Jamal ad-Din II
Encyclopedia
Jamal ad-Din II (died 1433) was a Sultan
of the Sultanate of Adal
and the youngest son of Sa'ad ad-Din II
.
, Jamal ad-Din was able to defeat the armies of the Ethiopia
n Emperor in three important battles in Bale
, at Yedaya, and at Jazja, although he was eventually defeated. Jamal ad-Din sent an envoy to arrange peace at the beginning of his reign, but the effort failed and Harb Jaush engaged and was able to overcome the Emperor's troops, reportedly including 7,000 archers and swordsmen. Yeshaq responded by gathering a larger army and occupying Yedaya before being repusled by Jamal ad-Din's forces. His army then took Jazja, although here, too, Jamal ad-Din was able to successfully counter-attack and force the imperial army to withdraw, allowing the forces of the Adalite Sultan to pillage the region over the next three months. Following this success, he organized another successful attack against the Emperor's forces and inflicted heavy casualties in what was reportedly the largest Adalite army ever fielded. As a result, Yeshaq was forced to withdraw toward the Blue Nile over the next five months, while Jamal ad-Din's forces pursued them, while looting much gold on the way, although no engagement ensued.
After returning home, the Sultan sent his brother Ahmad with Harb Jaush to successfully attack the Ethiopian province of Dawaro. Despite his losses, the Emperor
Yeshaq
was able to continue to field armies against the Walashmas. After another campaign by Jamal ad-Din against the Ethiopian frontier, Yeshaq sent his forces to attack three different areas of Adal, threatening the capital and seat of the ruling Walashma family
. Jamal ad-Din was forced to return back to Adal where he fought Yeshaq's forces at Harjai, where his soldiers were defeated. According to al-Maqrizi, Yeshaq was said to have died during this battle, although it is not mentioned in the Ethiopian Royal Chronicles of Yeshaq.
.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of the Sultanate of Adal
Adal Sultanate
The Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
and the youngest son of Sa'ad ad-Din II
Sa'ad ad-Din II
Sa'ad ad-Din II was a Sultan of the Ifat Sultanate. He was the brother of Haqq ad-Din II, and the father of Mansur ad-Din, Sabr ad-Din II and Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din. The historian Richard Pankhurst describes him as "the last great ruler of Ifat."-Reign:Sa'ad ad-Din II was born at the court of...
.
Reign
With the help of the Ethiopian defector Harb Jaush, who also served as a commander under his brother Sabr ad-Din IISabr ad-Din II
Sabr ad-Din II was a King of Adal and the oldest son of Sa'ad ad-Din II. Trimingham tersely states that Sabr ad-Din returned to the Horn of Africa from Yemen to reclaim his father's realm, but was defeated in battle by the Emperor of Ethiopia Yeshaq.-Reign:E. A...
, Jamal ad-Din was able to defeat the armies of the 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...
n Emperor in three important battles in Bale
Bale Province, Ethiopia
Bale is the name of two former polities located in the southeastern part of modern Ethiopia.- The medieval dependency of Bale :...
, at Yedaya, and at Jazja, although he was eventually defeated. Jamal ad-Din sent an envoy to arrange peace at the beginning of his reign, but the effort failed and Harb Jaush engaged and was able to overcome the Emperor's troops, reportedly including 7,000 archers and swordsmen. Yeshaq responded by gathering a larger army and occupying Yedaya before being repusled by Jamal ad-Din's forces. His army then took Jazja, although here, too, Jamal ad-Din was able to successfully counter-attack and force the imperial army to withdraw, allowing the forces of the Adalite Sultan to pillage the region over the next three months. Following this success, he organized another successful attack against the Emperor's forces and inflicted heavy casualties in what was reportedly the largest Adalite army ever fielded. As a result, Yeshaq was forced to withdraw toward the Blue Nile over the next five months, while Jamal ad-Din's forces pursued them, while looting much gold on the way, although no engagement ensued.
After returning home, the Sultan sent his brother Ahmad with Harb Jaush to successfully attack the Ethiopian province of Dawaro. Despite his losses, the Emperor
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...
Yeshaq
Yeshaq I of Ethiopia
Yeshaq I or Isaac was of Ethiopia. A member of the Solomonic dynasty, he was the second son of Dawit I.-History:Yeshaq's reign was marked by a revolt of the Beta Israel...
was able to continue to field armies against the Walashmas. After another campaign by Jamal ad-Din against the Ethiopian frontier, Yeshaq sent his forces to attack three different areas of Adal, threatening the capital and seat of the ruling Walashma family
Walashma dynasty
The Walashma dynasty was a Muslim noble family based in the Horn of Africa. It ruled the Ifat Sultanate, in parts of what are now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and western Somalia.-History:...
. Jamal ad-Din was forced to return back to Adal where he fought Yeshaq's forces at Harjai, where his soldiers were defeated. According to al-Maqrizi, Yeshaq was said to have died during this battle, although it is not mentioned in the Ethiopian Royal Chronicles of Yeshaq.
Death
Within a few years, however, Jamal was assassinated by either his friends or cousins around 1432 or 1433, and was succeeded by his brother Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-DinBadlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din
Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din II was a Sultan of the Sultanate of Adal and a son of Sa'ad ad-Din II.-Reign:...
.