Location
The Wej Kingdom occupied an area near Lake Zway, west of Fatagar and Dawaro, and east of Hadiya. It is currently located in the West Arsi Zone.
The Kingdom of Wej was a prominent historical kingdom located in the modern south-eastern Ethiopia, known for its strategic position in the region. During its peak, Wej was an influential polity that interacted with several neighboring kingdoms, including the Christian highlands of Ethiopia and various Muslim Sultanates. It was one of the smaller, but significant, regional powers within the larger context of Ethiopia’s medieval history. [1]
The Wej Kingdom occupied an area near Lake Zway, west of Fatagar and Dawaro, and east of Hadiya. It is currently located in the West Arsi Zone.
Early Arab writers documented the presence of the Oromo people in the region, noting that they were established in various parts of what is now Ethiopia long before the spread of larger empires in the area. Among the areas they inhabited was the region known as Wej, which, according to these sources, was one of the numerous kingdoms founded by the Oromo people during this early period. These Oromo settlers were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the region, creating vibrant societies and establishing several kingdoms that would later play significant roles in the history of Ethiopia.
According to historian Mohammed Hassen, the inhabitants of the Wej Kingdom were most likely the Waji Oromo, a subgroup of the larger Arsi Barentu tribe. The Arusi Barentu are part of the broader Oromo ethnic group, one of the largest and most influential groups in Ethiopia’s history. The Waji Oromo, as a sub-clan, were known for their distinct social and political structures, which contributed to the formation of kingdoms like Wej in the southwestern highlands. Their settlement in this area is seen as an important moment in the historical development of the region, as the Waji Oromo established themselves as one of the key forces in the southwestern territories of Ethiopia. [2] [3] [4]
Enrico Cerulli suggested that the people of the Kingdom of Wej had rulers whose lineage could be traced back to the eleventh-century Muslim Queen Badit of the Makhzumi dynasty. This connection highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between Wej and the broader Islamic world, reflecting its significance as a kingdom with a distinct political identity in the medieval period. The Makhzumi dynasty, known for its strong Muslim roots, likely influenced the leadership and governance of Wej, further intertwining the region’s history with the larger developments across the Horn of Africa. [5]
According to historian Pankhurst, the Kingdom of Wej played a pivotal role as an ally of the Ethiopian Emperor Yekuno Amlak during his struggle for the throne in the 13th century. Yekuno Amlak, who is credited with restoring the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia, found in Wej a key supporter in his campaign to secure and expand his reign over Abyssinia. As a tributary state, Wej contributed resources and military support to the emperor’s cause, cementing its position within the broader political landscape of the time. The kingdom was ruled by a governor named Zebadar, who oversaw its administrative and military affairs, ensuring its loyalty to the Ethiopian crown. [6]
In addition to its role in supporting the Ethiopian Empire, Wej’s military contributions are also noteworthy. One particularly significant figure from the kingdom was Asmaddin, a warrior from Wej who played an important role in assisting Emperor Sarsa Dengel during the Battle of Endagabatan. This battle, which occurred in the late 16th century, was a key conflict in the Ethiopian Empire’s history, and Asmaddin’s involvement underscores the kingdom’s ongoing military significance in the region. [7]
During the era of Abuna Yaqob, the Ethiopian Church took an active interest in Wej, sending Christian missionaries to the kingdom on an annual basis. Abuna Yaqob, an important ecclesiastical figure, sought to strengthen the Christian presence in the southwestern regions of Ethiopia. As part of this effort, he dispatched Abba Iyosyas, a prominent religious figure, to supervise not only Wej but also the neighboring regions of Almale and Gurage. These efforts were part of a broader strategy to ensure religious oversight and maintain the influence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in areas that were home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, reflecting the complex religious and political dynamics of the time. Through this system of religious missions and supervision, the Ethiopian Church sought to integrate these regions more closely into the larger Christian Ethiopian state. [8]
After the Fall of Ifat many ethnicities and kingdoms fell weak amongst them the Oromo Muslims, so the Zay people expanded from there homeland Enderta.
