Mereb Melash: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Eritrean kingdom from 1448 to |
{{short description|Eritrean kingdom from 1448 to 1580}} |
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{{Infobox country |
{{Infobox country |
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| native_name = {{lang|ti|ምድሪ ባሕሪ}} |
| native_name = {{lang|ti|ምድሪ ባሕሪ}} |
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| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
| event_end = Annexed by the [[Ethiopian Empire]] |
| event_end = Annexed by the [[Ethiopian Empire]] |
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| year_end = 1580 |
| year_end = 1580 |
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| life_span = |
| life_span = 1448–1580 |
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| event1 = [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] invasion |
| event1 = [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] invasion |
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| date_event1 = 1557 |
| date_event1 = 1557 |
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| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
| date_post = |
| date_post = |
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| religion = [[Orthodox Tewahedo]] |
| religion = [[Orthodox Tewahedo]] |
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| p1 = |
| p1 = Beja Kingdoms |
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| flag_p1 = |
| flag_p1 = |
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| s1 = |
| s1 = Ethiopian Empire |
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| flag_s1 = |
| flag_s1 = Flag_of_Ethiopia_(1897).svg |
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| image_map = Medri Bahri.png |
| image_map = Medri Bahri.png |
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| image_map_caption = Medri Bahri at its height in the 1520s |
| image_map_caption = Medri Bahri at its height in the 1520s |
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}} |
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{{Contains special characters|Ethiopic}} |
{{Contains special characters|Ethiopic}} |
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'''Medri Bahri''' ({{lang-ti|ምድሪ ባሕሪ}}, English: Land of the Sea), also known as '''Medre Bahr''', was a |
'''Medri Bahri''' ({{lang-ti|ምድሪ ባሕሪ}}, English: Land of the Sea), also known as '''Medre Bahr''', was a semi-autonomous kingdom within the [[Ethiopian Empire]], located in present day [[Eritrea]] and some surrounding areas. The kingdom was founded in 1448 when Emperor [[Zara Yaqob]] reorganized the northern highlands into one administration under a ''[[Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles#Important regional offices|Bahr Negus]]'' (ባሕር ንጉሥ {{transl|sem|''bahər nəgus''}}, or ''Bahr Negash'', "King of the sea").<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJLCZT7MW08C&q=melash&pg=PA134 | title="Between the Jaws of Hyenas": A Diplomatic History of Ethiopia (1876-1896)| isbn=9783447045582| last1=Caulk| first1=Richard Alan| year=2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=G. Marcus |first1=Harold |title=A History of Ethiopia |date=1994 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520925427 |pages=27}}</ref> |
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== |
==History== |
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| ⚫ | After the fall of the [[Aksumite Empire]], [[Beja Kingdoms]] started appearing in the country north of the [[Mareb River]] to the Red Sea, which was known as ''Ma'ikele Bahr'' ("between the seas/rivers," i.e. the land between the [[Red Sea]] and the [[Mareb River|Mereb river]]).{{sfn|Tamrat|1972|p=74}} Eritreans were some of the first East Africans to be converted to [[Islam]] in the 8th century AD, they founded their own independent [[Sultanate of Dahlak]] which controlled much of the Eritrean coastline. In 935 AD [[Massawa]] and [[Arkiko]] was reported by a contemporary source as being inhabited by Muslims. Thus it was clear that after the fall of [[Aksum]], Muslims had controlled the area from the Eritrean coast to the [[Mareb River]] and were [[Proselytism|proselytizing]] the locals.{{sfn|Tamrat|1977|pp=121–122}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pateman |first1=Roy |title=Eritrea Even the Stones are Burning |year=1998 |isbn=9781569020579 |pages=32 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NGiDTqf5YYAC&dq=bahr+eritrea&pg=PA33}}</ref> Ethiopian Emperor [[Amda Seyon I]] was wary of Muslim power along the Red Sea coast and therefore campaigned against them in 1332 AD. The regions of [[Hamasien]] and [[Akele Guzai]] would fall under Ethiopian rule following this campaign. It was later renamed as the Medri Bahri ("Land of the Sea", "Sea land" in Tigrinya, although it included some areas like [[Shire, Ethiopia|Shire]] on the other side of the Mereb, today in Ethiopia).