDMS) party served as the principal opposition to the right, although its platform was generally in agreement with that of the SYL. In November 1949, the United Nations finally opted to grant Italy trusteeship of Italian Somaliland, but only under close supervision and on the condition — first proposed by the Somali Youth League (SYL) and other nascent Somali political organizations, such as Hizbia Digil Mirifle Somali (later Hizbia Dastur Mustaqbal Somali, or HDMS) and

7020-404: The following year. Both rulers had entered into the protectorate treaties to advance their own expansionist goals, with Sultan Kenadid looking to use Italy's support in his ongoing power struggle with Boqor Osman over the Majeerteen Sultanate, as well as in a separate conflict with the Hiraab Sultanate over an area to the south of Hobyo . In signing the agreements, the rulers also hoped to exploit

7128-445: The increasing importance and rapid settlement of more southerly cities such as Mogadishu further boosted the prosperity of Hobyo, as more and more ships made their way down the Somali coast and stopped in Hobyo to trade and replenish their supplies. By the late 19th century, the Imamate began to decline. At the start of Colonialism in Somalia in 1884, shortly after the Berlin Conference, a young ambitious rebel called Sultan Kenadiid of

7236-414: The inhabitants were ethnic Somali but there were also Yemeni , Persian , and Turkish minorities. The vast majority of the population adhered to Sunni Islam with a Shia minority. The Somali language was the most commonly spoken language while Arabic was prominently used for commercial and religious purposes. The traditional martial art Istunka , also known as Dabshid , was born during

7344-406: The interior of the State. The farming communities of the hinterland brought their products to the coastal cities, where they were sold to local merchants who maintained a lucrative foreign commerce with ships sailing to and coming from Arabia , India , Venice , Persia , Egypt , Portugal , and as far away as China . Vasco da Gama , who passed by Mogadishu in the 15th century noted that it

7452-436: The invasion of Ethiopia, Mogadishu served as a chief supply base. In June 1936, after the war ended, Italian Somaliland became part of Italian East Africa ( Africa Orientale Italiana ) forming the Somalia Governorate . The new colony of the Italian Empire also included Ethiopia and Eritrea . To commemorate the victory, an Arch of Triumph was constructed in Mogadishu. From 1936 to 1940, new roads were constructed in

7560-469: The landscapes of southern Somalia today are attributed to the Ajuran Empire's engineers, including a number of the pillar tomb fields, necropolises and ruined cities built in that era. During the Ajuran period, many regions and people in the southern part of the Horn of Africa converted to Islam because of the theocratic nature of the government. The royal family , the House of Garen, expanded its territories and established its hegemonic rule through

7668-490: The layout of the land, the Italians began new local infrastructure projects, including the construction of hospitals, farms and schools. The relationship between the Sultanate of Hobyo and Italy soured when Sultan Kenadid refused the Italians' proposal to allow a British contingent of troops to disembark in his Sultanate so that they might then pursue their battle against the Somali religious and nationalist leader Muhammad Abdullah Hassan's Dervish forces. Viewed as too much of

7776-566: The local populace and soldiers resulted in the failure of the Portuguese to permanently occupy the city, and the inhabitants who had fled to the interior eventually returned and rebuilt the city. After Barawa , Tristão set sail for Mogadishu , the richest city on the East African coast. Word had spread of what had happened in Barawa, and a large troop mobilization took place. Many horsemen, soldiers and battleships in defense positions were guarding

7884-561: The majority of whom settled in the coastal provinces. Some migrated because of the instability in their respective regions, as was the case with the Hadhrami families from Yemen and the Muslims from Spain fleeing the Inquisition . Others came to conduct business or for religious purposes. Due to their strong tradition in religious learning, the new Muslim communities also enjoyed high status among

7992-557: The medieval period. With the centralized supervision of the Ajuran, farms in Afgooye , Kismayo and other areas in the Jubba and Shabelle valleys increased their productivity. A system of irrigation ditches known locally as Kelliyo fed directly from the Shebelle and Jubba rivers into the plantations where sorghum , maize , beans, grain and cotton were grown during the gu ( Spring in Somali) and xagaa ( Summer in Somali) seasons of

