Amha Iyasus
Encyclopedia
Amha Iyasus, better known as Ammehayes (reigned c. 1744 – c. 1775), was a Meridazmach of Shewa
, an important Amhara noble of Ethiopia
. He was the son of Qedami Qal
, and a sister of Goshu of Amhara.
The Meridazmach made a diplomatic visit to the Emperor's court at Gondar
in 1771, during the first decades of the chaotic Zemene Mesafint
("Era of The Princes"), where the Scots explorer James Bruce
met him. Calling him "Yasous", Bruce describes Amha Iyasus as "the son of the governor of Shoa", "a man from twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age, tall, and of a just degree of corpulence, with arms and legs finely made; he had a very beautiful face, small features, and the most affable manners."
really seriously began." He imported a number of firearms from the northern parts of Ethiopia, and used them to assert his primacy over his neighboring Christian
states including Tegulet, Menz
, Efrata and Bulga
. He moved his capital to Doqaqit in Ifat
, whence he raided the lands of the Afar
to the east. He renewed the war with the Karayu Oromo, but had more success with the Abichu Oromo, conquering their tribes as far west as the Chia Chia river near Angolalla.
It was during his reign that Shewa conquered the Ankober
area; according Harold Marcus, he founded the "two important and still active churches", Qeddus Giyorgis in Ankober and Kidana Mehrat in Astit. He virtually exterminated the Oromo
population between Debre Berhan
and Ankober, resettling the area with Amhara
colonists
Amha Iyasus was the creator of the policy, followed by the rulers of Shewa into the middle of the next century, of avoiding being drawn into the struggles around control of the Imperial throne
. An important part of this policy was leaving the district of Wollo
between the Geshen and Samba Rivers untouched as buffer between Shewa and the territories of Ethiopia controlled from Gondar.
Abir notes that upon his arrival at Gondar, he was received "more like an honoured ally than a vassal" by the then 17-year-old Emperor Takla Haymanot II. According to Bruce, the Meridazmach led a thousand horsemen in support of the Emperor Tekle Haymanot in the Three battles of Sarbakusa.
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
, an important Amhara noble of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. He was the son of Qedami Qal
Qedami Qal
Qedami Qal , better known as Abuye, was a Meridazmach of Shewa, an important Amhara noble of Ethiopia. He was the son of Sebestyanos. Abir states that he ruled for 25 years, although noting that Harris claims he ruled for 15 years, Coulbeaux for 25 , and d'Hericourt for 60...
, and a sister of Goshu of Amhara.
The Meridazmach made a diplomatic visit to the Emperor's court 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...
in 1771, during the first decades of the chaotic 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...
("Era of The Princes"), where the Scots explorer James Bruce
James Bruce
James Bruce was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who spent more than a dozen years in North Africa and Ethiopia, where he traced the origins of the Blue Nile.-Youth:...
met him. Calling him "Yasous", Bruce describes Amha Iyasus as "the son of the governor of Shoa", "a man from twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age, tall, and of a just degree of corpulence, with arms and legs finely made; he had a very beautiful face, small features, and the most affable manners."
Reign
Mordechai Abir writes, "It was during the reign of Ammehayes that the reconquest of the territories held by the GallaOromo 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...
really seriously began." He imported a number of firearms from the northern parts of Ethiopia, and used them to assert his primacy over his neighboring Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
states including Tegulet, Menz
Menz
Menz or Manz is a province of Ethiopia, located inside the boundaries of the modern Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region...
, Efrata and Bulga
Bulga
Bulga can refer to:*Bulga Land District, a land district of Western Australia*Bulga Coal, an Australian mining company*Tarra-Bulga National Park, a national park in eastern Victoria, Australia...
. He moved his capital to Doqaqit in Ifat
Ifat
The Ifat Sultanate was a medieval Muslim sultanate in the Horn of Africa. Led by the Walashma dynasty, it was centered in Zeila. The kingdom ruled over parts of what is now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and northern Somalia.-Location:...
, whence he raided the lands of the Afar
Afar people
The Afar , also known as the Danakil, are an ethnic group in the Horn of Africa. They primarily live in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in northern Djibouti, although some also inhabit the southern point of Eritrea.-Early history:...
to the east. He renewed the war with the Karayu Oromo, but had more success with the Abichu Oromo, conquering their tribes as far west as the Chia Chia river near Angolalla.
It was during his reign that Shewa conquered the Ankober
Ankober
Ankober is a town in central Ethiopia and one of the capitals of the former kingdom of Shewa. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, Ankober is perched on the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands 40 kilometers to the east of Debre Birhan, with a latitude and longitude of ,...
area; according Harold Marcus, he founded the "two important and still active churches", Qeddus Giyorgis in Ankober and Kidana Mehrat in Astit. He virtually exterminated the 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...
population between Debre Berhan
Debre Berhan
Debre Berhan is a city and woreda in central Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, about 120 kilometers north east of Addis Ababa on the paved highway to Dessie, the town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2,840 meters...
and Ankober, resettling the area with Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
colonists
Amha Iyasus was the creator of the policy, followed by the rulers of Shewa into the middle of the next century, of avoiding being drawn into the struggles around control of the Imperial throne
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...
. An important part of this policy was leaving the district of Wollo
Wollo
Wollo was a historical region and province in the northeastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Dessie. The province was named after the Wollo Oromo, who settled in this part of Ethiopia in the 17th century...
between the Geshen and Samba Rivers untouched as buffer between Shewa and the territories of Ethiopia controlled from Gondar.
Abir notes that upon his arrival at Gondar, he was received "more like an honoured ally than a vassal" by the then 17-year-old Emperor Takla Haymanot II. According to Bruce, the Meridazmach led a thousand horsemen in support of the Emperor Tekle Haymanot in the Three battles of Sarbakusa.