Wolde Selassie

Wolde Selassie

Wolde Selassie (c.1745 [Henry Salt estimated his age at 64 when he visited him in 1809. Ref Ethiopia|Salt-1814|pages=325] - 28 May 1816) was a Ras of Ethiopia and warlord of Tigray. He was the son of Dejazmach Kefla Iyasus, and his wives included Mentewab (died 1812 from smallpox), the sister of Emperor Egwale Seyon; and Sahin, the daughter of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I. [Ref Ethiopia|Pankhurst-1982|pages=206]

He emerged as the ruler of Tigray after years of fighting; Nathaniel Pearce describes an encounter where he made a name for himself by single-handedly slaying the brothers Abel and Cail, "two of Ras Michael's choice men". Despite the fact Ras Mikael Sehul was so impressed at this act of bravery that he offered the younger man the governorship of Enderta, Wolde Selassie remembered how the older man had his father killed, and spent the years until the old Ras died in exile amongst the Wallo Oromo and in Gojjam. [Ref Ethiopia|Pearce|pages=vol. 2 pp. 87f]

Wolde Gabriel, grandson of Ras Mikael, attempted to crush Wolde Selassie when the later was in Wagart, but according to Pearce after besieging Wolde Selassie for 20 days Welda Gabriel came off the worse, and made peace by proclaiming him Balgadda, or governor of the salt-making districts. [Pearce, "The Adventures", vol. 2 p. 88] After Welda Gabriel's death in battle against Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Wolde Selassie petitioned Emperor Tekle Giyorgis for the governorship of Enderta, but the Emperor "according to his usual bad faith" made another warlord, Gerazmach Gebre Masqal, governor of Enderta instead. Wolde Selassie then quickly marched forth with a smaller army against the Gerazmach, defeated his army then entered Gebre Masqal's camp and took the Gerazmach prisoner. Shortly afterwards he marched on Gondar, where he took the title of Ras of Enderta for himself (about 1790). [Pearce, "The Adventures", vol. 2 pp.89-91]

Wolde made his headquarters in Chalacot. He played a role in the politics of the Imperial Throne, in part by providing shelter to Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I in 1799 and 1800, and was visited by the former Emperor Baeda Maryam in 1813. [Pankhurst, pp. 201f.] Although at first he cooperated with Ras Aligaz, the Imperial Regent, after his power grew, Wolde Selassie came to challenge Aligaz for that office prior to Aligaz's death in 1803. [Ref Ethiopia|Abir-1968|pages=31]

According to Paul Henze, Ras Wolde was the first ruler of this period to have close contact with Europeans, hosting three British visitors, George Annesley, Viscount Valentia, his secretary Henry Salt, and Pearce. Pearce lived with Ras Wolde from about 1808 and the warlord's death. Pearce's diary of his stay is not only valuable for the history of this period, but also provides enormous detail about daily life in Ethiopia. [Ref Ethiopia|Henze-2000|pages=122] Pearce also notes that Ras Wolde was an avid chess player, "which he would play at from morning till night". [Pearce, "The Adventures", vol. 2 p. 92]

When he died of natural causes in 1816, civil war broke out in his former territories. In the fighting, his nephew Wolde Rufa'el sacked Chalacot. [Pankhurst, pp. 207f.]

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wolde (disambiguation) — Wolde is a municipality in the district of Demmin, in Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany.Wolde may also refer to:People with name Wolde (meaning Child of in Ge ez):* Abba Samuel Wolde Kahin (20th century), Ethiopian academic * Wolde Giyorgis Wolde… …   Wikipedia

  • Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes — (1901 1976) was an important government Minister during the reign of Emperor Haile Sellassie of Ethiopia. Wolde Giyorgis was born in Shewa, and became Emperor Haile Sellassie’s private secretary prior to the Italian occupation, and accompanied… …   Wikipedia

  • Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes — Tsehafi Taezaz Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes (1901 1976) fut un homme politique éthiopien, important ministre sous le règne du Negusse Negest Hailé Sélassié Ier. Né dans la province du Shoa en 1901, Wolde Giyorgis était, avant l occupation… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia — Infobox Monarch name = Haile Selassie I title = Emperor of Ethiopia caption = religion = Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian reign = 2 November 1930 – 12 September 1974 (age|1930|11|2|1974|9|12 years) coronation = othertitles = Conquering Lion… …   Wikipedia

  • Chronologie de l'Éthiopie sous Hailé Selassié I (1930-1974) — Chronologie de l Éthiopie sous Hailé Sélassié Ier, de 1930 à 1974 Article principal : Chronologie de l Éthiopie. Cet article présente une chronologie de l Éthiopie sous Hailé Sélassié Ier (2 avril 1930 au 12 septembre 1974). 2 avril… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Chronologie de l'Éthiopie sous Hailé Selassié Ier, de 1930 à 1974 — Chronologie de l Éthiopie sous Hailé Sélassié Ier, de 1930 à 1974 Article principal : Chronologie de l Éthiopie. Cet article présente une chronologie de l Éthiopie sous Hailé Sélassié Ier (2 avril 1930 au 12 septembre 1974). 2 avril… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Chronologie de l'Éthiopie sous Hailé Sélassié Ier, de 1930 à 1974 — Article principal : Chronologie de l Éthiopie. Cet article présente une chronologie de l Éthiopie sous Hailé Sélassié Ier (2 avril 1930 au 12 septembre 1974). 2 avril 1930 : Mort de Zaoditou. Tafari Mekonnen est proclamé Negusse Negest …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Abba Samuel Wolde Kahin — (also spelled Walda Kahen) was the tutor and mentor of Ras Tafari Makonnen (later Emperor Haile Selassie I) and his cousin, Ras Imru Haile Selassie, when the two were children living at Harar, ca. 1902 1912. In Chapter 1 of his Autobiography, My… …   Wikipedia

  • Girma Wolde-Giorgis — Mandats 3e président de la République fédérale démocratique d Éthiopie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Makonnen Wolde Mikael — Ras Mäkonnen Wäldä Mika él Guddisa KCMG Shum of Harar …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”