Aligaz of Yejju
Encyclopedia
Aligaz of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder
, and Inderase (regent) of the Emperor of Ethiopia
. He was the son of Abba Seru Gwangul
and brother of Ali I of Yejju
; he became both Ras and Inderase following Ali's death. Aligaz had a son, Goje.
in the Battle of Madab in 1788. Although that battle immediately restored Tekle Giyorgis
as sole Emperor, Ras Ali's death shortly after the battle passed the post of Inderase to Aligaz, who then supported Hezqeyas
as Emperor, leaving Tekle Giyorgis to "hang in the wind". Despite lacking any effective base of support, Tekle Giyorgis remained a thorn in Aligaz's side for the following years, even releasing his kindred from the Imperial prison at Wehni in 1789. Aligaz eventually gets control of Tekle Giyorgis when, after two years of living as a shifta
, the Emperor came to Aligaz seeking his support but instead was imprisoned at Emakina.
Tekle Giyorgis, however, was not Aligaz's only problem. For much of the first year of Hezqeyas' rule Aligaz could not directly intervene to support this emperor because he had his hands full consolidating his own position amongst the Yejju Oromo
, which included the opposition from members of his own family such as Dejazmach Alula, the Fitawrari Sadiq, and the Jantirar
Yasufe. Crummey records a tradition that Aligaz had wronged his sister Kafay, an injury which might help to explain the apparent conflict between Aligaz and his nephews Gugsa
and Alula
, for whom he generally appears to be their primary patron.
Further once Tekle Giyorgis was safely out of the picture, his puppet Emperor Hezqeyas met with Abuna
Yosab and Ichege Wolde Iyasus where all agreed that they would "not submit to the Galla
" -- a clear reference to either Aligaz or his family; the Royal Chronicle records that later that year a battle was fought near Gondar where the Emperor and the two leaders of the Ethiopian church were defeated. "And on the coming of the Galla all that was what was done."
Then, in an attempt to overthrow Aligaz, Haile Wand Bewossen freed Tekle Giyorgis in 1793, after the Emperor had been confined for two years and eight months. Tekle Giyorgis then marched against his rival Emperor, Heqzeyas, who was dwelling at Gondar
; Heqzeyas left Gondar and sought the help of Dejazmach Haile Eshte, and they were joined by Aligaz. A series of battles followed that year, which led to Heqzeyas fleeing alone to Dengel Ber
.
These defeats also led to Ras Aligaz's fall from leadership of the Yejju Oromo. When Heqzeyas returns to Gondar in late 1793 at the head of an army, his supporters include Dejazmach Gugsa, the nephew of Aligaz; the Ras is notably in a lesser role. The chronicler notes that afterwards Ras Aligaz "fought with his retainers and kinsmen, and he is a foe to this day."
Begemder
Begemder was a province in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. There are several proposed etymologies for this name...
, and Inderase (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 Abba Seru Gwangul
Abba Seru Gwangul
Abba Seru Gwangul was a chieftain of the Yejju Oromo, an ethnic group of Ethiopia. He came to control Begemder and parts of Wollo, and his heirs were significant warlords of the Zemene Mesafint...
and brother of Ali I of Yejju
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....
; he became both Ras and Inderase following Ali's death. Aligaz had a son, Goje.
Life
He fought and killed Wolde Gabriel, the son of Ras Mikael SehulMikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul was a Ras or governor of Tigray 1748–71 and again from 1772 until his death...
in the Battle of Madab in 1788. Although that battle immediately restored Tekle Giyorgis
Tekle Giyorgis I of Ethiopia
Tekle Giyorgis I was Emperor of Ethiopia intermittently between 20 July 1779 and June 1800, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
as sole Emperor, Ras Ali's death shortly after the battle passed the post of Inderase to Aligaz, who then supported Hezqeyas
Hezqeyas of Ethiopia
Hezqeyas or Hezekiah was niguse negest of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
as Emperor, leaving Tekle Giyorgis to "hang in the wind". Despite lacking any effective base of support, Tekle Giyorgis remained a thorn in Aligaz's side for the following years, even releasing his kindred from the Imperial prison at Wehni in 1789. Aligaz eventually gets control of Tekle Giyorgis when, after two years of living as a shifta
Shifta
Shifta is term used in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia for rebel, outlaw, or bandit. The word is derived from shúfto. Historically, shifta served as local militia in the lawless rural mountainous regions on the Horn of Africa...
, the Emperor came to Aligaz seeking his support but instead was imprisoned at Emakina.
Tekle Giyorgis, however, was not Aligaz's only problem. For much of the first year of Hezqeyas' rule Aligaz could not directly intervene to support this emperor because he had his hands full consolidating his own position amongst the Yejju Oromo
Yejju Oromo
Yejju Oromo is a tribe of the Barentu branch of Oromo people. They are one of the northernmost tribes of the Oromo people, which is the second largest ethnicity in Ethiopia....
, which included the opposition from members of his own family such as Dejazmach Alula, the Fitawrari Sadiq, and the Jantirar
Jantirar
Jantirar is a title of the Ethiopian Empire. It is borne historically by the head of the family holding the mountain fortress of Amba Sel in Ethiopia, similar to Wagshum, the heridary ruler of the province of Wag, and unlike other aristocratic titles like Meridazmach or Ras...
Yasufe. Crummey records a tradition that Aligaz had wronged his sister Kafay, an injury which might help to explain the apparent conflict between Aligaz and his nephews Gugsa
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...
and Alula
Alula of Yejju
Alula of Yejju was the son of Gugsa of Yejju and Amata Selassie, the daughter of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis of Ethiopia. He was the first husband of Menen Liben Amede and father of her son, Ras Ali II while governor of Damot....
, for whom he generally appears to be their primary patron.
Further once Tekle Giyorgis was safely out of the picture, his puppet Emperor Hezqeyas met with Abuna
Abuna
Also see Leaders of ChristianityAbun is the honorific title used for any bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as well as of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church...
Yosab and Ichege Wolde Iyasus where all agreed that they would "not submit to the Galla
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...
" -- a clear reference to either Aligaz or his family; the Royal Chronicle records that later that year a battle was fought near Gondar where the Emperor and the two leaders of the Ethiopian church were defeated. "And on the coming of the Galla all that was what was done."
Then, in an attempt to overthrow Aligaz, Haile Wand Bewossen freed Tekle Giyorgis in 1793, after the Emperor had been confined for two years and eight months. Tekle Giyorgis then marched against his rival Emperor, Heqzeyas, who was dwelling at 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...
; Heqzeyas left Gondar and sought the help of Dejazmach Haile Eshte, and they were joined by Aligaz. A series of battles followed that year, which led to Heqzeyas fleeing alone to 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...
.
These defeats also led to Ras Aligaz's fall from leadership of the Yejju Oromo. When Heqzeyas returns to Gondar in late 1793 at the head of an army, his supporters include Dejazmach Gugsa, the nephew of Aligaz; the Ras is notably in a lesser role. The chronicler notes that afterwards Ras Aligaz "fought with his retainers and kinsmen, and he is a foe to this day."