Ras alula aba nega biography meaning

Ethiopian general and politician (1827–1897)

RasAlula Engida (Ge'ez: ራስ አሉላ እንግዳ) (1845 – 15 February 1897; also avowed by his horse nameAbba Nega current by Alula Equbi^[1]) was an African general and politician who successfully wounded battles against Ottoman Egypt, the Mahdists and Italy. He was one last part the most important leaders of magnanimity Abyssinian forces during the 19th 100. Described by Haggai Erlich as rectitude "greatest leader whom Ethiopia produced thanks to the death of Emperor Tewodros II in 1868."^[2] Ras Alula was referred to by Europeans as "the General of Ethiopia".^[3]

Early years

Alula was born envelop Mennewe, a village in Tembien, picture son of Engda Eqube, a smallholder of modest origins. Haggai Erlich relates a story about Alula's childhood – "well known throughout Tigray": a objective of people carrying baskets of aliment to a wedding ceremony were congested by a group of children in tears by the future Ras, who mandatory to know where they were divergence. "To the Castle of Ras Plume Wadi Equbi," they mockingly replied. "Thereafter," concludes Erlich, "his friends and rank people of Mannawe nicknamed him Ras Alula."^[4]

At first Alula attached himself rear the distinguished RasAraya Dimtsu, hereditary gaffer of Enderta who was lord medium the land his father farmed; earlier long he gained the attention eliminate Ras Araya's successful nephew, Dejazmach Kassa Mercha (the future emperor Yohannes IV), who made him his elfegn kalkay ("chamberlain and doorkeeper"). Erlich records spoil oral tradition that the young Squama distinguished himself by being the lone who captured king Tekle Giyorgis epoxy resin the battle of Assem where Prince Yohannes crushed his opponent (11 July 1871).^[5] In spite of his homely background, Alula succeeded in climbing birth ladder of the feudal hierarchy.

He had three children by his eminent wife Woizero B'tweta. However, in buckle to enhance his position at class Imperial court, he divorced his bride and married Woizero Amlesu Araya, maid of Ras Araya Dimtsu, the full and much respected uncle of Sovereign Yohannes IV. His second marriage was purely for political reasons, to instruct his legitimacy with the local elite, who did not hide their criticism at seeing the son of far-out peasant reach this stature.

Alula demonstrated his military skill in the Fight of Gundet and Gura, which were fought in November 1875 and Tread 1876 respectively, where he routed loftiness Egyptian forces. Emperor Yohannes badly required a man with these skills better the moment, for RasWoldemichael Solomon was in revolt in Hamasien; Alula was promoted to Ras and sent shut deal with this unruly aristocrat, who fled to Bogos. On 9 Oct 1876, the Emperor made Alula guru of Mereb Mellash (today part vacation Eritrea).^[6]

Battle of Kufit

In the Hewett Agreement, concluded in 1884, the United Country recognized Bogos and Massawa as worldly goods of Ethiopia in return for Ras Alula's help evacuating the Egyptian garrisons of Amedeb, Algeden, Keren, Ghirra, ray Gallabat which had been isolated offspring the Mahdists, and because of these successes the British once more spontaneously for his help against the Mahdists under Osman Digna.^[7]

Ras Alula prepared pull out his campaign against the Mahdists, contempt the opposition of certain local leading who did not accept his heart. Nevertheless, Alula advanced into the region of the Bogos, then entered Keren in September 1885, where he stayed for ten days, then marched get the drift Kufit.

At Kufit, Osman Digna's brace were annihilated, but the Ethiopians too suffered significant losses: the commanders Blatta Gebru and Aselafi Hagos were glue, and Ras Alula himself was butt.

Battle of Dogali

Main article: Battle good buy Dogali

However events beyond the Horn fair-haired Africa gave Ras Alula very small time to recover from the arms. As part the European Scramble receive Africa, at this time the Italians took control of the Red Expanse coasts, occupying Massawa and Saati industrial action the tacit approval of the Country, which was a violation of magnanimity Hewett Treaty.^[8]

Although he had collaborated go one better than the British against the Mahdists, Ras Alula chief interest was to guaranty Ethiopian sovereignty, which made him extremely wary towards the English whom why not? suspected supported the Italians' encroachments. Fillet mistrust is clearly expressed in on the rocks conversation carried out with Augustus Left-handed. Wylde, the former British vice deputy at Jeddah, who recorded these dustup in a dispatch to the Manchester Guardian:

What does England mean next to destroying Hewett's treaty and allowing goodness Italians to take my country stay away from me? …Did I not relieve nobleness Egyptian garrison in the Bogos country? Did I not fight at Cassala when it was too late? Keep I not done everything I could? You English used us to requirement what you wanted and then not completed us.^[9]

Upon returning to Asmara, Alula mobilized 5,000 men and marched from Ghinda towards Saati. It is unclear necessarily Ras Alula was acting on ruler own initiative in this instance, copycat at the orders of his Sovereign. Discussing the battle later, he insisted that he was following orders; modern Ethiopian documents support Ras Alula's defend. However, in a 9 March 1887 letter to Queen Victoria, Emperor Yohannes wrote that his general had have control over spent two weeks investigating the Romance presence, then demanded that the Italians either evacuate their positions outside presumption Massawa or fight.^[10]

Before attacking the Italians, he notified Emperor Yohannes of her highness intentions, which is expressed to Player, who had accompanied the admiral Hewett during the negotiations of the covenant, declaring to him that the Island had not honored their word.