<ref>Daniel Kendie, ''The Five Dimensions of the Eritrean Conflict 1941–2004: Deciphering the Geo-Political Puzzle''. United States of America: Signature Book Printing, Inc., 2005, pp.17-8.</ref> The entire coastal domain of Medri Bahri was under the [[Adal Sultanate]] during the reign of Sultan [[Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din|Badlay]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Owens |first1=Travis |title=BELEAGUERED MUSLIM FORTRESSES AND ETHIOPIAN IMPERIAL EXPANSION FROM THE 13TH TO THE 16TH CENTURY |publisher=NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL |page=23 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a483490.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020204/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a483490.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Pouwels |first1=Randall |title=The History of Islam in Africa |date=31 March 2000 |publisher=Ohio University Press |page=229 |isbn=9780821444610 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J1Ipt5A9mLMC&q=Sawakin+adal&pg=PA229}}</ref> |
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The first time the title ''Bahr Negash'' ("Ruler of the sea") appears is during the reign of [[Ethiopian Empire|Emperor]] [[Zara Yaqob]] (r. 1433–1468), who reconquered the region in 1448.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=101}} His chronicle explains how he put much effort into increasing the power of that office, placing the Bahr Negash above other local chiefs and eventually making him the sovereign of a territory covering [[Shire, Ethiopia|Shire]], in what is now [[Tigray Region|Tigray]], and the highlands ({{lang-ti|ከበሳ}}) of what is now Eritrea including [[Hamasien]] and [[Seraye]].{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=101}}{{sfn|Connel|Killion|2011|p=54}} To strengthen the imperial presence in the area, Zara Yaqob also established a military colony consisting of [[Maya (Ethiopia)|Maya]] warriors from the south of his realm.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=101}} Near the end of his reign, in 1464/1465, [[Massawa]] and the [[Dahlak archipelago]] were pillaged by Emperor Zara Yaqob, and the [[Sultanate of Dahlak]] was forced to pay tribute to the [[Ethiopian Empire]].{{sfn|Connel|Killion|2011|p=160}} |
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The Kingdom was formed after the demise of [[Aksumite Empire]] in the 9th century and retained all the Aksumite regions north to the Mereb river, namely, Bahr, Buri, Bogos, Serawye and Hamassien, while the regions south to the river fell under the control of the ''Agaw'' people and became part of the [[Zagwe dynasty]].<br> |
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| ⚫ | In the 1520s, Medri Bahri was described by the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] traveller and priest [[Francisco Álvares|Francisco Alvares]]. The current Bahr Negash bore the name [[Dori (Medri Bahri)|Dori]] and resided in [[Debarwa]], a town on the very northern edge of the highlands. Dori was an uncle of emperor [[Lebna Dengel]], to whom he paid tribute.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=102-104}} These tributes were traditionally paid with horses and imported cloth and carpets.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=270}} Dori was said to wield considerable power and influence, with his kingdom reaching almost as far north as [[Suakin]], plus he was also a promoter of Christianity, gifting the churches everything they needed.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=102-103}} By the time of Alvares' visit, Dori was engaged in warfare against some [[Nubian people|Nubians]] after the latter had killed his son. The Nubians were known as robbers and generally had a rather bad reputation.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=154-155}} They originated somewhere five to six days away from Medri Bahri, possibly Taka (a historical province named after [[Jebel Taka]] near modern [[Kassala]]).{{sfn|Werner|2013|p=149-150 & note 14. [[Peter Shinnie|P. L. Shinnie]] suggests an origination from the area around [[Old Dongola]], but could this region not be reached from Eritrea within five - six days of travelling time}}{{sfn|Connel|Killion|2011|p=96}} |
