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Adalite Civil War

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Adalite Civil War
Part of Ahmed Gurey's rise to power

Ruins of Hubat near Dire Dawa, the stronghold of the rebels
Date1520–1526
Location
Adal Sultanate
Result

Rebel victory

Belligerents
Hubat rebels Walashma Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Imam Mahfuz †
Garad Abogn ibn Adish †
Ahmed ibn Ibrahim Al-Ghazi (WIA)		 Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad †
Strength
Harla militia Mainly Somali brigands

The Adalite Civil War (1520–1526) was a seven-year-long conflict within the Adal Sultanate between the Walashma dynasty and the forces of Garad Abogn ibn Adish. The war ultimately led to the rise of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, who later launched the Conquest of Abyssinia (Futuh Al-Habash).

Background

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After the death of Imam Mahfuz, Garad Abun Adashe emerged as the most powerful figure in Adal, leading to tensions with the ruling Walashma dynasty.[1] Among his supporters was Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, a military commander from Hubat who quickly gained recognition for his leadership skills.[2] Garad Abun, impressed by Ahmad's valor, arranged for him to marry Bati del Wambara, the daughter of the late Imam Mahfuz.[3]

Conflict

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According to Arab Faqih, Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad of the Walashma dynasty, fearing Adashe's influence, established his capital at Harar and mobilized a large army, primarily composed of Somali bandits and attacked the Harla state.[4][5] In 1525, Abu Bakr's forces confronted and killed Adashe near Zeila.[6]

Following Adashe's death, Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi took control of his forces, retreating to Hubat with over a hundred men. As Abu Bakr attempted to pursue, Ahmad ambushed and defeated him in open battle, forcing the Sultan to seek refuge in Ogaden.[7] Despite raising another large force, Abu Bakr suffered further setbacks in a second indecisive engagement.

Hearing of the conflict, Dawit II of Ethiopia sent General Degelhan to confront Ahmad. The Abyssinians initially succeeded in capturing large numbers of women and children from Adal, including the mother of Ahmad's commander, Abu Bakr Qatin. However, Ahmad lured the Ethiopian forces into Hubat, where he ambushed and decisively defeated them at the Battle of Hubat.[8] This victory significantly increased his reputation and military strength.

Sultan Abu Bakr, recognizing Ahmad as a growing threat, launched the Siege of Hubat, forcing Ahmad to take refuge in the mountains of Gara Muleta. After ten days of siege, the sheikhs of Harar intervened, brokering a temporary peace that recognized Ahmad's authority within Adal for the first time.[9]

The peace did not last long, as Sultan Abu Bakr attempted to assassinate Ahmad in Harar, forcing him to flee back to Hubat.[10] At this time, a swarm of bees reportedly landed on Ahmad's head, a miraculous event that led his followers to proclaim him as the new Imam of Adal.[11] After a series of battles, Ahmad finally defeated and killed Abu Bakr, who fled to the Ogaden. With Abu Bakr eliminated, Ahmad returned to Harar and installed Umar Din as a puppet Sultan.[12]

Aftermath

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Ahmed would go onto unify Muslims in the region and prepare for the conquest of Abyssinia.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Whiteway, Richard Stephen, ed. (1902). The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541–1543, as Narrated by Castanhoso. Hakluyt Society. p. xxxiii.
  2. ^ Hassen, Mohammed Hinika (2017-12-13). "The Genealogy and Ethnic Identity of Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Gazi (Gragn) of Ethiopia: A Historiographical Reappraisal". East African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 2(2): 21–40.
  3. ^ Trimingham, J. Spencer (1952). Islam in Ethiopia. Oxford University Press. p. 85.
  4. ^ Hassen, Mohammed. Oromo of Ethiopia 1500 (PDF). University of London. p. 29.
  5. ^ Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia Nubia & Abyssinia. Methuen & Co. Ltd.
  6. ^ Edwards, Frederick A. (January–April 1905). "The Conquest of Abyssinia". The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review and Oriental and Colonial Record. 3rd series. 19 (37 & 38). The Oriental Institute: 320–360.
  7. ^ Molvaer, Reidulf (1998). "The Tragedy of Emperor Libne-Dingil of Ethiopia (1508-1540)". Northeast African Studies. 5 (2). Michigan State University Press: 32.
  8. ^ Hinika, Mohammed Hassen (2017-12-13). "The Genealogy and Ethnic Identity of Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Gazi (Gragn) of Ethiopia: A Historiographical Reappraisal". East African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 2(2): 21–40.
  9. ^ Whiteway, Richard Stephen (1902). The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541–1543 as Narrated by Castanhoso. Hakluyt Society. p. xxxiii.
  10. ^ Trimingham, J. Spencer (1952). Islam in Ethiopia. Oxford University Press. p. 85.
  11. ^ Feener, R. Michael (2004). Islam in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. p. 219.
  12. ^ Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia Nubia & Abyssinia. Methuen & Co. Ltd.
  13. ^ Erlich, Haggai (March 2010). "6 Nationalism and Conflict: Ethiopia and Somalia, 1943–1991". Islam and Christianity in the Horn of Africa. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 152. doi:10.1515/9781588269874-007. ISBN 978-1-58826-987-4. On 15 January 1976, supported and inspired by the Saudi Muslim World League, the WSLF was reorganized. Some of its Oromo members, headed by the veteran leader of the 1965–1970 Oromo rebellion in the Bale region, Wako Guto, declared the establishment of a sister movement called the Somali Abbo Liberation Front (SALF). Under the guise of a Somali identity (Wako Guto's father was an Oromo and his mother a Somali), it was an overtly Oromo-Islamic movement which extended its operations to the provinces of Bale, Arusi, and Sidamo. For all intents and purposes, the Oromos, whether Christian or Muslim, never intended to become Somalis. Oromos and Somalis are not natural allies and have in fact been rivals over most of modern history because Oromos in the south and east of Ethiopia gradually moved toward Somali-dominated areas. However, what was now in the making was an all-Islamic movement, complete with the participation of Harari Islamic activists of Adari origin, already associated with the WSLF and trained in the Arab Middle East, with Somali and Saudi help. They now joined forces with the WSLF and the SALF and all coordinated their anti-Ethiopian guerrilla activities from late 1976. The Harari-Adari fighters called themselves the "Ahmad Gragn Forces," and indeed, nothing could have been more similar to Ahmad Gragn's movement to unite Muslims in all of southeastern Ethiopia through an Islamic holy war.

Further reading

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  • Whiteway, Richard Stephen, ed. (1902). The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541–1543 as Narrated by Castanhoso. Hakluyt Society.
  • Feener, R. Michael (2004). Islam in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO.
  • Adejumobi, Saheed A. (2008). The History of Ethiopia. Greenwood Publishing Group.
  • Edwards, Frederick A. (1905). "The Conquest of Abyssinia". The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review and Oriental and Colonial Record.
  • Trimingham, J. Spencer (1952). Islam in Ethiopia. Oxford University Press.
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