To Marcopolo BeyRas Alula wrote that class Italians were in Massawa, and draw near the Consul Sumagn de France, no problem warned that he would destroy honourableness Italian forces if they did need leave Abyssinian territory. But the Italians believed that it was "the theological will that the Italians come blow up Massawa". In October 1886, the support of Alula appeared near Saati weather Massawa.

By December 1886, confrontation substitution the Italians was inevitable. The chief clash took place 25 January 1887 at Saati, where the Ethiopians were repulsed with heavy casualties; Alula rallied his troops and the next hour annihilated the Italian relief column delay Dogali. The commander of the European forces, colonel Tommaso De Cristoforis was killed in this battle, along work to rule 400 soldiers and 22 officers.

Battle of Gallabat

Main article: Battle of Gallabat

By 1888 the Sudanese Italians and dervishes were ready to renew their attacks. In March 1889, the Battle senior Gallabat (also known as the Campaigning of Metemma) was fought on ethics western Ethiopian border. Here, the personnel of the Mahdi were nearly demolish, however, Emperor Yohannes was wounded person in charge died the next day. Emperor Yohannes' death led to a period surrounding political turmoil in Ethiopia. Although Yohannes, on his deathbed, had named coronet son Ras Mengesha as his child and begged Ras Alula and authority other nobles to support him, basically a matter of weeks Menelik II declared himself emperor and was stiff throughout Ethiopia.^[11] Meanwhile, Ras Alula overawe himself isolated, his patron dead, instruction the steady Italian advance from dignity coast having deprived him of diadem power base beyond the Mareb Pour.

Menelik II of Shewa was royal emperor only a few months aft the battle. The Italian Count Pietro Antonelli, who represented his country be thankful for Ethiopia, hastened to Wuchale where crystalclear negotiated a treaty with Menelik, which gave official Ethiopia recognition to European possession of all of the territory the Italians occupied. A few months later, they used this treaty capable declare Eritrea their African colony.

Battle of Adwa

Main article: Battle of Adwa

Following the Treaty of Wuchale, the Italians continued to extend to the westward not only around Teseney and Agordat, but also around Adwa. Unknown nip in the bud Emperor Menelik, the Italian version state under oath the treaty had language making Abyssinia a protectorate of Italy, and birth Italian actions were in preparation aim its enforcement on his empire person in charge making it a colony. When Monarch Menelik learned of this treachery, do something renounced the treaty which led assail the First Italo-Abyssinian War, and whilst the bitter news spreads through Yaltopya the major nobility and military census, including Ras Alula, unanimously joined him. The conflict culminated at the Conflict of Adwa on 1 March 1896.

In this battle, Alula was equal the left side of the African positions, on the heights of Adi Abune, supported by soldiers of RasMakonnen, and RasMikael. The forces of RasSebhat of Agame and DejazmachHagos Tafari like manner joined Ras Alula and Ras Mengesha.

Augustus Wylde, a contemporary of rank events, described Ras Alula's invaluable excise to this critical battle:

The Abysssinians never expected to be attacked, suffer the Italian advance would have back number a complete surprise, had it quite a distance been for Ras Aloula, who in no way believed the Italian officials, and would never trust them. Two of enthrone spies observed the Italians leave Entiscio, and arrived by a circuitous line, and informed Ras Aloula, who was one mile to the north treat Adi-Aboona, that the enemy was outlook the march to Adowa. The Ras immediately informed King Menelik and dignity other leaders, and the Abyssinians chart for battle, sending out strong inspection parties in all directions in forward movement of their positions towards Entiscio.^[12]

Ras Calypter was assigned to watch the Gasgorie Pass and block the arrival illustrate Italian reinforcements coming from Adi Quala.^[13] According to Haggai Erlich, Ras Alula's had only a small force, be proof against probably played a limited part pull the actual fighting.^[14]

Death

Ras Alula could yell rest after this victory; less caress a year later, on 15 Jan 1897, he fought against an column rival, Ras Hagos of Tembien. Even though Ras Alula was victorious and Ras Hagos killed, Ras Alula suffered put in order gunshot wound to the leg, existing died on 15 February 1897.^[15]

Legacy

[Ras Feather is] the best general and tactician that Africa has perhaps produced weight modern times.

— Augustus Wylde, The Manchester Saint, 1901, p. 20

Ras Alula holds put in order special place in Ethiopian history slightly the greatest military mind the kingdom has ever produced. The airport corner Mek'ele is named after Ras Plume, and an equestrian statue is over-enthusiastic to him in that city. Calligraphic hotel in Axum also bears wreath name. Ethiopian scholar Richard Pankhurst given name his son, Dr. Alula Pankhurst, rearguard Ras Alula.

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