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During the [[Ethiopian-Adal War]], Medri Bahri was one of the last parts of the empire to be confronted by Imam [[Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi]] due to its location in the far north. The Bahr Negash Za-Wangel was killed fighting the Adalites in the province of Tigray, soon after the forces of Imam Ahmad crossed the Mareb river into Medri Bahri in 1535. The Adalite occupation was resisted bitterly by the local population, who killed the Adalite governor Vizer Addole and sent his head to the Emperor. The Imam's occupation of the coastal highlands resulted in considerable destruction. In 1541 the Portuguese warrior [[Miguel de Castanhoso]] arrived in the region, he noted that the lands of the Bahr Negus was "depopulated, through fear" and the countryside was devastated. Many Christians upon seeing the Portuguese came out of their hiding and informed the commander, [[Cristóvão da Gama]], that their "evil enemies" had destroyed all their monasteries and churches. They called on de Gama to seek vengeance and many locals joined the Portuguese in their struggles against the Imam, most notably the Bahr Negus [[Yeshaq (bahr negus)|Yeshaq]].{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=219}} |
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It's reign lasted until the invasion of the [[Yohannes IV]] of Tembien in 1879.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Haile |first1=Semere |title=The Long Struggle of Eritrea for Independence and Constructive Peace |date=1988 |publisher=The Red Sea Press |page=11 |isbn=0-932415-37-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjZhFR3vTvgC&dq=james%20bruce%20medri%20bahri&pg=PA13}}</ref> It survived several major threats like the [[Ethiopian-Adal war]] and the [[Ottoman conquest of Habesh|Ottoman Red Sea expansion]], albeit the Kingdom irretrievably lost its access to the [[Red Sea]] due to the latter. The relation to the neighboring [[Ethiopian Empire]] in the south varied from time to time, ranging from [[vassal state]], to peaceful alliance and even all out war. The first residence of the Negassi is believed to have remained in Adulis, but evidence is scant, it is however well documented that in the 16th century the center of power was in [[Debarwa]], which fell in disuse in the 17th century when power shifted to the town of [[Tsazega]] due to the same-named clan taking control of the kingdom. |
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After the death of Imam Ahmad in 1543, Emperor [[Gelawdewos]] immediately reestablished imperial suzerainty over the Eritrean highlands. In 1557 the Ottoman Turks conquered the port of [[Massawa]] and under [[Ozdemir Pasha]] led an expeditionary force inland where they occupied the capital [[Debarwa]]. The Turkish troops then built a large fort, but due to the local population's access to firearms, they were forced to retreat back to the coast. Around this time the Bahr Negus Yeshaq, a supporter of Gelawdewos, became very powerful due to the import of firearms through the coast. Although a ruler of a vassal state Yeshaq would heavily involve himself in internal Ethiopian affairs. After the death of Gelawdewos he attempted to place one of his nephews on the throne, but was defeated by Emperor [[Menas of Ethiopia|Menas]] in battle. He then offered his submission to the Ottoman Turks and surrendered the fort of [[Debarwa]], allowing him to continue his rebellion. Emperor [[Sarsa Dengel]] had attempted to make peace with the Bahr Negus, but conflict between the two men eventually erupted in 1576 after Yeshaq renewed his alliance with the Turks.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=270}} |
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===16th century=== |
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Yeshaq and his Turkish allies marched into [[Tembien]] to face the army of Sarsa Dengel in battle, however this battle ended in disaster as the Bahr Negus was captured and then executed by the Emperor. Sarsa Dengel then proceeded to march into Debarwa were he captured large quantities of firearms and ordered the destruction of the Turkish fort.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=219}} This victory was of major importance as put an end to the hopes of the provincal nobility to achieve independence or autonomy from the [[Ethiopian Empire]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oliver |first1=Ronald |title=The Cambridge History of Africa Volume 4 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=546 |url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Cambridge_History_of_Africa/q3mx8aAo6x0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=bahr+negash&pg=PA538&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | After the [[Aksumite |
