Ali I of Yejju
Encyclopedia
Ali I of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder
, and following the death of Ras Mikael Sehul
, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia
. He was the son of Abba Seru Gwangul
, chieftain of the Yejju
Oromo
, and Gelebu Faras.
According to Abir, he founded the town of Debre Tabor
, which became the capital of his dynasty. However from the accounts in the Royal chronicle Ali is never mentioned as dwelling at Debre Tabor, instead he is more closely tied to Filakit Gereger
(called Garagara in the Royal chronicle).
summoned him to his court and made him Balambaras. Two years later, while still a Balambaras he took part in the Emperor's abortive march on Shewa
, which failed to cross the Checheho River
. Ten months later, Ali joined Ras Haile Yosadiq and together conspired to depose the emperor, defeating him at Afarwanat, after which Tekle Giyorgis fled into exile at Amba Sel. Subsequently, the two nobles brought Iyasu Atsequ
down from Wehni
and made him Emperor 18 February 1784; in return, Ali was promoted to Dejazmach.
Ali took several steps to consolidate his position and prepare his way to the next rank of power, Ras Betowedded. One was to offer his niece Anqualit to the influential Dejazmach Hailu Eshte of Begemder. This alliance led to conflict between Ali and his former ally Ras Haile Yosadiq, and to Ali's decision to recall the Emperor Tekle Haymanot from exile in 1786 and restored him to power; in response, Ras Haile Yosadiq prudently provided a refuge to the deposed Emperor Iyasu in Gojjam. Another one was the systematic capture of the amba
s of Balambaras Ramkha, which ended with the Balambaras death in the sack of his base at Limon. Shortly after this, Ali was released from the excommunication
that had been placed on him, and kept the feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel. A third step, which was not unique to Ali but taken by many of the warlords of the time, was to dissolve or reorganize the existing military units and create new ones, and granting them lands to support the soldiers. This would make the soldiers dependent on the warlord for their livings, not the Emperor.
Eventually Ras Haile was able to recruit Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel, the son of Ras Mikael Sehul
to join him, and when it appeared Ali (who had managed by that time to obtain a promotion to Ras) was preoccupied with the rebellion of his relative Yasufe in Lasta
, proclaimed Baeda Maryam
emperor. A peace was quickly patched up with Yasufe, and Ras Ali then turned his attention to this new threat. On the Thursday before Easter 1788, Ras Ali, Dejazmach Hailu Eshte, and the Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I met the allied forces of Ras Haile Yosadiq, Dejazmach Gebre, and Wolde Gabriel in the Battle of Madab. Ras Ali defeated this opponents; Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel was killed in battle and the pretender Baeda Maryam was captured. Only Ras Haile Yosadiq managed to escape the battle back to his territories in Gojjam.
Ras Ali died from an illness at Filakit Gereger, which the writer of the Royal chronicle claims was caused by his heavy drinking, and was buried at Lalibela
.
Begemder
Begemder was a province in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. There are several proposed etymologies for this name...
, and following the death of Ras Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul was a Ras or governor of Tigray 1748–71 and again from 1772 until his death...
, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
. He was the son of Abba Seru Gwangul
Abba Seru Gwangul
Abba Seru Gwangul was a chieftain of the Yejju Oromo, an ethnic group of Ethiopia. He came to control Begemder and parts of Wollo, and his heirs were significant warlords of the Zemene Mesafint...
, chieftain of the Yejju
Yejju Oromo
Yejju Oromo is a tribe of the Barentu branch of Oromo people. They are one of the northernmost tribes of the Oromo people, which is the second largest ethnicity in Ethiopia....
Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
, and Gelebu Faras.
According to Abir, he founded the town of Debre Tabor
Debre Tabor
Debre Tabor is a town and a woreda in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the Debub Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, about 100 kilometers southeast of Gondar and 50 kilometers east of Lake Tana, this historic town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 2706 meters above...
, which became the capital of his dynasty. However from the accounts in the Royal chronicle Ali is never mentioned as dwelling at Debre Tabor, instead he is more closely tied to Filakit Gereger
Filakit Gereger
Filakit Gereger is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2865 meters above sea level...
(called Garagara in the Royal chronicle).
