Sa'ad ad-Din II
Encyclopedia
Sa'ad ad-Din II (ruled circa 1400) 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."
Newaya Krestos
. He continued the revolt against the Ethiopian Emperors, and the Gadla Marqorewos records that he "easily destroyed" an army of Emperor Dawit I. The Egypt
ian encyclopedist Ahmad al-Qalqashandi
(died 1418) also praises Sa'ad ad-Din's victories against the Ethiopians. Pankhurst adds that Sa'ad ad-Din also fought against the kingdom of the Hadiya
and a pastoral people called the Zalan, both of whom were Ethiopian allies. However, as Taddesse Tamrat notes, these successes were short-lived, and in response to the growing Muslim
power in the region Emperor Dawit I strengthened the Ethiopian defenses along the border and established his court at Tilq in Fatagar.
Despite these steps, Sa'ad ad-Din's practice of making quick raids into Ethiopian territory presented a difficult challenge to the Ethiopian Emperor, and it was not until the sultan was pursued deep into Adal territory that the Ethiopians got purchase on the problem. After a battle between Sa'ad ad-Din and the Ethiopian general Barwa, in which the Ifat army was defeated and "no less than 400 elders, each of whom carried an iron bar as his insignia of office" were killed, Sa'ad ad-Din with his remaining supporters were chased to Zeila
in modern Somalia
. There, the Emperor besieged Zeila, finally capturing the city and killing Sultan Sa'ad ad-Din.
adopted the title of "kings of Adal
". His ten sons took refuge in Yemen
at the court of King Ahmad bin al-Ashraf.
There is some disagreement over the year when Sa'ad ad-Din was killed. The historian Al-Maqrizi
, confirmed by Ethiopian sources, states that it was in 1403, at the hands of Emperor Dawit I. However the Walashma chronicle gives the date as 1415, which Professor Enrico Cerulli
has argued in its defense.
His tomb stood as a hallowed site for centuries in Zeila. It was visited by Richard Burton
the explorer in 1854, who described it as "a mound of rough stones surrounding an upright pole" near the cemetery, decorated with "the remains of votive banquets, broken stones, dried garbage, and stones blackened by the fire" showing how he was "properly venerated" as the current favorite saint of Zeila. Trimingham notes that at the time he wrote his book (circa 1950), the tomb had been destroyed by the encroaching sea.
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 Ifat Sultanate. He was the brother of Haqq ad-Din II
Haqq ad-Din II
Haqq ad-Din II was a Sultan of the Ifat Sultanate, the brother of Sa'ad ad-Din II, and the son of Ahmad ibn Ali.Taddesse Tamrat credits Haqq as "the founder of the kingdom of Adal as we know it in its protracted struggle with the Christian kingdom [of Ethiopia]"-Reign:Although Al-Maqrizi states...
, and the father of Mansur ad-Din, Sabr ad-Din II
Sabr 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...
and Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din
Badlay 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:...
. The historian Richard Pankhurst
Richard Pankhurst (academic)
Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst OBE is a British academic with expertise in the study of Ethiopia.-Early life and education:...
describes him as "the last great ruler of Ifat."
Reign
Sa'ad ad-Din II was born at the court of EmperorEmperor 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...
Newaya Krestos
Newaya Krestos
Newaya Krestos was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the oldest son of Amda Seyon I....
. He continued the revolt against the Ethiopian Emperors, and the Gadla Marqorewos records that he "easily destroyed" an army of Emperor Dawit I. The Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian encyclopedist Ahmad al-Qalqashandi
Ahmad al-Qalqashandi
Shihab al-Din abu 'l-Abbas Ahmad ben Ali ben Ahmad Abd Allah al-Qalqashandi was a medieval Egyptian writer and mathematician born in a village in the Nile Delta. He is the author of Subh al-a 'sha, a fourteen volume encyclopedia in Arabic, which included a section on cryptology...
(died 1418) also praises Sa'ad ad-Din's victories against the Ethiopians. Pankhurst adds that Sa'ad ad-Din also fought against the kingdom of the Hadiya
Hadiya
The Hadiya Kingdom was an ancient kingdom in located in southwestern Ethiopia, south of the Abbay River and west of Shewa. It was ruled by the Hadiya people, who spoke the Cushitic Hadiyya language. The historical Hadiya area was situated between Kembata, Gamo, and Waj, southwest of Shewa...
and a pastoral people called the Zalan, both of whom were Ethiopian allies. However, as Taddesse Tamrat notes, these successes were short-lived, and in response to the growing Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
power in the region Emperor Dawit I strengthened the Ethiopian defenses along the border and established his court at Tilq in Fatagar.
Despite these steps, Sa'ad ad-Din's practice of making quick raids into Ethiopian territory presented a difficult challenge to the Ethiopian Emperor, and it was not until the sultan was pursued deep into Adal territory that the Ethiopians got purchase on the problem. After a battle between Sa'ad ad-Din and the Ethiopian general Barwa, in which the Ifat army was defeated and "no less than 400 elders, each of whom carried an iron bar as his insignia of office" were killed, Sa'ad ad-Din with his remaining supporters were chased to Zeila
Zeila
Zeila, also known as Zaila , is a port city on the Gulf of Aden coast, situated in the northwestern Awdal region of Somalia.Located near the Djibouti border, the town sits on a sandy spit surrounded by the sea. It is known for its offshore islands, coral reef and mangroves. Landward, the terrain is...
in modern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. There, the Emperor besieged Zeila, finally capturing the city and killing Sultan Sa'ad ad-Din.
Death
With Sa'ad ad-Din's death, the Walashma dynastyWalashma 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:...
adopted the title of "kings 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:...
". His ten sons took refuge in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
at the court of King Ahmad bin al-Ashraf.
There is some disagreement over the year when Sa'ad ad-Din was killed. The historian Al-Maqrizi
Al-Maqrizi
Taqi al-Din Ahmad ibn 'Ali ibn 'Abd al-Qadir ibn Muhammad al-Maqrizi ; Arabic: , was an Egyptian historian more commonly known as al-Maqrizi or Makrizi...
, confirmed by Ethiopian sources, states that it was in 1403, at the hands of Emperor Dawit I. However the Walashma chronicle gives the date as 1415, which Professor Enrico Cerulli
Enrico Cerulli
Enrico Cerulli was an Italian scholar of Somali and Ethiopian studies, a governor and a diplomat.-Biography:...
has argued in its defense.
His tomb stood as a hallowed site for centuries in Zeila. It was visited by Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
the explorer in 1854, who described it as "a mound of rough stones surrounding an upright pole" near the cemetery, decorated with "the remains of votive banquets, broken stones, dried garbage, and stones blackened by the fire" showing how he was "properly venerated" as the current favorite saint of Zeila. Trimingham notes that at the time he wrote his book (circa 1950), the tomb had been destroyed by the encroaching sea.