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| ⚫ | In the 1520s, Medri Bahri was described by the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] traveller and priest [[Francisco Álvares|Francisco Alvares]]. The current Bahr Negash bore the name [[Dori (Medri Bahri)|Dori]] and resided in [[Debarwa]], a town on the very northern edge of the highlands. Dori was an uncle of emperor [[Lebna Dengel]], to whom he paid tribute.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=102-104}} These tributes were traditionally paid with horses and imported cloth and carpets.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=270}} Dori was said to wield considerable power and influence, with his kingdom reaching almost as far north as [[Suakin]], plus he was also a promoter of Christianity, gifting the churches everything they needed.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=102-103}} By the time of Alvares' visit, Dori was engaged in warfare against some [[Nubian people|Nubians]] after the latter had killed his son. The Nubians were known as robbers and generally had a rather bad reputation.{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=154-155}} They originated somewhere five to six days away from Medri Bahri, possibly Taka (a historical province named after [[Jebel Taka]] near modern [[Kassala]]).{{sfn|Werner|2013|p=149-150 & note 14. [[Peter Shinnie|P. L. Shinnie]] suggests an origination from the area around [[Old Dongola]], but could this region not be reached from Eritrea within five - six days of travelling time}} |
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<!--Asmara prosperous market town {{sfn|Connel|Killion|2011|p=96}} A more serious threat, however, arose in the south: Imam [[Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi]] of Adal had declared a [[Jihad]], a religious war against the Ethiopian empire, with no over goal than to destory the empire and eradicate Christianity.--> |
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The Bahre-Nagassi ("Kings of the Sea") alternately fought with or against the Abyssinians (modern day Ethiopia) and the neighbouring Muslim [[Adal Sultanate]] depending on the geopolitical circumstances. Medri Bahri was thus part of the Christian resistance against Imam [[Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi]] of Adal's forces, but later joined the Adalite states and the [[Ottoman Empire]] front against [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]] in 1572. During the 16th century said Ottomans also began making inroads in the Red Sea area.<ref name="MB01">{{cite book|author=Okbazghi Yohannes|title=A Pawn in World Politics: Eritrea|url=https://archive.org/details/eritreapawninwor00yoha/page/31|access-date=23 December 2014|year=1991|publisher=University of Florida Press|isbn=0-8130-1044-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/eritreapawninwor00yoha/page/31 31–32]|url-access=registration}}</ref> |
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The territory became an Ottoman province or [[eyalet]] known as the [[Habesh Eyalet]]. Massawa served as the new province's first capital. When the city became of secondary economic importance, the administrative capital was soon moved across the Red Sea to [[Jeddah]]. Its headquarters remained there from the end of the 16th century to the early 19th century, with Medina temporarily serving as the capital in the 18th century.<ref name=encaet>{{cite book|author=Siegbert Uhlig|title=Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha|url=https://www.google.com/books?id=X38lxaUjm1MC&pg=PA951|access-date=2013-06-01|year=2005|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-05238-2|page=951}}</ref> Turks briefly occupied the highland parts of Baharnagash in 1559 and withdrew after they encountered resistance and pushed back by the Bahrnegash and highland forces. In 1578 they tried to expand into the highlands with the help of [[Bahr negus Yeshaq]] who had switched alliances due to power struggle, and by 1589 they were defeated by the Ethiopian Emperor [[Sarsa Dengel]]. After that Ottomans abandoned their ambitions to establish themselves on the highlands and remained in the lowlands until they left the region by 1872.<ref>Jonathan Miran [https://books.google.com/books?id=PMFVeWTWF0YC&pg=PA39&dq=allied+%22who+had+switched+alliances+due+to+power+struggles%22+%22partly+successful,+and+in+1589+they+were+apparently+compelled+to+withdraw+their+forces+to+the+coast.%22+abandoned+ambitions+plateau+coast&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPxI3Jye7OAhVSlxQKHYuFAtMQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=allied%20%22who%20had%20switched%20alliances%20due%20to%20power%20struggles%22%20%22partly%20successful%2C%20and%20in%201589%20they%20were%20apparently%20compelled%20to%20withdraw%20their%20forces%20to%20the%20coast.%22%20abandoned%20ambitions%20plateau%20coast&f=false Red Sea Citizens: Cosmopolitan Society and Cultural Change in Massawa]. Indiana University Press, 2009, pp. 38-39 & 91 Google Books</ref> |
