Asfa Wossen
Encyclopedia
Asfa Wossen was a Meridazmach of Shewa
, an important noble office of Ethiopia
. He was the son of Amha Iyasus
; Mordechai Abir notes that he was one of Amha Iyasus' 48 offspring.
According to Donald Levine, Asfa Wossen spent his youth in a monastery in Menz
, where he became proficient at the traditional Amharic poetic genre known as qene.
During his reign, Shewan control over the tributary states of Geshe, Antzioka, Efrata, Moret and Marra Biete
were strengthened. One step in this process led Asfa Wossen to follow the advice of his father confessor and embrace the doctrine of the Sost Lidet in order to absorb the key state of Marra Biete.
Abir considers Asfa Wossen "more of an administrator than a war leader", noting the Meridazmach's administrative innovations of Shewa. "However, when the need arose, Asfa Wossen proved himself to be as brave and talented a warrior as he was a good administrator." Levine concurs in this assessment: "As a ruler he resembled many of Gondar
's monarchs, preferring to spend his time in religious pursuits and the embellishment of his capital (Ankobar) than on the warpath." Once he secured his control over the Christian parts of Shewa, Asfa Wossen campaigned viciously against the Oromo
of the plains of Shewa, the Tulama Oromo, the Mogar Oromo, the Abichu who dwelled at the headwaters of the Awash River
, and the Oromo tribes living in the mountains of Garra Korfu.
According to Henze, some of Asfa Wossen's administrative measures included tax reforms, and placing a personal representative in each district. Henze quotes the opinion of a contemporary chronicler, who wrote that "under Asfa Wossen a small group of five or six Amhara could travel without danger from Bulga
to Debre Libanos
, taking the shortest route through the Galla [Oromo] area." Levine explains this benevolence was the result of "a monkish prophecy that his life would be short"; but by emptying the state coffers "he lived to fill them time and again."
About the time Asfa Wossen had made some progress in consolidating his hold on Shewa, the Imperial power at Gondar cast its shadow across Shewa. The army of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I
defeated the Oromo of Wuchale
in 1784, and were encamped on the banks of the Bashilo
, poised to cross into Shewa. According to the Royal Chronicles only the refusal of the Emperor's troops kept him from advancing and the Emperor Tekle Giyorgis "hardening his heart destroyed the gates of the monasteries and broke the spears and their swords and marched to the frontiers of Shewa." According to Mordechai Abir, mutual friends (and the pressure of his general Wolde Selassie
upon the Emperor) made peace between the two. Donald Levine adds that Asfa Wossen "handled the situation with characteristic Shoan adroitness": on the one hand he argued that if he extended his domains it was the expense of their common enemy, the Oromo; on the other, he "heaped gifts upon the emperor and his lieutenants". Meridazmach Asfa Wossen paid tribute to the Emperor, who then returned to Gondar; this was the last time an Emperor exacted tribute from Shewa until the reign of Tewodros II.
In his last years Asfa Wossen lost his sight, and underwent a period of suffering. Following his death, his body was buried in his capital of Ankober.
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
, an important noble office 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 Amha Iyasus
Amha Iyasus
Amha Iyasus, better known as Ammehayes , was a Meridazmach of Shewa, an important Amhara noble of Ethiopia...
; Mordechai Abir notes that he was one of Amha Iyasus' 48 offspring.
According to Donald Levine, Asfa Wossen spent his youth in a monastery in Menz
Menz
Menz or Manz is a province of Ethiopia, located inside the boundaries of the modern Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region...
, where he became proficient at the traditional Amharic poetic genre known as qene.
During his reign, Shewan control over the tributary states of Geshe, Antzioka, Efrata, Moret and Marra Biete
Marra Biete
Marra Biete is a former province of Ethiopia, located inside the boundaries of the modern Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, north of Shewa Meda....
were strengthened. One step in this process led Asfa Wossen to follow the advice of his father confessor and embrace the doctrine of the Sost Lidet in order to absorb the key state of Marra Biete.
Abir considers Asfa Wossen "more of an administrator than a war leader", noting the Meridazmach's administrative innovations of Shewa. "However, when the need arose, Asfa Wossen proved himself to be as brave and talented a warrior as he was a good administrator." Levine concurs in this assessment: "As a ruler he resembled many of 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...
's monarchs, preferring to spend his time in religious pursuits and the embellishment of his capital (Ankobar) than on the warpath." Once he secured his control over the Christian parts of Shewa, Asfa Wossen campaigned viciously against 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...
of the plains of Shewa, the Tulama Oromo, the Mogar Oromo, the Abichu who dwelled at the headwaters of the Awash River
Awash River
The Awash is a major river of Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes that begin with Lake Gargori and end with Lake Abbe on the border with Djibouti, some 100 kilometers from the head of the Gulf of Tadjoura...
, and the Oromo tribes living in the mountains of Garra Korfu.
According to Henze, some of Asfa Wossen's administrative measures included tax reforms, and placing a personal representative in each district. Henze quotes the opinion of a contemporary chronicler, who wrote that "under Asfa Wossen a small group of five or six Amhara could travel without danger from 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...
to Debre Libanos
Debre Libanos
Debre Libanos is a monastery in Ethiopia, lying northwest of Addis Ababa in the Oromia Region. Founded in the thirteenth century by Saint Tekle Haymanot, the monastery's chief abbot, called the Ichege, was the second most powerful official in the Ethiopian Church after the Abuna.The monastery...
, taking the shortest route through the Galla [Oromo] area." Levine explains this benevolence was the result of "a monkish prophecy that his life would be short"; but by emptying the state coffers "he lived to fill them time and again."
About the time Asfa Wossen had made some progress in consolidating his hold on Shewa, the Imperial power at Gondar cast its shadow across Shewa. The army of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I
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...
defeated the Oromo of Wuchale
Wuchale
Wuchale is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located about 40 kilometers north of Dessie in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 1711 meters...
in 1784, and were encamped on the banks of the Bashilo
Bashilo River
The Bashilo River is located in Ethiopia. Known for its canyon, which one source describes as almost as extensive as the canyon of its parent the Abay, also known as the Blue Nile, the river originates just west of Kutaber in the Amhara Region, flowing first to the northwest to where the Tergiya...
, poised to cross into Shewa. According to the Royal Chronicles only the refusal of the Emperor's troops kept him from advancing and the Emperor Tekle Giyorgis "hardening his heart destroyed the gates of the monasteries and broke the spears and their swords and marched to the frontiers of Shewa." According to Mordechai Abir, mutual friends (and the pressure of his general Wolde Selassie
Wolde Selassie
Wolde Selassie He was an Overlord of Tigray-Mereb Milash and a Ras Bitwoded of Ethiopia. He was the second son of Dejazmach Kefla Iyasus Amdamikael, hereditary chief of Enderta...
upon the Emperor) made peace between the two. Donald Levine adds that Asfa Wossen "handled the situation with characteristic Shoan adroitness": on the one hand he argued that if he extended his domains it was the expense of their common enemy, the Oromo; on the other, he "heaped gifts upon the emperor and his lieutenants". Meridazmach Asfa Wossen paid tribute to the Emperor, who then returned to Gondar; this was the last time an Emperor exacted tribute from Shewa until the reign of Tewodros II.
In his last years Asfa Wossen lost his sight, and underwent a period of suffering. Following his death, his body was buried in his capital of Ankober.