Battle of Wayna Daga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Wayna Daga |
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| Part of the Ethiopian–Adal War, Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts (1538–57) and Somali-Portuguese conflicts | |||||||
 Early 20th century folk drawing of Gragn's death; the Portuguese musketeers are anachronistically wearing pith helmets. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Ethiopian Empire Portuguese Empire |
Adal Sultanate Ottoman Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gelawdewos | Ahmad ibn Ibrahim † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 8,000 infantry 500 cavalry 70 Portuguese arquebusiers 60 Portuguese cavalry |
14,000 infantry 1,200 cavalry 200 Ottoman arquebusiers |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown 4 Portuguese killed |
Extensive; over half of the army killed or captured 160 Ottomans killed |
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The Battle of Wayna Daga was a major battle fought on February 21, 1543. It took place in Ethiopia, near Lake Tana. This battle was a key part of the Ethiopian–Adal War.
On one side were the combined forces of the Ethiopian Empire and the Portuguese Empire. They were led by the Ethiopian Emperor Gelawdewos. On the other side were the armies of the Adal Sultanate and the Ottoman Empire. Their leader was Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, also known as Ahmad Gragn. The Ethiopian and Portuguese forces won a decisive victory. Imam Ahmad was killed during the battle, and his army was completely defeated.
Contents
Why Did the Battle Happen?
The Battle of Wofla and Its Impact
Before Wayna Daga, there was another big battle called the Battle of Wofla in August 1542. In that fight, Imam Ahmad's forces crushed the Portuguese army. Most of the Portuguese soldiers were killed. Their leader, Cristóvão da Gama, was captured and then killed. This was a huge victory for Imam Ahmad. He even sent many of his Ottoman gunners home. He thought he no longer needed them.
Rallying the Ethiopian and Portuguese Forces
However, Cristóvão da Gama's remaining soldiers were very loyal. About 50 of them regrouped with Queen Seble Wongel. They found safety on a mountain. Soon, Emperor Gelawdewos joined these survivors. Many more Ethiopian soldiers also came to support the Emperor.
The Portuguese survivors asked Emperor Gelawdewos for help. They wanted to get revenge for Cristóvão da Gama's death. Gelawdewos agreed to lead them against Imam Ahmad. They also got back Portuguese firearms that had been stored safely.
Marching Towards the Enemy
The allied Ethiopian and Portuguese forces spent months preparing. They marched through different areas. Their goal was to find Imam Ahmad's camp near Lake Tana. On February 13, 1543, they had a smaller victory. They defeated a group of Imam Ahmad's soldiers. From prisoners, they learned that Imam Ahmad was only five days away. This news made the allied army eager to fight.
Where Did the Battle Take Place?
Historians are not completely sure about the exact spot of the Battle of Wayna Daga. The name "Wayna Daga" itself means a type of climate zone in Ethiopia. It's the middle region between high mountains and lowlands. Most of the land around Lake Tana fits this description.
Some historical accounts suggest the battle was near Lake Tana. One old story says Imam Ahmad was hurt near a specific tree. This tree was then called "Granhi's Tree." Another traveler, James Bruce, mentioned a village called Waindega. He said it was famous for this battle. However, the exact location is still debated among experts. Many believe it happened in the area northeast of Lake Tana.
How the Battle Unfolded
Setting the Stage for Conflict
When the Ethiopian army found Imam Ahmad's forces, they set up camp nearby. Emperor Gelawdewos wanted to wait for more Portuguese soldiers to arrive. He knew that even a small group of Portuguese fighters with guns could make a big difference. For a few days, both sides sent out cavalry to raid each other. The allied forces did well, stopping the enemy from getting supplies.
However, a leading Ethiopian soldier, Azmach Keflo, was killed. This made the Ethiopian troops feel discouraged. Fearing his soldiers might leave, Emperor Gelawdewos decided they had to attack the next day.
The Main Attack Begins
The main battle started early the next morning. The Ethiopian-Portuguese army split into two groups. The front group had Portuguese soldiers, 250 Ethiopian horsemen, and 3,500 foot soldiers. A Portuguese man named Ayres Dias led them. Behind them was Emperor Gelawdewos with 250 more horsemen and the rest of the foot soldiers.
Imam Ahmad's army also moved forward in two groups. Imam Ahmad himself led the front. He had 200 Turkish gunners, 600 horsemen, and 7,000 foot soldiers. His commander, Garad, led the rear group. This group had 600 horsemen and 7,000 foot soldiers.
The Turning Point: Imam Ahmad's Death
The battle was fierce. The Portuguese soldiers charged first, causing heavy losses for the Muslims. The Ethiopian soldiers, seeing this, also joined the fight with great energy. Imam Ahmad saw his men losing ground. He moved forward to encourage them, with his son beside him.
According to Portuguese accounts, it was here that Imam Ahmad was shot in the chest. He fell from his horse. One story says Portuguese gunners recognized him and fired together. Another story credits a single Portuguese soldier, João de Castilho, who bravely charged forward to shoot Imam Ahmad at close range. However, an Ethiopian record says one of Emperor Gelawdewos's own soldiers killed the Imam.
The Rout and Aftermath
After Imam Ahmad was killed, some of his Muslim soldiers tried to run away. Others tried to stop them, causing chaos. Seeing this confusion, the Portuguese attacked, killing many more. At the same time, Emperor Gelawdewos's army attacked the Muslim rear. This led to a complete collapse of Imam Ahmad's forces. The Ethiopians and Portuguese chased the fleeing soldiers, cutting them down. Many Turkish gunners were killed, with only about 40 surviving.
Imam Ahmad's wife, Bati del Wambara, managed to escape. She fled with the remaining Turks and some of her personal guards. They took as much treasure as they could. As soon as they left, the victorious Ethiopian army entered their camp. They killed everyone they found, except for women and children. Many Christian captives were freed, and families were reunited.
What Happened Next?
After the battle, Emperor Gelawdewos offered his sister's hand in marriage to the person who killed Imam Ahmad. A young captain, Azmach Calite, presented Imam Ahmad's head as proof. But it was found that the Portuguese had already wounded the Imam badly before the captain cut off his head. So, the Emperor did not give his sister to the captain, nor did he reward the Portuguese, as it was unclear who fired the fatal shot.
One enemy leader, Joram, was still at large with a large force. He was unaware of Imam Ahmad's defeat. Emperor Gelawdewos sent a group of soldiers who successfully ambushed Joram. This ended the threat from his father's enemies.
The father of the Bahr negus (a regional ruler) had supported Imam Ahmad. He asked Gelawdewos for forgiveness. He offered Imam Ahmad's son in exchange. The Emperor was angry but agreed out of respect for the Bahr negus, who had helped the Portuguese come to Ethiopia. Imam Ahmad's son later became a valuable prisoner. He was exchanged for the Emperor's own brother, Menas, who later became Emperor.
By Easter, Emperor Gelawdewos realized he couldn't visit all parts of his newly won empire before the rainy season. So, he set up camp near Lake Tana. Once the rains ended, he began the long process of rebuilding and strengthening his rule.
Images for kids
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Early 20th century folk drawing of Gragn's death; the Portuguese musketeers are anachronistically wearing pith helmets.