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<!--===c. 1600-1750===--> |
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{{multiple image |
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| image1 = |
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| alt1 = Woldemichael Solomon |
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===17th century-1890=== |
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{{synthesis|date=February 2018}} |
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<!--===Age of the Tigray warlords===-->The Scottish traveler [[James Bruce]] reported in 1770 that Medri Bahri was a distinct political entity from [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]], noting that the two territories were frequently in conflict.<!--James Bruce Arabs war tributary |p=520 second volume book 3--> |
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The kingdom was conquered by Ethiopia in 1879, when [[Ras Alula]] seized control of the region after he betrayed [[Woldemichael Solomon|Ras Woldemichael Solomon]] and imprisoned him. The region then became an Italian colony in 1890.{{sfn|Connel|Killion|2011|p=66-67}}<ref name="Caulk2002">{{cite book|author=Richard Alan Caulk|title="Between the Jaws of Hyenas": A Diplomatic History of Ethiopia (1876-1896)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJLCZT7MW08C|year=2002|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-04558-2|pages=143–149}}</ref> |
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Sarsa Dengel who was greatly angered by Yeshaq's treachery and arrogance, significantly reduced the Bahr Negash's status and autonomy. By 1580 the post of the Bahr Nagash was abolished and the region was formally annexed into Ethiopia. However, the territory would still be known as "the country of the Bahr Negus" and Emperor [[Susenyos I]] would revive the old tradition of appointing provincial rulers with the title of the Bahr Negus. According to the Scottish traveller [[James Bruce]], the Bahr Negash was killed in 1772 fighting the warlord of Tigray, Ras [[Mikael Sehul]]. The rulers of [[Hamassien]] and Bogos were then nominally under the rule of the governor of [[Tigray province|Tigray]].{{sfn|Pankhurst|1997|p=413}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pateman |first1=Roy |title=Eritrea Even the Stones are Burning |year=1998 |isbn=9781569020579 |pages=36 |publisher=The Red Sea Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NGiDTqf5YYAC&dq=sarsa+dengel+medri+bahri&pg=PA36}}</ref> |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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| ⚫ | At its peak, the Kingdom of Medri Bahri stretched from the [[Red Sea]] to the [[Mareb River]] and beyond, covering areas of [[Shire Inda Selassie|Shire]] (Including Inda Selassie) and its surrounding regions. This vast region was subdivided into three main provinces, namely [[Akele Guzai]], [[Hamassien]] and [[Serae]]. Of these three, [[Serae]] was the most politically important district, as the most influential and important people took up residence there. As a consequence, this was also the wealthiest, the best maintained and the best protected district.<ref name="Henry Salt">[[Henry Salt (Egyptologist)|Henry Salt]]: A Voyage to Abyssinia. Published in 1816 pp</ref> In the language of [[Tigrinya language]] "Medri Bahri" means "Land of the Sea" in reference to the [[Red Sea]] which [[Eritrea]] has a long coastline of this sea. This kingdom had a border to the south with [[Tigray Region]], a province of the [[Ethiopian Empire]] also known as Abyssinia. |
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[[File:Bahta Hagos.jpeg|thumb|220px|Bahta Hagos]] |
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| ⚫ | At its peak, the Kingdom of Medri Bahri stretched from the [[Red Sea]] to the [[Mareb River]] and beyond, covering areas of [[Shire Inda Selassie|Shire]] (Including Inda Selassie) and its surrounding regions. This vast region was subdivided into three main provinces, namely [[Akele Guzai]], [[Hamassien]] and [[Serae]]. Of these three, [[Serae]] was the most politically important district, as the most influential and important people took up residence there. As a consequence, this was also the wealthiest, the best maintained and the best protected district.<ref name="Henry Salt"> |
