Begemder
Encyclopedia
Begemder was a province in the northwestern part of Ethiopia
. There are several proposed etymologies for this name. One is that it came from Bega (Beja
) plus meder (land) (meaning land of the Bega or Beja), as an inscription of Emperor
Ezana of Aksum describes his movement of 4,400 conquered Beja to a not yet located province named Matlia. Another is that the first two syllables come from the Ge'ez
baggi` for sheep (Amharic beg), although Beke
claimed that sheep have never been pastured there, nor could they be raised there. Beckingham and Huntingford note that Begemder originally applied to the country east of Lake Tana
, where water is scarce, and conclude, "The allusion to lack of water suggests Amharic baga, "dry season", as a possible source of the name."
The earliest recorded mention of Begemder was on the Fra Mauro map
, (c.1460), where it is described as a kingdom. While Emperor Lebna Dengel
, in his letter to the King of Portugal
(1526), also described Begemder as a kingdom, he included it as a subdivision of his empire. During the later 18th century, its capital was at Filakit Gereger
, where Ras Ali
died in 1788.
Begemders boundaries were revised as a result of Proclamation 1943/1, which created 12 taklai ghizats from the existing 42 provinces of varying sizes. A comparison of the two maps in Margary Perham, The Government of Ethiopia shows that Semien
and Wolqayt provinces were added to Begemder. With the adoption of the new constitution in 1995
, Begemder was divided between the new ethnic regions (or kilil): a strip in the southwest corner became part of the Metekel Zone
of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, another strip in the northwestern corner became part of the Mi'irabawi Zone
of the Tigray Region
, and the remainder became the core of the Amhara Region
.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. There are several proposed etymologies for this name. One is that it came from Bega (Beja
Beja people
The Beja people are an ethnic group dwelling in parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.-Geography:The Beja are found mostly in Sudan, but also in parts of Eritrea, and Egypt...
) plus meder (land) (meaning land of the Bega or Beja), as an inscription of Emperor
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...
Ezana of Aksum describes his movement of 4,400 conquered Beja to a not yet located province named Matlia. Another is that the first two syllables come from the Ge'ez
Ge'ez language
Ge'ez is an ancient South Semitic language that developed in the northern region of Ethiopia and southern Eritrea in the Horn of Africa...
baggi` for sheep (Amharic beg), although Beke
Charles Tilstone Beke
Charles Tilstone Beke was an English traveller, geographer and Biblical critic. Born in Stepney, London, the son of a merchant in the City of London, for a few years Beke engaged in mercantile pursuits...
claimed that sheep have never been pastured there, nor could they be raised there. Beckingham and Huntingford note that Begemder originally applied to the country east of Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
, where water is scarce, and conclude, "The allusion to lack of water suggests Amharic baga, "dry season", as a possible source of the name."
The earliest recorded mention of Begemder was on the Fra Mauro map
Fra Mauro map
The Fra Mauro map, "considered the greatest memorial of medieval cartography" according to Roberto Almagià, is a map made around 1450 by the Venetian monk Fra Mauro...
, (c.1460), where it is described as a kingdom. While Emperor Lebna Dengel
Dawit II of Ethiopia
Dawit II , enthroned as Emperor Anbasa Segad , better known by his birth name Lebna Dengel was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
, in his letter to the King of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(1526), also described Begemder as a kingdom, he included it as a subdivision of his empire. During the later 18th century, its capital was at 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...
, where Ras Ali
Ali I of Yejju
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....
died in 1788.
Begemders boundaries were revised as a result of Proclamation 1943/1, which created 12 taklai ghizats from the existing 42 provinces of varying sizes. A comparison of the two maps in Margary Perham, The Government of Ethiopia shows that Semien
Semien province
Semien Province was a historical province of northwest Ethiopia, often called Gondar. It was located south and west of the Tekezé River, and north of Lake Tsana. It was south west of Enderta Province, west of Tembien Province, and east of the Sudan. To some extent it covered the territory of the...
and Wolqayt provinces were added to Begemder. With the adoption of the new constitution in 1995
1995 Constitution of Ethiopia
The current Constitution of Ethiopia, which is the supreme law of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, was adopted by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia in December 1994 and came into force in August 1995. The constitution was drawn up by the Constituent Assembly elected in June of that year.The...
, Begemder was divided between the new ethnic regions (or kilil): a strip in the southwest corner became part of the Metekel Zone
Metekel Zone
Metekel is one of the three Zones in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, named after the former Metekkel province. It is bordered on the south by Kamashi, on the southwest by Asosa, on the west by Sudan, and on the north and east by the Amhara Region...
of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, another strip in the northwestern corner became part of the Mi'irabawi Zone
Mi'irabawi Zone
Mi'irabawi is one of four Zones in the Ethiopian Tigray Region. Mi'irabawi is bordered on the east by the Mehakelegnaw Zone, the south by the Amhara Region, the west by Sudan and on the north by Eritrea...
of the Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
, and the remainder became the core of the Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
.
See also
- History of EthiopiaHistory of EthiopiaThis article covers the prehistory and history of Ethiopia.-Prehistory:Lucy, discovered in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia's Afar region, is considered the world's second-oldest, but most complete and best preserved, adult Australopithecine fossil...
- Subdivisions of Ethiopia