Bahr negus Yeshaq
Encyclopedia
Bahr negus Yeshaq was Bahr negus (ruler of the province of Bahr Midir in Ge'ez, or Midri Bahri in Tigrinya) of Ethiopia during the mid to late 16th century. His support of the Emperor of Ethiopia
during the invasion of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
(also known as Ahmed Gragn), when so many of the aristocrats had switched their support, helped to preserve Ethiopia from extinction.
fleet arrived at Massawa
in 1541. When Christovão da Gama marched inland with his 400 matchlock
men, Yeshaq not only provided him provisions and places to camp in his realm, but also about 500 soldiers and information about the land. The Bahr negus also joined Emperor Gelawdewos
in the decisive Battle of Wayna Daga
, where Imam Ahmad was killed and his forces scattered (1543).
When the Ottoman
general Özdemir Pasha
, who had been made governor of the Ottoman province of Habesh
, crossed over from Jeddah
in 1557 and occupied Massawa, Arqiqo and finally Debarwa
, capital of the Bahr negus, Yeshaq led the local peasantry against the invaders, recapturing Debarowa and seizing the "immense treasure" the invaders piled up within.
Although he enjoyed good relations with Emperor Galawdewos, his relations with his successors were not as positive. In 1560, the year after Menas
became emperor, Bahr negus Yeshaq revolted against the new Emperor. While he was successful at first, eventually Menas drove Yeshaq out of Tigray
, and the noble was forced to seek refuge at the court of his former enemy. In return for ceding the town of Debarowa, Ozdemur Pasha extended military support to the exiled Bahr negus, and Yeshaq led an army into Tigray and the other northern provinces.
Emperor Menas campaigned against the forces of this alliance again in 1562, but was not able to decisively defeat Yeshaq. When Sarsa Dengel
was made emperor, Yeshaq at first pledged his loyalty, but within a few years he once more went into rebellion, and found another ally in the ruler of Harar
, Sultan Mohammed IV Mansur. Despite these alliances, Emperor Sarsa Dengel defeated and killed Yeshaq in battle (1578).
Richard Pankhurst
concurs with the judgement of James Bruce
on Yeshaq, who points out that the status of the Bahr negus "was much diminished by Yeshaq's treachery. From then onwards the governor of the provinces beyond the Tekezé was not allowed the sandaq (Banner) and nagarit (War Drum), and no longer had a place in Council unless especially called on by the Emperor". This could also mean that the Bahr neguses' kingdom was no longer part of the "Empire" per se.
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...
during the invasion of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi "the Conqueror" was an Imam and General of Adal who invaded Ethiopia and defeated several Ethiopian emperors, wreaking much damage on that kingdom...
(also known as Ahmed Gragn), when so many of the aristocrats had switched their support, helped to preserve Ethiopia from extinction.
Life
Bahr negus Yeshaq first appears in history about the time the PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
fleet arrived at Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
in 1541. When Christovão da Gama marched inland with his 400 matchlock
Matchlock
The matchlock was the first mechanism, or "lock" invented to facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm. This design removed the need to lower by hand a lit match into the weapon's flash pan and made it possible to have both hands free to keep a firm grip on the weapon at the moment of firing,...
men, Yeshaq not only provided him provisions and places to camp in his realm, but also about 500 soldiers and information about the land. The Bahr negus also joined Emperor Gelawdewos
Gelawdewos of Ethiopia
Gelawdewos was Emperor Gelawdewos (Ge'ez ገላውዴዎስ galāwdēwōs, modern gelāwdēwōs, "Claudius"; 1521/1522 - March 23, 1559) was Emperor Gelawdewos (Ge'ez ገላውዴዎስ galāwdēwōs, modern gelāwdēwōs, "Claudius"; 1521/1522 - March 23, 1559) was Emperor (throne name Asnaf Sagad I (Ge'ez አጽናፍ ሰገድ aṣnāf sagad,...
in the decisive Battle of Wayna Daga
Battle of Wayna Daga
The Battle of Wayna Daga occurred 21 February 1543 east of Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Led by the Emperor Galawdewos, the combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeated the Muslim army led by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi. Tradition states that Ahmad was killed by a Portuguese musketeer,...
, where Imam Ahmad was killed and his forces scattered (1543).
When the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
general Özdemir Pasha
Özdemir Pasha
Özdemir Pasha was a Caucasian Mameluke general for the Ottoman Empire. He joined Hadim Süleyman Pasha's campaign to India , in 1538. Later he became the Governor of Yemen and invaded Ethiopia in 1557 for the Ottoman Empire.He died in 1561 in Sana, Yemen....
, who had been made governor of the Ottoman province of Habesh
Habesh
Habesh Eyalet was an Ottoman eyalet that bordered the Red Sea. It comprised Massawa, Hergigo, Suakin and their hinterlands. Later it would also incorporate Zeila and western Somaliland...
, crossed over from Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
in 1557 and occupied Massawa, Arqiqo and finally Debarwa
Debarwa
Debarwa is a market town with a population of about 25,000 in central Eritrea, about 25 kilometers south of the capital Asmara. It is the capital of the Debarwa district in the Debub administrative region...
, capital of the Bahr negus, Yeshaq led the local peasantry against the invaders, recapturing Debarowa and seizing the "immense treasure" the invaders piled up within.
Although he enjoyed good relations with Emperor Galawdewos, his relations with his successors were not as positive. In 1560, the year after Menas
Menas
Menas, a men's personal name, could refer to any of the following persons:* Patriarch Mennas of Constantinople* Menas, Emperor of Ethiopia.* Saint Menas of the Coptic Christianity, speculated to be the same person known as Saint Christopher....
became emperor, Bahr negus Yeshaq revolted against the new Emperor. While he was successful at first, eventually Menas drove Yeshaq out of Tigray
Tigray Province
Tigray was a province of Ethiopia. The Tigray Region superseded the province with the adoption of the new constitution in 1995. The province of Tigre merged with its neighboring provinces, including Semien, Tembien, Agame and the prominent Enderta province and towards the end of 19th century it...
, and the noble was forced to seek refuge at the court of his former enemy. In return for ceding the town of Debarowa, Ozdemur Pasha extended military support to the exiled Bahr negus, and Yeshaq led an army into Tigray and the other northern provinces.
Emperor Menas campaigned against the forces of this alliance again in 1562, but was not able to decisively defeat Yeshaq. When Sarsa Dengel
Sarsa Dengel
Sarsa Dengel was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
was made emperor, Yeshaq at first pledged his loyalty, but within a few years he once more went into rebellion, and found another ally in the ruler of Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
, Sultan Mohammed IV Mansur. Despite these alliances, Emperor Sarsa Dengel defeated and killed Yeshaq in battle (1578).
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:...
concurs with the judgement of James Bruce
James Bruce
James Bruce was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who spent more than a dozen years in North Africa and Ethiopia, where he traced the origins of the Blue Nile.-Youth:...
on Yeshaq, who points out that the status of the Bahr negus "was much diminished by Yeshaq's treachery. From then onwards the governor of the provinces beyond the Tekezé was not allowed the sandaq (Banner) and nagarit (War Drum), and no longer had a place in Council unless especially called on by the Emperor". This could also mean that the Bahr neguses' kingdom was no longer part of the "Empire" per se.