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==Demographics== |
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Medri Bahri was composed of the following modern ethnic groups: [[Tigrinya people]], [[Bilen people]], [[Saho people]], [[Tigre people]], and the [[Irob people]].{{sfn|Tronvoll|1998|p=38}} |
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== Notable people == |
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*[[Yeshaq (bahr negus)|Bahr Negus Yeshaq]] |
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*[[Woldemichael Solomon]] |
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*[[Bahta Hagos]] |
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<!--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Zagwe north&trade Abir p. 14 15, 42, Gran p. 69 (Portuguese p. 97-100), Ottomans p. 114 | Pankhurst p. 38 varios Solomonic kings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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Revision as of 15:18, 23 September 2023
Medri Bahri ምድሪ ባሕሪ | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1448–1580 | |||||||||
 Medri Bahri at its height in the 1520s | |||||||||
| Status | Autonomous kingdom in the Ethiopian Empire[1] | ||||||||
| Capital | Debarwa | ||||||||
| Common languages | Tigrinya · Ge’ez | ||||||||
| Religion | Orthodox Tewahedo | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Negassi | |||||||||
• 1541–1578 (last) | Bahr Negus Yeshaq | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Established | 1448 | ||||||||
• Ottoman invasion | 1557 | ||||||||
• Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire | 1580 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Eritrea | ||||||||
Medri Bahri (Tigrinya: ምድሪ ባሕሪ, English: Land of the Sea), also known as Medre Bahr, was a semi-autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire, located in present day Eritrea and some surrounding areas. The kingdom was founded in 1448 when Emperor Zara Yaqob reorganized the northern highlands into one administration under a Bahr Negus (ባሕር ንጉሥ bahər nəgus, or Bahr Negash, "King of the sea").[2][3]
History
After the fall of the Aksumite Empire, Beja Kingdoms started appearing in the country north of the Mareb River to the Red Sea, which was known as Ma'ikele Bahr ("between the seas/rivers," i.e. the land between the Red Sea and the Mereb river).[4] Eritreans were some of the first East Africans to be converted to Islam in the 8th century AD, they founded their own independent Sultanate of Dahlak which controlled much of the Eritrean coastline. In 935 AD Massawa and Arkiko was reported by a contemporary source as being inhabited by Muslims. Thus it was clear that after the fall of Aksum, Muslims had controlled the area from the Eritrean coast to the Mareb River and were proselytizing the locals.[5][6] Ethiopian Emperor Amda Seyon I was wary of Muslim power along the Red Sea coast and therefore campaigned against them in 1332 AD. The regions of Hamasien and Akele Guzai would fall under Ethiopian rule following this campaign. It was later renamed as the Medri Bahri ("Land of the Sea", "Sea land" in Tigrinya, although it included some areas like Shire on the other side of the Mereb, today in Ethiopia).[7] The entire coastal domain of Medri Bahri was under the Adal Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Badlay.[8][9]
The first time the title Bahr Negash ("Ruler of the sea") appears is during the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob (r. 1433–1468), who reconquered the region in 1448.[1] His chronicle explains how he put much effort into increasing the power of that office, placing the Bahr Negash above other local chiefs and eventually making him the sovereign of a territory covering Shire, in what is now Tigray, and the highlands (Tigrinya: ከበሳ) of what is now Eritrea including Hamasien and Seraye.[1][10] To strengthen the imperial presence in the area, Zara Yaqob also established a military colony consisting of Maya warriors from the south of his realm.[1] Near the end of his reign, in 1464/1465, Massawa and the Dahlak archipelago were pillaged by Emperor Zara Yaqob, and the Sultanate of Dahlak was forced to pay tribute to the Ethiopian Empire.[11]