Life
One of the first steps in the advancement of Ali's career came in August 1781 when the Emperor Tekle Giyorgis ITekle Giyorgis I of Ethiopia
Tekle Giyorgis I was Emperor of Ethiopia intermittently between 20 July 1779 and June 1800, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
summoned him to his court and made him Balambaras. Two years later, while still a Balambaras he took part in the Emperor's abortive march on Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
, which failed to cross the Checheho River
Checheho River
The Checheho River is a small river located in north-central Ethiopia. Part of the watershed of the Abay River, it rises to the east of Debre Zebit to flow south to join the Bashilo River. Its major tributary is the Zhit'a, which enters the Checheho on the left side....
. Ten months later, Ali joined Ras Haile Yosadiq and together conspired to depose the emperor, defeating him at Afarwanat, after which Tekle Giyorgis fled into exile at Amba Sel. Subsequently, the two nobles brought Iyasu Atsequ
Iyasu III of Ethiopia
Iyasu III or Joshua III was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Abeto Azequ, and the grandson of Iyasus II....
down from Wehni
Wehni
Wehni is the name of one of the mountains of Ethiopia where most of the male heirs to the Emperor of Ethiopia were interned, usually for life. It was the last one the three such mountains -- or amba -- said to have been used for this purpose, the other two being Debre Damo and Amba Geshen.From...
and made him Emperor 18 February 1784; in return, Ali was promoted to Dejazmach.
Ali took several steps to consolidate his position and prepare his way to the next rank of power, Ras Betowedded. One was to offer his niece Anqualit to the influential Dejazmach Hailu Eshte of Begemder. This alliance led to conflict between Ali and his former ally Ras Haile Yosadiq, and to Ali's decision to recall the Emperor Tekle Haymanot from exile in 1786 and restored him to power; in response, Ras Haile Yosadiq prudently provided a refuge to the deposed Emperor Iyasu in Gojjam. Another one was the systematic capture of the amba
Amba (geology)
An amba is a characteristic geologic form in Ethiopia. It is a steep sided, flat topped mountain, often the site of villages, wells and their surrounding farmland. These settlements were located there because they were very defensible and often virtually inaccessible plateaus.The original term in...
s of Balambaras Ramkha, which ended with the Balambaras death in the sack of his base at Limon. Shortly after this, Ali was released from the excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
that had been placed on him, and kept the feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel. A third step, which was not unique to Ali but taken by many of the warlords of the time, was to dissolve or reorganize the existing military units and create new ones, and granting them lands to support the soldiers. This would make the soldiers dependent on the warlord for their livings, not the Emperor.
Eventually Ras Haile was able to recruit Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel, the son of Ras Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul was a Ras or governor of Tigray 1748–71 and again from 1772 until his death...
to join him, and when it appeared Ali (who had managed by that time to obtain a promotion to Ras) was preoccupied with the rebellion of his relative Yasufe in Lasta
Lasta
Lasta is a historic district in north-central Ethiopia. It is the district in which Lalibela is situated, the former capital of Ethiopia during the Zagwe dynasty and home to 11 medieval rock-hewn churches....
, proclaimed Baeda Maryam
Atse Baeda Maryam
Baeda Maryam was proclaimed of Ethiopia in Tigray and Gojjam by Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel, the son of Ras Mikael Sehul, who was opposed to Ras Ali of Begemder....
emperor. A peace was quickly patched up with Yasufe, and Ras Ali then turned his attention to this new threat. On the Thursday before Easter 1788, Ras Ali, Dejazmach Hailu Eshte, and the Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I met the allied forces of Ras Haile Yosadiq, Dejazmach Gebre, and Wolde Gabriel in the Battle of Madab. Ras Ali defeated this opponents; Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel was killed in battle and the pretender Baeda Maryam was captured. Only Ras Haile Yosadiq managed to escape the battle back to his territories in Gojjam.
Ras Ali died from an illness at Filakit Gereger, which the writer of the Royal chronicle claims was caused by his heavy drinking, and was buried at Lalibela
Lalibela
Lalibela is a town in northern Ethiopia, known for its monolithic churches. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, second only to Aksum, and is a center of pilgrimage for much of the country. Unlike Aksum, the population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian...
.