Yimam of Yejju
Encyclopedia
Yimam of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder
and Enderase (regent) of the Emperor of Ethiopia
. He was the son of Gugsa of Yejju
.
Upon succeeding his father Gugsa as Ras when Gugsa died in 1825, Yimam was challenged by his brother Marye
, who staged an open revolt.
According to Trimingham, Ras Yimam openly supported Islam
against the local Ethiopian Church. He also grew so annoyed at Abuna Qerellos III
's intervention in the doctrinal dispute over the nature of Christ
in support of the Sost Lidet, that he banished the Abuna to the monastery in Lake Hayq
, where Abuna Qerellos remained until his death (circa 1828).
While Ras Yimam was away in Gojjam
campaigning against Dejazmach Goshu Zewde, Dejazmach Haile Maryam marched from Semien
to Gondar
where replaced Emperor Gigar
with his own choice, Baeda Maryam
. When Yimam heard of this, he returned by way of Dengel Ber
, pursuing Dejazmach Haile Maryam as far as Waldebba where they fought for three days until 25 December 1825, when Haile fled the battlefield for Semien by way of Wegera where he later died, allowing Ras Yimam to restore Gigar to the throne.
Typically for the Zemene Mesafint
, relationships between these major warlords quickly changed. As Sven Rubenson describes, Dejazmach Haile Maryam's son Wube was captured in the battle, but Yimam's ally Dejazmach Meru of Dembiya convinced Yimam to free the boy. Not long after, Yimam joined forces with Wube, who had succeeded his father as Dejazmach, against Goshu and Meru in the Battle of Kossober October 1827, defeating their opponents. Goshu fled to sanctuary in Gojjam, while Meru was soon killed after the battle by a soldier. The following year, Ras Yimam "died by violence" in Debre Tabor
. He was buried at the church of Iyasus in that town.
Begemder
Begemder was a province in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. There are several proposed etymologies for this name...
and Enderase (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 Gugsa of Yejju
Gugsa of Yejju
Gugsa of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder , and Inderase of the Emperor of Ethiopia. According to Nathaniel Pearce, he took the Christian name of Wolde Mikael. He was the son of Mersu Barentu and Kefey, the sister of Ras Aligaz. Both Bahru Zewde and Paul B...
.
Upon succeeding his father Gugsa as Ras when Gugsa died in 1825, Yimam was challenged by his brother Marye
Marye of Yejju
Marye of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder and Enderase of the Emperor of Ethiopia. He was the brother of his predecessor Ras Yimam....
, who staged an open revolt.
According to Trimingham, Ras Yimam openly supported Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
against the local Ethiopian Church. He also grew so annoyed at Abuna Qerellos III
Abuna Qerellos III
Qerellos III was an Abuna, or head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church . In the words of Richard Pankhurst, "A controversial figure, he is reputed to have been fanatical and rapacious."...
's intervention in the doctrinal dispute over the nature of Christ
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
in support of the Sost Lidet, that he banished the Abuna to the monastery in Lake Hayq
Lake Hayq
Lake Hayq or Lake Haik is a freshwater lake of Ethiopia. It is located north of Dessie, in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region . The town of Hayq is to the west of the lake....
, where Abuna Qerellos remained until his death (circa 1828).
While Ras Yimam was away in Gojjam
Gojjam
Gojjam was a kingdom in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debre Marqos. This region is distinctive for lying entirely within the bend of the Abbay River from its outflow from Lake Tana to the Sudan...
campaigning against Dejazmach Goshu Zewde, Dejazmach Haile Maryam marched from 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...
to Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
where replaced Emperor Gigar
Gigar of Ethiopia
Gigar was of Ethiopia, and purportedly a member of the Solomonic dynasty....
with his own choice, Baeda Maryam
Baeda Maryam III of Ethiopia
Baeda Maryam III was of Ethiopia for a few days in April 1826. Baeda Maryam was a figurehead, set on the throne by Dejazmach Haile Maryam, the governor of Semien....
. When Yimam heard of this, he returned by way of Dengel Ber
Dengel Ber
Dengel Ber is a town in western Ethiopia. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Tana in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of . Access to this town includes track roads to both Shawra and Kunzela and weekly service by the Bahir Dar-Gorgora ferry...
, pursuing Dejazmach Haile Maryam as far as Waldebba where they fought for three days until 25 December 1825, when Haile fled the battlefield for Semien by way of Wegera where he later died, allowing Ras Yimam to restore Gigar to the throne.
Typically for the Zemene Mesafint
Zemene Mesafint
The Zemene Mesafint was a period in Ethiopian history when the country was rent by conflicts between warlords, the Emperor was reduced to little more than a figurehead confined to the capital city of...
, relationships between these major warlords quickly changed. As Sven Rubenson describes, Dejazmach Haile Maryam's son Wube was captured in the battle, but Yimam's ally Dejazmach Meru of Dembiya convinced Yimam to free the boy. Not long after, Yimam joined forces with Wube, who had succeeded his father as Dejazmach, against Goshu and Meru in the Battle of Kossober October 1827, defeating their opponents. Goshu fled to sanctuary in Gojjam, while Meru was soon killed after the battle by a soldier. The following year, Ras Yimam "died by violence" in 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...
. He was buried at the church of Iyasus in that town.