In the 1520s, Medri Bahri was described by the Portuguese traveller and priest Francisco Alvares. The current Bahr Negash bore the name Dori and resided in Debarwa, a town on the very northern edge of the highlands. Dori was an uncle of emperor Lebna Dengel, to whom he paid tribute.[12] These tributes were traditionally paid with horses and imported cloth and carpets.[13] Dori was said to wield considerable power and influence, with his kingdom reaching almost as far north as Suakin, plus he was also a promoter of Christianity, gifting the churches everything they needed.[14] By the time of Alvares' visit, Dori was engaged in warfare against some Nubians after the latter had killed his son. The Nubians were known as robbers and generally had a rather bad reputation.[15] They originated somewhere five to six days away from Medri Bahri, possibly Taka (a historical province named after Jebel Taka near modern Kassala).[16][17]
During the Ethiopian-Adal War, Medri Bahri was one of the last parts of the empire to be confronted by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi due to its location in the far north. The Bahr Negash Za-Wangel was killed fighting the Adalites in the province of Tigray, soon after the forces of Imam Ahmad crossed the Mareb river into Medri Bahri in 1535. The Adalite occupation was resisted bitterly by the local population, who killed the Adalite governor Vizer Addole and sent his head to the Emperor. The Imam's occupation of the coastal highlands resulted in considerable destruction. In 1541 the Portuguese warrior Miguel de Castanhoso arrived in the region, he noted that the lands of the Bahr Negus was "depopulated, through fear" and the countryside was devastated. Many Christians upon seeing the Portuguese came out of their hiding and informed the commander, Cristóvão da Gama, that their "evil enemies" had destroyed all their monasteries and churches. They called on de Gama to seek vengeance and many locals joined the Portuguese in their struggles against the Imam, most notably the Bahr Negus Yeshaq.[18]
After the death of Imam Ahmad in 1543, Emperor Gelawdewos immediately reestablished imperial suzerainty over the Eritrean highlands. In 1557 the Ottoman Turks conquered the port of Massawa and under Ozdemir Pasha led an expeditionary force inland where they occupied the capital Debarwa. The Turkish troops then built a large fort, but due to the local population's access to firearms, they were forced to retreat back to the coast. Around this time the Bahr Negus Yeshaq, a supporter of Gelawdewos, became very powerful due to the import of firearms through the coast. Although a ruler of a vassal state Yeshaq would heavily involve himself in internal Ethiopian affairs. After the death of Gelawdewos he attempted to place one of his nephews on the throne, but was defeated by Emperor Menas in battle. He then offered his submission to the Ottoman Turks and surrendered the fort of Debarwa, allowing him to continue his rebellion. Emperor Sarsa Dengel had attempted to make peace with the Bahr Negus, but conflict between the two men eventually erupted in 1576 after Yeshaq renewed his alliance with the Turks.[13]
Yeshaq and his Turkish allies marched into Tembien to face the army of Sarsa Dengel in battle, however this battle ended in disaster as the Bahr Negus was captured and then executed by the Emperor. Sarsa Dengel then proceeded to march into Debarwa were he captured large quantities of firearms and ordered the destruction of the Turkish fort.[18] This victory was of major importance as put an end to the hopes of the provincal nobility to achieve independence or autonomy from the Ethiopian Empire.[19]
Sarsa Dengel who was greatly angered by Yeshaq's treachery and arrogance, significantly reduced the Bahr Negash's status and autonomy. By 1580 the post of the Bahr Nagash was abolished and the region was formally annexed into Ethiopia. However, the territory would still be known as "the country of the Bahr Negus" and Emperor Susenyos I would revive the old tradition of appointing provincial rulers with the title of the Bahr Negus. According to the Scottish traveller James Bruce, the Bahr Negash was killed in 1772 fighting the warlord of Tigray, Ras Mikael Sehul. The rulers of Hamassien and Bogos were then nominally under the rule of the governor of Tigray.[20][21]
Geography
At its peak, the Kingdom of Medri Bahri stretched from the Red Sea to the Mareb River and beyond, covering areas of Shire (Including Inda Selassie) and its surrounding regions. This vast region was subdivided into three main provinces, namely Akele Guzai, Hamassien and Serae. Of these three, Serae was the most politically important district, as the most influential and important people took up residence there. As a consequence, this was also the wealthiest, the best maintained and the best protected district.[22] In the language of Tigrinya language "Medri Bahri" means "Land of the Sea" in reference to the Red Sea which Eritrea has a long coastline of this sea. This kingdom had a border to the south with Tigray Region, a province of the Ethiopian Empire also known as Abyssinia.