When the Oromo first met the Zway people's they did not know what they were doing due to there smart modern fishing and sailing techniques. The Oromo gave them the name Laqi which means Paddler. The Oromo, and the Zway became friends and later protected each other.
The Oromo and Zway lived in the area until the Maya expansion were many Oromo and Zway were displaced. Brakumper states the Zay were a branch of the Harla. [9]
One noted ruler of the Zay dynasty of Wej is Ras Amdu a powerful king who annexed many Muslim provinces, the Abyssinians were so scared of him as well as the Muslims. One chronicle records this statement from the Court of Abyssinia.
“let us also have the Protection of the Muslims so that we can achieve our aims, and bring them in so that our religion may not be changed. But there is Ras Amdu as long as he lived the Moslims are weak and scared.”
In order to weaken him in the eyes of the people the Abyssinian court spread rumour that he slept with Queen Eleni of Abyssinia when the people of Abyssinia heard this Amdu was furious, and he campaigned against the Maya, and Fetegar he in his campaign he invaded the two provinces. according to Tadesse Tamrat he ruled the whole of the Maya, Genz, Fatagar, Wej, and Lake Hayq. [10]
King Eskender supported the Muslims the Negus captured and killed Amdu. When the news spread that the second most powerful monarch of Ethiopia died, Welde Silus, Amdu’s nephew swore to kill Eskender. After Amdu’s death Welde ascended the throne, under his rule the Maya and Zway we’re subjugated, Welde led his forces to Enderta, Eskender responded by attacking them. Welde’s forcers consisted of Maya archers which used arrows dipped in poison. He himself killed Eskender. The chronicle states that he swore not to spare the king, this would lead to Fetegar and Wej expanding, Wej and Fetegar invaded the Genz and Ifat province's and took their cattle. Fetegar and Wej became one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Horn of Africa. They would also convert all the inhabitants of Genz and Shewa to islam. Welde moved his capital to Zway then known as Jarecho. [11] [12] [13] [14]
Wej became a Christian kingdom and was later one of the first to be invaded by Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi due to its religion and eastern location. Emperor Lebna Dengel received news of this invasion while at Geberge in Wej, but dismissed the threat as a series of raids. He left the city after appointing Wasan Sagad as king. [15] [16] [17] : 204
Two noblemen of Wej, Azmach Fanil and Yonadab, took prominent roles in holding back the invading forces, and soldiers from the kingdom led a campaign against the Maya, who had recently converted to Islam. Later in Imam Ahmad's invasion, he sent his trusted general and advisor Mojhad to compel Wej to surrender, which it did before he even reached the kingdom. He established a poll tax in the area. After hearing of Mojhad's success, Imam Ahmad traveled to Wej and established a stronghold at Jog.
The current king of Wej, Eslam, had refused to capitulate and retreated to Gurage. However, when Yodab surrendered to Damot, Eslam sent his son and a nobleman named Asebo to make peace. When asked why they had returned, Asebo replied, "We have come to save our country and our churches." They agreed to pay the poll tax in exchange for safety from persecution. Eslam's son became a Muslim, as did all the courtiers and advisors of Wej, but Imam Ahmad allowed Eslam to remain a Christian. [17] : 205
Shewa, formerly romanized as Shua, Shoa, Showa, Shuwa, is a historical region of Ethiopia which was formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire. The modern Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa is located at its center.
Galawdewos, also known as Mar Gelawdewos, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 3 September 1540 until his death in 1559, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His throne name was Atsnaph Sagad I. A male line descendant of medieval Amhara kings, he was a younger son of Dawit II and Seble Wongel.
Menas or Minas, throne name Admas Sagad I, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1559 until his death in 1563, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was a brother of Gelawdewos and the son of Emperor Dawit II.
Sarsa Dengel, also known as Sarsa the Great, was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His throne name was throne name Malak Sagad I .
