Abu Bakr II ibn `Abd al-Munan
Encyclopedia
Abu Bakr II ibn `Abd al-Munan was the emir of Harar
(1829-1852). He was the son of `Abd al-Mannan, the brother of `Abd ar-Rahman ibn Muhammad
, and Guisti (Harari "princess") Fatima, `Abd ar-Rahman's oldest daughter. This Fatima is a different woman than Abu Bakr's wife, Fatima, whom the British explorer Richard F. Burton reports was the daughter of a local Somali
chief, Gerad Adan bin Kaushan. He succeeded to the throne of Harar upon the death of `Abd ar-Rahman.
For a number of years in the 1830s, Abu Bakr campaigned against the neighboring Oromo
with an armed force which the British explorer W. C. Barker described as "consisting of from 150 to 200 matchlock men, 100 cavalry armed with long spears, 60 spearmen on foot, and a few archers. Insignificant, however, as this force really is, the matchlockmen alone render it far superior to that of the neighbouring tribes, who have a great dread of fire-arms; they have not even a single matchlock in their possession." Despite his military successes, by 1840 Harari merchants lamented that the neighboring Oromo were devastating the neighboring villages. The Harari were attacked in their fields within sight of the city walls in the middle of the day, and the city was spared in the end only by paying tribute.
Burton alludes to the existence of communications between Emir Abu Bakr and the British governor of Aden
. At the same time, there was tension between Harar and Hajj Sharmakay, ruler of Zeila
; in response to the Emir's imprisonment of his agent in Harar, Hajj Sharmakay persuaded the son of Sahle Selassie
, ruler of Shewa
, to imprison about 300 citizens of Harar then resident in Shewa.
Burton also mentions that Abu Bakr's vizier
, or chief minister, was the treacherous Gerad Mohammed, who also served his son Ahmad. Burton had been told that, before his death, Abu Bakr had warned his son about the man.
He died on 8 July 1852 and was succeeded by his son Ahmad, who initially ruled under the regency of his mother Guisti Fatima, who was popular with the people of Harar.
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
(1829-1852). He was the son of `Abd al-Mannan, the brother of `Abd ar-Rahman ibn Muhammad
`Abd ar-Rahman ibn Muhammad
`Abd ar-Rahman ibn Muhammad was the Emir of Harar .On the death of his brother, Emir Ahmad II ibn Muhammad, `Abd ar-Rahman and his other brother `Abd al-Karim quarreled over who would succeed, and `Abd ar-Rahman gained the throne first with the help of the Babille Oromo who dwelled to the east of...
, and Guisti (Harari "princess") Fatima, `Abd ar-Rahman's oldest daughter. This Fatima is a different woman than Abu Bakr's wife, Fatima, whom the British explorer Richard F. Burton reports was the daughter of a local Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
chief, Gerad Adan bin Kaushan. He succeeded to the throne of Harar upon the death of `Abd ar-Rahman.
For a number of years in the 1830s, Abu Bakr campaigned against the neighboring 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...
with an armed force which the British explorer W. C. Barker described as "consisting of from 150 to 200 matchlock men, 100 cavalry armed with long spears, 60 spearmen on foot, and a few archers. Insignificant, however, as this force really is, the matchlockmen alone render it far superior to that of the neighbouring tribes, who have a great dread of fire-arms; they have not even a single matchlock in their possession." Despite his military successes, by 1840 Harari merchants lamented that the neighboring Oromo were devastating the neighboring villages. The Harari were attacked in their fields within sight of the city walls in the middle of the day, and the city was spared in the end only by paying tribute.
Burton alludes to the existence of communications between Emir Abu Bakr and the British governor of Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
. At the same time, there was tension between Harar and Hajj Sharmakay, ruler of Zeila
Zeila
Zeila, also known as Zaila , is a port city on the Gulf of Aden coast, situated in the northwestern Awdal region of Somalia.Located near the Djibouti border, the town sits on a sandy spit surrounded by the sea. It is known for its offshore islands, coral reef and mangroves. Landward, the terrain is...
; in response to the Emir's imprisonment of his agent in Harar, Hajj Sharmakay persuaded the son of Sahle Selassie
Sahle Selassie
Sahle Selassie was a Meridazmach of Shewa , an important noble of Ethiopia. He was a younger son of Wossen Seged...
, ruler of Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
, to imprison about 300 citizens of Harar then resident in Shewa.
Burton also mentions that Abu Bakr's vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
, or chief minister, was the treacherous Gerad Mohammed, who also served his son Ahmad. Burton had been told that, before his death, Abu Bakr had warned his son about the man.
He died on 8 July 1852 and was succeeded by his son Ahmad, who initially ruled under the regency of his mother Guisti Fatima, who was popular with the people of Harar.