8100-575: The merchants of the Ajuran Empire did brisk business with traders from the following states: With their maritime pursuits, the Ajuran Empire established trading and diplomatic ties across the old world, especially in Asia, from being close allies of the grand power of the Ottomans to having cordial ties with the mighty Ming Dynasty , paving the way for merchants from Ajuran to embark on great maritime expeditions, as far away as Java and Vietnam . The ruler of

8208-723: The military. In 1920, a member of the Italian royal family , The Duca degli Abruzzi , who was also a famous explorer, would establish the Società Agricola Italo-Somala (SAIS) in order to explore the agricultural potential of the territory. That same year, the Duca founded the Villaggio Duca degli Abruzzi ("Villabruzzi"; Jowhar ) as an agricultural settlement in Italian Somaliland. The area produced sugar, bananas and cotton. On 5 December 1923, Cesare Maria De Vecchi di Val Cismon

8316-513: The more than 220,000 Italian soldiers stationed throughout Italian Somaliland during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War . The colony was also one of the most developed in Africa in terms of the standard of living of the colonists and of the local inhabitants, mainly in the urban areas. By 1940, the Villaggio Duca degli Abruzzi ("Villabruzzi"; Jowhar ) had a population of 12,000 people, of whom nearly 3,000 were Italian Somalis, and enjoyed

8424-425: The oldest on the continent, with Masjid Fakhr al-Din being one of the oldest mosques in Africa. Artistic carving was considered the craft of men similar to how the Somali textile industry was mainly a women's business. Amongst the nomads , carving, especially woodwork , was widespread and could be found on the most basic objects such as spoons, combs and bowls, but it also included more complex structures such as

8532-449: The portable nomadic tent, the aqal . In the Merca area, various pillar tombs still exist, which local tradition holds were built in the 16th century, when the Ajuran Empire's naa'ibs governed the district. The empire left an extensive architectural legacy , being one of the major medieval Somali powers engaged in castle and fortress building. Many of the ruined fortifications dotting

8640-477: The ports of Merca and Barawa (which were out of the two powers' jurisdiction) to conduct their trade in safety. The Ajuran Empire was an influential Somali kingdom that held sway over several cities and towns in central and southern Somalia during the Middle Ages. With the fall of the Sultanate, a number of these settlements continued to prosper, eventually becoming major cities in present-day Somalia. A few of

8748-432: The production of sorghum and beans, supplementing with herds of camels, cattle, goats and sheep. Livestock, hides and skin, whilst the aromatic woods and raisins were the primary exports as rice, other foodstuffs and clothes were imported. Merchants looking for exotic goods came to Hobyo to buy textiles, precious metals and pearls. The commercial goods harvested along the Shabelle river were brought to Hobyo for trade. Also,

8856-467: The rate of exchange, raised or lowered native taxes, and administered all civil services and matters relating to hunting, fishing, and conservation. The governor was in control of the police force, while nominating local residents and military arrangements. From 5 April 1908 to 5 May 1936, the Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops ( Regio corpo truppe coloniali della Somalia Italiana ), originally called

8964-425: The region, such as the "Imperial Road" from Mogadishu to Addis Ababa . New railways (114 km from Mogadishu to Jowhar) and many schools, hospitals, ports and bridges were also built. Since the start of the colony, many Somali troops fought in the so-called Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali . The soldiers were enrolled as Dubats , Zaptié and Bande irregolari . During World War II , these troops were regarded as

9072-409: The reign of Ajuran. An annual tournament is still held every year for it in Afgooye . Carving, known in Somali as Qoris , was practiced in the coastal cities of the state. Many wealthy urbanites in the medieval period regularly employed the finest wood and marble carvers in Somalia to work on their interiors and houses. The carvings on the mihrabs and pillars of ancient Somali mosques are some of

9180-490: The revolts against Ajuran rulers. The loss of port cities and fertile farms meant that much needed sources of revenue were lost to the rebels. Somali maritime enterprise significantly declined after the collapse of the Ajuran Empire. However, other polities such as the Isaaq Sultanate , Geledi Sultanate , Majeerteen Sultanate , Sultanate of Hobyo , and the Dervish state in a way ensured its continuity. By 1700, there