The Kingdom of Kaffa was a kingdom located in what is now Ethiopia from 1390 to 1897, with its first capital at Bonga. The Gojeb River formed its northern border, beyond which lay the Gibe kingdoms; to the east the territory of the Konta and Kullo peoples lay between Kaffa and the Omo River; to the south numerous subgroups of the Gimira people, and to the west lay the Majangir people. The native language, also known as Kaffa, is one of the Omotic group of languages.
The Sultanate of Ifat, known as Wafāt or Awfāt in Arabic texts, or the Kingdom of Zeila was a medieval Sunni Muslim state in the eastern regions of the Horn of Africa between the late 13th century and early 15th century. It was formed in present-day Ethiopia around eastern Shewa in Ifat. Led by the Walashma dynasty, the polity stretched from Zequalla to the port city of Zeila. The kingdom ruled over parts of what are now Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somaliland, Somalia.
Hadiya also known as Adea or Hadia was a medieval Muslim state in the southern part of its realm located south of Shewa and west of Sharkha. The Hadiya Muslim state mainly composed of Cushitic Hadiyya proper, Halaba, Kebena people as well as Semitic Sil'te and other tongues related to Harari language. Hadiya was historically a vassal state of the Adal federation and then became an autonomous province of Abyssinia in the fourteenth century while still remaining a member of the Zeila union. In the 1600s Hadiya regained its independence and was led by a Garad. By 1850, Hadiya is placed north-west of lakes Zway and Langano but still between these areas.
Hadiya, also spelled as Hadiyya, is an ethnic group native to Ethiopia in southern region who speak the Hadiyyisa language. According to a popular etymology, the name 'Hadiyya," means gift of god". it is mainly known for its Islamic influences in southern part of south shewa and west sharka A historical definition of the Hadiya people based on the old Hadiyya Sultanate included a number of Ethiopian ethnic groups currently known by other names. Currently, this historic entity is subdivided into a number of ethnonyms, partly with different languages and cultural affiliations. In his book "A History of the Hadiyya in Southern Ethiopia," Ulrich Braukämper reported that Leemo, Weexo-giira, Sooro, Shaashoogo, Baadawwaachcho, and Libido (Maraqo) Hadiyya, Endegang subgroups remain a language entity and preserved identity of oneness, the Hadiyya proper. The term Hadiya specifically designates the Qabeena people. Other ethnic groups such as Siltʼe, Wulbareg, Azarnat, Barbare, Wuriro, Wolane and Gadabano profess that they're the seven Hadiya clans. Hadiya people were fully Muslims until invasion of menilik II in 19th century that caused massive forced conversion to Christianity and increasing Protestant missionaries in late 19s. Clans of Hadiya origin in Oromia, Sidama, Wolayta, Gurage, Tigray, and Afar were completely absorbed by these nations. They were initially all inhabitants of a single political entity, a sultanate, which in the four centuries following its break-up in the mid-16th century fragmented into separate ethnic groups.
The Ethiopian Empire, historically known as Abyssinia or simply Ethiopia, was a sovereign state that encompassed the present-day territories of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It existed from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak around 1270 until the 1974 coup d'état by the Derg, which ended the reign of the final Emperor, Haile Selassie. In the late 19th century, under Emperor Menelik II, the empire expanded significantly to the south, and in 1952, Eritrea was federated under Selassie's rule. Despite being surrounded by hostile forces throughout much of its history, the empire maintained a kingdom centered on its ancient Christian heritage.
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The Ethiopian–Adal War, also known as the Abyssinian–Adal War and in Arabic as Futūḥ Al-Ḥabaša, was a war fought between the Christian Ethiopian Empire and the Muslim Adal Sultanate from 1529 to 1543. The Christian Ethiopian troops consisted of the Amhara, Tigrayans, Tigrinya and Agaw people, and at the closing of the war, supported by the Portuguese Empire with no less than four hundred musketeers. The Adal forces were composed of Harla, Somali, Afar, as well as Arab and Turkish gunmen. Both sides would see the Maya mercenaries at times join their ranks.
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