5.1.

Conflict between the Christian Kingdom and the Sultanate of Adal and After

the revival of long-distance trade caused competition and struggle For control over the
trade routes between the Christian Kingdom and the Muslim Principalities. This was
followed by a series of wars, which were depicted as wars for Religious supremacy in
historical accounts of Christian and Muslim clerics. While maladministration and exploitation
of periphery made military mobilization possible, religion Provided ideological justification
for the wars. However, the interest to control trade routes Lay at the heart of the conflict
between the Christian Kingdom and the Muslim Sultanates that Continued for over two
centuries, culminating in the wars between the Christian Kingdom And the Sultanate of Adal
that lasted from 1529 to 1543.

Internal strife, corruption and anarchy was intensified among Muslim Sultanate a new
leadership was urgently called [Link] leadership came from Imam Ahmed ibn .The origins
of Imam Ahmed, alias “the lefthanded,” are obscure. He was born at Hubet in between Dire
Dawa and Jigjiga and raised by His devout Muslim kin in one of the oases on the route to
Zeila. He was a rigorous and ardent Believer of Islam. He soldiered for Garad Abun of Adal,
who during his few years in power Called for Islamic Puritanism.

It was one of the Imam’s remarkable achievements in leadership that he mobilized the
Pastoral communities of the Afar, the Somali, the Harla, Harari and others to a common
Cause. He convinced them not to fight amongst themselves but to unite and expand to the
Christian Kingdom and resolve their pressing material needs while at the same time keep
Islamic believes and practices from the infiltration of any alien religious doctrine. He was
Able to gain audience as Imam and consolidated his army to fight the Christian Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Lebne-Dengel was enthroned when he was only eleven. Assisted by the elderly
Elleni and due to internal conflicts in Adal, the Christian state initially retained its interest
And even advanced into Muslim territory scoring significant victories in the early sixteenth
Century. As a result, most of the Muslim Sultanates including Adal were made tributaries to
The Christian Kingdom.

However, shortly, Adal fell to Imam Ahmed’s army. By the time Imam Ahmed was strong
Enough for military confrontation in 1520, he refused to pay tribute and this was followed
by A campaign against the Christian Kingdom in [Link] Imam’s army fought fiercely and
Controlled the territories including Bali, Dawaro, Fatagar, Sidama, Hadiya and Kambata and
The Christian Kingdom was at risk.

There was the Problem of logistics and the leadership of the army of Christian Kingdom
failed to adopt a Common strategy to defeat Adal’s force. On the other hand, enthusiastic
Imam Ahmed’s Army managed logistics problems with its small-sized army. The Imam’s
army had also an excellent leadership characterized by better mobility and flexible tactics
with a unified Command.

As a result, the larger and well-equipped Christian army was defeated in one of the most
Decisive engagement at the battle of Shimbra Kure in 1529, near present day Mojo. After
the Victory, the Imam’s army made a large-scale control of the territories of the Christian
Kingdom including Shewa, Amhara, Lasta, and moved as far north as Mereb Melash. By
1535, Imam Ahmed’s empire stretched from Zeila to Massawa on the coast including the
Ethiopian interior. As he penetrated deep into the Christian Kingdom, Imam Ahmed
Established a civil administrative bureaucracy constituted from his own men and newly
Recruited personnel from the Christian [Link] of the most illuminating figures
during the war was the wife of the Imam, Bati Del Wanbara. She was the daughter of a
Muslim military commander of Adal known as Mahfuz. Tradition claimed that Del Wanbara
had encouraged her husband to avenge the death of her Father. She accompanied her
husband throughout his expeditions and she is said to have Marched even in a state of
pregnancy during which she was unable to use mules. Indeed, she Delivered her two sons
during the campaigns of 1531 and 1533 in Ifat and present day Tigray Respectively.

On the part of the Christian Kingdom, the military set back forced the reigning king, Lebne-
Dengel, to retreat who finally died in 1540 being fugitive. His son Gelawdewos (r. 1540-
1559), ascended to the throne who continued to face the wars this time with more intensity
As Imam Ahmed had received Turkish musketeers. In the meantime, based on earlier
request Made by Lebne-Dengel in 1535, about four hundred Portuguese soldiers, armed
with Matchlocks arrived in the Christian court in [Link] the army was led by Christopher
da Gama, the youngest son of Vasco da Gama. However, in August 1542 the Christian army
Was defeated in Ofla, in today’s southern Tigray. In the battle, about two hundred
Portuguese And their leader Christopher da Gama were killed and the leader was beheaded.
An important anecdote that should be mentioned here is the role of Lebne-Dengel’s wife
Seblewongel. She is said to have participated in the war against Imam Ahmed in 1542 when

The army of the Christian Kingdom lost almost half of the Portuguese soldiers and their
Commander Christopher Da Gama. After the success, Imam Ahmed was confident about his
Army’s ability to repulse any future attack by the force of the Christian Kingdom that he sent
His allies back home and let his army camp. On the part of the Christians, preparations were
Made for final confrontation under the leadership of Emperor Gelawdewos (r.1540-59). The
Queen mother, Seble-Wongel, advised the reigning emperor how to prepare and march for
The battle of Woyna-Dega. Due to limited resources, the monarch employed hit and run
Strategy, which severely affected Imam’s army. Imam Ahmed’s army could not use its
Previous quality of easy mobility because they did not know where the attacks came from.
On February 25, 1543 while Imam Ahmed was encamped near Lake Tana, he was attacked
And killed after a fierce fighting at the battle of Woyna-Dega.