Battle of the Hill of the Jews
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Hill of the Jews (named by Miguel de Castanhoso for a community of Beta Israel
who lived there) was a battle fought in Ethiopia
in August of 1542 between the Portuguese forces of Cristóvão da Gama
and the Somali
Muslim
followers of Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
. The Portuguese won the battle, capturing many horses that they could have used to exploit their victory in the previous battle of Jarte
.
The benefits of this victory were short-lived, for within the month da Gama was slain in Wofla
even before his soldiers escorting the captured animals could reach the Portuguese encampment at Lake Ashenge
.
The location of this battle is not known. Whiteway has argued that this place is identical with Amba Geshen
, located far to the south of the Portuguese camp. More recently, however, C.F. Beckingham has argued that the battle took place in the eastern Semien Mountains
near the left bank of the Tekezé River
.
Beta Israel
Beta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
who lived there) was a battle fought in 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...
in August of 1542 between the Portuguese forces of Cristóvão da Gama
Cristovão da Gama
Cristóvão da Gama was a Portuguese soldier, who led a Portuguese army of 400 musketeers on a crusade in Ethiopia and Somalia against the far larger Somali Muslim army of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi aided by the Ottoman Empire...
and the Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
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...
followers of 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...
. The Portuguese won the battle, capturing many horses that they could have used to exploit their victory in the previous battle of Jarte
Battle of Jarte
The Battle of Jarte was fought from April 4 to April 16, 1542 between the forces of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi and a Portuguese expeditionary force fighting on behalf of the Ethiopian Empire. The Portuguese were led by Cristóvão da Gama. The Portuguese were victorious....
.
The benefits of this victory were short-lived, for within the month da Gama was slain in Wofla
Battle of Wofla
The Battle of Wofla was fought on August 28, 1542 near Lake Ashenge in Wofla in the modern Ethiopian Region of Tigray , between the Portuguese under Cristóvão da Gama and the forces of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi...
even before his soldiers escorting the captured animals could reach the Portuguese encampment at Lake Ashenge
Lake Ashenge
Lake Ashenge is a lake in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Ethiopian highlands at an elevation of 2409 meters, it has no outlet...
.
The location of this battle is not known. Whiteway has argued that this place is identical with Amba Geshen
Amba Geshen
Amba Geshen is the name of a mountain in northern Ethiopia.It is located in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, northwest of Dessie, and sits at a latitude and longitude of . Part of Ambassel woreda, it is one of the mountains of Ethiopia where most of the male heirs to the Emperor of...
, located far to the south of the Portuguese camp. More recently, however, C.F. Beckingham has argued that the battle took place in the eastern Semien Mountains
Semien Mountains
The Semien Mountains lie in northern Ethiopia, north east of Gondar. They are a World Heritage Site and include the Semien Mountains National Park. The mountains consist of plateaux separated by valleys and rising to pinnacles...
near the left bank of the Tekezé River
Tekezé River
The Tekezé River, also known as the Takkaze River, is a major river of Ethiopia, and forms a section the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea for part of its course. The river is also known as the Setit in Eritrea, western Ethiopia, and eastern Sudan. According to materials published by the...
.