9288-477: The rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure the continued independence of their territories. The Italians, for their part, were interested in the largely arid territory mainly because of its ports , which could grant them access to the strategically important Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden . The terms of each treaty specified that Italy was to steer clear of any interference in

9396-490: The saint Balad (who was known to have come from outside the Kingdom). The Ajuran gradually became a notable and respected empire. Around 1500, they rose to dominance in the interior of Banaadir region, after which they maintained a hegemony for approximately 150 years. The introduction of a great variety of technological innovations to the Somali territories are attributed to the empire, such as systems of dykes and dams on

9504-782: The seventeen hundreds and onwards. The alliance involved the army leaders and advisors of the Habar Gidir and Duduble , a Fiqhi/Qadi of Sheekhaal , and the Imam was reserved for the Mudulood branch who is believed to have been the first born. Once established, the Imamate ruled the territories from the Shabeelle valley, the Benaadir provinces, the Mareeg areas all the way to the arid lands of Mudug . The agricultural centres of Eldher and Harardhere included

9612-451: The soldiers were under the supervision of a military commander known as an emir . The coastal areas and the lucrative Indian Ocean trade were protected by a navy . The State collected tribute from the farmers in the form of harvested products like durra , sorghum and bun, and from the nomads, cattle, camels and goats. The collecting of tribute was done by a wazir . Luxury goods imported from foreign lands were also presented as gifts to

9720-561: The southern Somali coast at a time when the Ajurans were at the height of their power. The Garen rulers conducted several military expeditions known as the Gaal Madow Wars on the Oromo invaders, converting those that were captured to Islam . The Ajuran Empire slowly declined in power at the end of the 17th century. In this period the rulers of the empire abandoned Sharia , became oppressive and enacted heavy taxation. The dethronement of

9828-557: The southern front of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War was launched into Ethiopia from Italian Somaliland. The Italian General Rodolfo Graziani commanded the invasion forces in the south. Over 40,000 Somali troops served in the war, mostly as combat units. They backed up the over 80,000 Italians serving alongside them at the start of the offensive. Many of the Somalis were veterans from serving in Italian Libya . During

9936-587: The southern half of the partitioned Jubaland territory, which was later called the Northern Frontier District (NFD). In January 1887 Italian troops from Somalia fought a battle against Ras Alula Engida 's militia in Dogali, Eritrea, where they lost 500 troops. The Prime Minister, Agostino Depretis , died shortly after this defeat in July 1887. Francesco Crispi replaced him as Prime Minister. On 2 May 1889,

10044-502: The southern territories, the northern sultanates were not subject to direct rule due to the earlier treaties they had signed with the Italians. In 1926, the agricultural colony of Villaggio Duca degli Abruzzi comprised 16 villages, with some 3,000 Somali and 200 Italian inhabitants, and was connected by a 114 km new railway to Mogadishu. Italian colonial policy followed two principles in Italian Somaliland: preservation of

10152-491: The subsequent attempt to capture British Somaliland happened two months later in Operation Appearance. In the spring of 1941, Britain regained control of British Somaliland and conquered Italian Somaliland with the Ogaden . However, until the summer of 1943, there was an Italian guerrilla war in all the areas of the former Italian East Africa. British forces occupied Italian Somaliland and militarily administered

10260-548: The territory as well as British Somaliland. Faced with growing Italian political pressure inimical to continued British tenure and Somali aspirations for independence, the Somalis and the British came to see each other as allies. The first modern Somali political party, the Somali Youth Club (SYC), was subsequently established in Mogadishu in 1943; it was later renamed the Somali Youth League (SYL). The SYL evolved into

10368-515: The territory's population. Of those, 20,000 resided in Mogadishu (called officially in Italian language: Mogadiscio ), representing around 40% of the city's 50,000 residents. Mogadishu was an administrative capital of Italian East Africa, and new buildings were erected in the Italian architectural tradition. Other Italian settler communities were concentrated in Jowhar, Adale ( Itala ), Janale , Jamame , and Kismayo . These figures do not include