Notes
- ^ a b c d Pankhurst 1997, p. 101.
- ^ Caulk, Richard Alan (2002). "Between the Jaws of Hyenas": A Diplomatic History of Ethiopia (1876-1896). ISBN 9783447045582.
- ^ G. Marcus, Harold (1994). A History of Ethiopia. University of California Press. p. 27. ISBN 9780520925427.
- ^ Tamrat 1972, p. 74.
- ^ Tamrat 1977, pp. 121–122.
- ^ Pateman, Roy (1998). Eritrea Even the Stones are Burning. p. 32. ISBN 9781569020579.
- ^ Daniel Kendie, The Five Dimensions of the Eritrean Conflict 1941–2004: Deciphering the Geo-Political Puzzle. United States of America: Signature Book Printing, Inc., 2005, pp.17-8.
- ^ Owens, Travis. BELEAGUERED MUSLIM FORTRESSES AND ETHIOPIAN IMPERIAL EXPANSION FROM THE 13TH TO THE 16TH CENTURY (PDF). NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2020.
- ^ Pouwels, Randall (31 March 2000). The History of Islam in Africa. Ohio University Press. p. 229. ISBN 9780821444610.
- ^ Connel & Killion 2011, p. 54.
- ^ Connel & Killion 2011, p. 160.
- ^ Pankhurst 1997, p. 102-104.
- ^ a b Pankhurst 1997, p. 270.
- ^ Pankhurst 1997, p. 102-103.
- ^ Pankhurst 1997, p. 154-155.
- ^ Werner 2013, p. 149-150 & note 14. P. L. Shinnie suggests an origination from the area around Old Dongola, but could this region not be reached from Eritrea within five - six days of travelling time.
- ^ Connel & Killion 2011, p. 96.
- ^ a b Pankhurst 1997, p. 219.
- ^ Oliver, Ronald. The Cambridge History of Africa Volume 4. Cambridge University Press. p. 546.
- ^ Pankhurst 1997, p. 413.
- ^ Pateman, Roy (1998). Eritrea Even the Stones are Burning. The Red Sea Press. p. 36. ISBN 9781569020579.
- ^ Henry Salt: A Voyage to Abyssinia. Published in 1816 pp
References
- Connel, Dan; Killion, Tom (2011). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. ISBN 9780810875050.
- Pankhurst, Richard (1997). The Ethiopian Borderlands: Essays in Regional History from Ancient Times to the End of the 18th Century. ISBN 9780932415196.
- Tamrat, Tadesse (1972). Church and State in Ethiopia (1270–1527).
- Tronvoll, Kjetil (1998). Mai Weini, a Highland Village in Eritrea: A Study of the People. Red Sea Press. ISBN 9781569020593.
- Werner, Roland (2013). Das Christentum in Nubien. Geschichte und Gestalt einer afrikanischen Kirche.
Further reading
- d'Avray, Anthony (1996). Lords of the Red Sea. The History of a Red Sea Society from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Centuries. Harrassowitz.