Battle of Gur Amba
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Gur Amba was fought on 27 September 1852 between the forces of the Ethiopia
n regent, Ras Ali II
, and the rebel forces of Kassa Hailu. Kassa was victorious, and Goshu Zewde of Gojjam
, the commander of the regent's forces, was killed. This was the first of a series of four victories which led to Kassa becoming Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia.
This battle followed three years of peace between Kassa and Ras Ali, which ended in 1852 when Kassa refused to respond to Ras summons. Ras Ali dispatched a large army to Agawmeder
after his rebellious vassal, and Kassa responded by moving to a fortified position near Dengel Ber
. Ras Ali's officers found Kassa's position too strong to attack, so they bypassed it by moving to Dembiya
, where they waited out the rainy season. Ras Ali then decided to give the job of destroying Kassa to another of his vassals, Goshu Zewde, and announced at the start of September he had given Kassa's lands to Goshu, Sven Rubenson noting that "Ali probably did not care whether his overt enemy or his ally would be destroyed."
The two armies spent much of September maneuvering for position until at last Kassa brought his men down into the plains of Dembiya. Amazed that Kassa would make what appeared to be an obvious mistake, Goshu's men immediately charged, and after a full day's combat in which both sides suffered heavily Kassa killed his opposing general and completely routed his opponent's men, who fled back to Gojjam.
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...
n regent, Ras Ali II
Ali II of Yejju
Ali II of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder and Enderase of the Emperor of Ethiopia. He was the son of Alula of Yejju, sometime governor of Damot and then of Gojjam, and Menen Liben Amede, later Empress of Ethiopia, and grandson of Gugsa of Yejju, by his fourth wife, Amata Selassie, daughter of Emperor...
, and the rebel forces of Kassa Hailu. Kassa was victorious, and Goshu Zewde of Gojjam
Gojjam
Gojjam was a kingdom in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debre Marqos. This region is distinctive for lying entirely within the bend of the Abbay River from its outflow from Lake Tana to the Sudan...
, the commander of the regent's forces, was killed. This was the first of a series of four victories which led to Kassa becoming Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia.
This battle followed three years of peace between Kassa and Ras Ali, which ended in 1852 when Kassa refused to respond to Ras summons. Ras Ali dispatched a large army to Agawmeder
Agawmeder
Agawmeder was a historical state and region in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It most likely etymology is from Agew , a people living in the area plus meder , thus meaning "Land of the Agaw"...
after his rebellious vassal, and Kassa responded by moving to a fortified position near 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...
. Ras Ali's officers found Kassa's position too strong to attack, so they bypassed it by moving to Dembiya
Dembiya
Dembiya is a historic region of Ethiopia, intimately linked with Lake Tana. According to the account of Manuel de Almeida, Dembiya was "bounded on East by Begemder, on South by Gojjam, on West by Agaws of Achefer and Tangha...
, where they waited out the rainy season. Ras Ali then decided to give the job of destroying Kassa to another of his vassals, Goshu Zewde, and announced at the start of September he had given Kassa's lands to Goshu, Sven Rubenson noting that "Ali probably did not care whether his overt enemy or his ally would be destroyed."
The two armies spent much of September maneuvering for position until at last Kassa brought his men down into the plains of Dembiya. Amazed that Kassa would make what appeared to be an obvious mistake, Goshu's men immediately charged, and after a full day's combat in which both sides suffered heavily Kassa killed his opposing general and completely routed his opponent's men, who fled back to Gojjam.