10476-430: The territory's population. The majority resided in the capital Mogadishu, with other Italian communities concentrated in Jowhar, Adale ( Itala ), Janale, Jamame and Kismayo . In October 1934, Umberto, Prince of Piedmont, made his second publicized visit to Italian Somaliland. King Victor Emmanuel III would also travel to the territory, arriving on 3 November that same year, accompanied by Emilio de Bono , after

10584-449: The traditional Somali clan system, thereby making them more reliable. The soldiers were recruited from the inter-riverine area; other recruits came from the surrounding nomadic region. Arab , Persian and Turkish mercenaries were at times employed as well. In the early period, the army's weapons consisted of traditional Somali weapons such as swords , daggers , spears , battle axes , and bows . The Empire received assistance from

10692-492: The visit, the Arch of Umberto was constructed. The arch was built at the center of Mogadishu Garden. The Mogadishu International Airport was constructed that same year. The facility was regarded as one of the finest in the region. Following a two year long Somali resistance, in late 1927 Italy finally extended authority across the entire territory. In the early 1930s, the new Italian Governors, Guido Corni and Maurizio Rava, started

10800-409: The wells made it easier for the nomads to settle disputes by taking their queries to government officials who would act as mediators. Long distance caravan trade, a long-time practice in the Horn of Africa, continued unchanged in Ajuran times. Today, numerous ruined and abandoned towns throughout the interior of Somalia and the Horn of Africa are evidence of a once-booming inland trade network dating from

10908-452: Was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia , which was ruled in the 19th century by the Sultanate of Hobyo and Majeerteen in the north, and in the south by the political entities; Hiraab Imamate and the Geledi Sultanate . Italy gradually secured much of the territory in the 1880s through a series of protection treaties. Starting in the 1890s,

11016-463: Was a large city with houses of four or five storeys high and big palaces in its centre and many mosques with cylindrical minarets. In the 16th century, Duarte Barbosa noted that many ships from the Kingdom of Cambaya sailed to Mogadishu with cloths and spices for which they in return received gold , wax and ivory . Barbosa also highlighted the abundance of meat, wheat, barley, horses, and fruit on

11124-473: Was a medieval Muslim Empire in the Horn of Africa . Founded by Somali Sultans it ruled over large parts of the Horn of Africa during the Middle Ages via control over water. Its rise to prominence began during the 13th and 14th century. By the 15th century, the Ajuran were Africa's only ' Hydraulic empire'. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders,

11232-476: Was effectively leaving Italy behind. Italy also had serious economic problems. It is also argued by some historians that Italy had a minor interest in the mutton and livestock that were then plentiful in Somalia, though whatever designs Italy may have had on the resource-challenged Somali landscape were undoubtedly subordinate to its interest in the region's ports and the waters and lands to which they provided access. Cesare Correnti organized an expedition under

11340-560: Was effectively no trace of Ajuran polity left in Baanadir . The Ajuran nobility used many of the typical Somali aristocratic and court titles , with the Garen rulers styled Imam . These leaders were the empire's highest authority, and counted multiple Sultans , Emirs , and Kings as clients or vassals . The Garen rulers also had seasonal palaces in Mareeg , Qelafo and Merca , important cities in

11448-409: Was his son Ali Yusuf , the heir apparent to his throne. However, unlike the southern territories, the northern sultanates were not subject to direct rule due to the earlier treaties they had signed with the Italians. Hobyo has a hot arid climate ( Köppen BWh ). Hobyo has a population of around 11,800 inhabitants. The broader Hobyo District has a total population of 67,249 residents. Hobyo has

11556-665: Was later signed on 5 May 1894, followed by an agreement in 1906 between Cavalier Pestalozza and General Swaine acknowledging that Baran fell under the Majeerteen Sultanate's administration. The last piece of land acquired by Italy in Somalia in order to form Italian Somaliland was the Jubaland region. Britain ceded the territory in 1925 as a reward for the Italians having joined the Allies in World War I . The British retained control of

11664-477: Was named Governor in charge of the new colonial administration. In November 1920, the Banca d'Italia , the first modern bank in Italian Somaliland, was established in Mogadishu. After World War I in 1925, Trans-Juba , which was then a part of British East Africa , was ceded to Italy. This concession was purportedly a reward for the Italians having joined the Allies in World War I . Following an examination of

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