Tekle Haymanot Of Gojjam

Tekle Haymanot Tessemma, also known as Adal Tessemma, Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam, and Tekle Haimanot of Gojjam (1847 – 10 January 1901), was King of Gojjam. He later was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire.

Biography

Born Adal Tessemma, Tekle Haymanot Tessemma was the son of Tessemma Goshu, ''Negus'' of Gojjam. Gojjam had long been a vassal kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire. The title "King of Gojjam" was an honorific title.

Under Tekle Giyorgis

''Dejazmach'' Tessemma Goshu died during his son's minority. As a result, a rival, and Gojam prince, of the Gojam imperial house, named Ras Desta Tadla assumed control in Gojjam and imprisoned Adal. Adal eventually escaped to the lowlands and raised an army. After returning to Gojjam and defeating Ras Desta, Adal submitted to '' Nəgusä Nägäst'' Tekle Giyorgis who confirmed him as the '' Shum'' of Gojjam and as ''Dejazmach''. The ''Nəgusä Nägäst'' even allowed Adal to marry his paternal sister, Laqetch Gebre Mehdin.Shin, ''Historical dictionary of Ethiopia'', pg. 368

Under Yohannes IV

On 11 July 1871, ''Dejazmach'' Kassay Mercha defeated ''Nəgusä Nägäst'' Tekle Giyorgis and reinstated Ras Desta in Gojjam. On 21 January 1872, Kassay Mercha became ''Nəgusä Nägäst'' Yohannes IV and left Gojjam. Adal then returned to Gojjam and killed Desta. At that point, Adal had consolidated all of Gojjam under his rule.Gebru Tareke, ''Ethiopia: Power and Protest'', p. 163 In 1874, Adal submitted to ''Nəgusä Nägäst'' Yohannes IV. Adal was now ''Ras'' Tekle Haymanot Tessemma.

On 20 January 1881, in Debre Tabor, ''Nəgusä Nägäst'' Yohannes IV appointed ''Ras'' Tekle Haymanot Tessemma as ''Negus'' of Gojjam Province and as ''Negus'' of Kaffa Province. However, the latter province was only his if he was able to conquer it. Unfortunately for ''Ras'' Tekle Haymanot Tessemma, ''Ras'' Menelik, ''Negus'' of Shewa, was also interested in Kaffa Province. Yohannes provided Tekle Haymanot with 8,000 rifles to help with the conquest.Marcus, ''A History of Ethiopia'', p. 80

The Battle of Embabo

The followers of ''Negus'' Tekle Haymanot Tessemma attempted to extend his control over the Kingdom of Kaffa. But, on 6 June 1882, his forces were defeated at the Battle of Embabo by the superior forces of ''Negus'' Menelik. Tekle Haymanot Tessemma was captured and Menelik gained the upper hand in Kaffa. But Yohannes intervened and, while allowing Menelik to have Kaffa, he made Menelik give Wollo Province to ''Ras'' Araya Selassie Yohannes, his legitimate son.

Destruction and submission

In January 1887 Negus Tekle Haymanot Defeated the Mahdists in a battle somewhere between Gedaref and Gallabat. As a revenge, the Next year, the Mahdists under the command of Abu Anga campaigned into Ethiopia with an Army the size of 81,000 men. their objective was the Historical town of Gondar. Tekle Haymanot confronted them at Sar Weha (in Dembiya) on 18 January 1888, but was defeated. Joseph Ohrwalder that witnessed the Battle, stated that the forces of Tekle Haymanot fought with “the courage of Lions” to protect their country and religion from the Muslim invaders, but they were overwhelmed by the Large and Better equipped Mahdist army. As a result of this loss, northwestern Ethiopia was open to the Mahdists who entered Gondar, sacked and plundered it. Many churches were pillaged and burnt, priests were thrown down from the roof and killed, many people were massacred, and hundreds of women and children were dragged into slavery.

Emperor Yohannes IV ordered ''Negus'' Menelik and his Shewan army into Gojjam and Begemder. Sensing a shift in power, ''Negus'' Tekle Haymanot Tessemma negotiated a defensive alliance with Menelik. After Menelik secured Gojjam and Begemder, Yohannes ordered him to return to Shewa.Marcus, ''A History of Ethiopia'', p. 86

In September 1888, when Tekle Haymanot Tessemma refused to contribute forces to the efforts of Yohannes against Mahdist who had re-entered western Gojjam, Yohannes suspected Tekle Haymanot and Menelik of plotting against him. To destroy the power of Tekle Haymanot, the army of Yohannes laid waste to much of Gojjam. As a result of the destruction, Tekle Haymanot submitted to Yohannes.

Under Menelik II

In 1889, soon after the death of Yohannes at the Battle of Gallabat, Menelik proclaimed himself ''Nəgusä Nägäst'' Menelik II. ''Negus'' Tekle Haymanot pledged his allegiance to the new ''Nəgusä Nägäst''. Menelik reinstated Tekle Haymanot as ''Shum'' of Gojjam and named him as an advisor.

Battle of Adwa

In 1896, ''Negus'' Tekle Haymanot fought at the Battle of Adwa on the side of Menelik. During the battle of Adwa he commanded 8,000 riflemen, 15,000 spearmen and 700 calvary.

Death

Ultimately Emperor Menelik determined that Gojjam was too valuable a province to be held by one man and, upon the death of Tekle Haymanot, Menelik divided Gojjam into three parts. He assigned the three parts to different men responsible to him. One of the men came from Shewa.

Tekle Haymanot Tessemma was the father of at least three sons and four daughters. His sons were as follows: Bezabah, Hailu, and Balaw. One of his sons, ''Ras'' Hailu Tekle Haymanot, succeeded him as Hailu II of Gojjam.

See also

* Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
* List of field marshals

Notes

;Footnotes

;Citations

References

*
*
*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam
1847 births
1901 deaths
Ethiopian military personnel
Ethiopian nobility
19th-century Ethiopian people