Sarsa Dengel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sarsa Dengelሠርጸ ድንግል |
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| Negusa Nagast | |||||
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"King of Abyssinia" (Sarsa Dengel) based on Portuguese descriptions to a Japanese Momoyama Nanban painter
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| Emperor of Ethiopia | |||||
| Reign | 1563–1597 | ||||
| Predecessor | Menas | ||||
| Successor | Yaqob | ||||
| Born | 1550 | ||||
| Died | 4 October 1597 (aged 46–47) Damot |
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| Issue | Yaqob | ||||
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| Dynasty | Solomonic dynasty | ||||
| Father | Menas | ||||
| Mother | Admas Mogasa | ||||
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox | ||||
Sarsa Dengel (Ge'ez: ሠርጸ ድንግል; 1550 – 4 October 1597) was a powerful ruler of Ethiopia. He was also known as Sarsa the Great. His special royal name was Malak Sagad I. He belonged to the Solomonic dynasty, a line of emperors in Ethiopia.
Sarsa Dengel became emperor when he was only 14 years old. He was the son of Emperor Menas and Empress Admas Mogasa. During his rule, he faced many challenges. He had to deal with several rebellions. He also moved the empire's main center from Shewa to Begemder.
Sarsa Dengel was a strong military leader. He fought against the Ottomans and defeated local rulers like Bahr Negus Yeshaq. He also won battles against Adal Sultan Muhammad V. He pushed back Turkish invaders in places like Debarwa and Hirgigo. Sarsa Dengel also led campaigns against the Oromo tribes. These tribes were moving north into Ethiopian lands.
Even with his military wins, some historians believe his focus on northern battles was a problem. They argue he should have paid more attention to the Oromo expansion in the south. This decision might have led to the later decline of the Ethiopian Empire.
Contents
Early Life and Rise to Power
Sarsa Dengel was the son of Emperor Menas and Empress Admas Mogasa. He was chosen to be king by army commanders from Shewa and the Dowager Empress. He was only 14 years old at the time. The Amhara nobles supported him. They were worried about the influence of Tigrayan leader Yishaq, who often worked with the Ottomans.
Early Challenges and Rebellions
When Sarsa Dengel grew older, he had to stop several revolts. In 1563, his cousin Hamalmal rebelled at the Battle of Endagabatan. Two years later, another cousin, Fasil, also started a revolt. Sarsa Dengel successfully put down these challenges.
Major Military Campaigns
Sarsa Dengel spent much of his reign leading his armies. He fought against different groups to protect and expand his empire.
Fighting the Oromo Tribes
In the 1570s, several Oromo tribes began moving north into Abyssinia. In 1572, Sarsa Dengel fought off a raid by the Borana Oromo. This battle happened near Lake Zway.
In 1574, the Emperor learned that the Oromo had taken the province of Wej. He gathered his army from all over Ethiopia. He marched south and found that the Oromo had also captured Maya. Sarsa Dengel defeated the Oromo, forcing them to flee.
Battles Against the Adal Sultanate
Later, Sarsa Dengel learned that the Adal Sultan, Muhammad ibn Nasir, was fighting in Hadiya. Sarsa Dengel then faced the Adal army at the Battle of Webi River. He won a clear victory against them.
Defeating the Ottoman Empire
When the Ottomans left Debarwa, a local ruler named Yeshaq took control. Yeshaq then made an alliance with the Turks. Sarsa Dengel was angry about this betrayal. In 1577, he marched against them.
In 1578, he fought Yeshaq's army in Tigray. Sarsa Dengel won the battle and Yeshaq was killed. The Emperor then moved to Debarwa. The Turkish soldiers there surrendered with all their weapons. Sarsa Dengel took the many treasures the Turks had stored in Debarwa. He also ordered the destruction of the mosque and fort built by the Ottomans. People were very impressed by his victories. They said no other Ethiopian king had defeated a Turkish army with rifles and cannons.
Later Campaigns and Decisions
After defeating the Turks, Sarsa Dengel had his coronation at Aksum. In 1580, he left Tigray to fight against the Beta Israel people in Semien province. During this campaign, he heard that the Borana Oromo were attacking other provinces. However, Sarsa Dengel chose not to defend those areas against the Oromos. Instead, he kept his focus on the Beta Israel. This decision frustrated many of his officials. The Emperor explained that he preferred to fight "enemies of the blood of Jesus Christ" (meaning Jews) rather than the Oromo.
In 1586, the Borana Oromo, led by Mul'eta, crossed the Abay river and invaded Gojjam. During this raid, the future Emperor Susenyos I was captured by the Oromos. Sarsa Dengel then took action against the Oromo in the south. He forced the Dawé Oromo in Wej to flee further south. A historian named Bahrey praised Sarsa Dengel's campaign. He noted that the Emperor fought differently from his ancestors. Sarsa Dengel led from the front, not from the back.
In 1587, the Turks left the port of Hirgigo and moved inland to take Debarwa again. The governor of Hamasien was defeated and fled. Sarsa Dengel gathered his forces and crossed the Mereb river. He wanted to push back the Turkish invaders who were looting the countryside. He advanced to Debarwa and then continued to Hirgigo. The Turkish commander, Kadawred Pasha, was killed there. The Turks then offered peace to the Emperor. They left Hirgigo and handed it over to a local chief.
Death and Burial
On his last campaign against the Oromo in Damot, a group of monks tried to stop him. They warned him not to eat fish from a certain river he would pass. Despite their warning, he ate fish from that river. He became sick and died.
His body was buried in the Medhane Alem church on Rema Island. In 1933, a visitor saw a special porcelain jar there. This jar held his internal organs, which were brought from where he died.
Legacy and Impact
Historians have different views on Sarsa Dengel's rule. Some say he was a strong and successful monarch. However, Professor Mordechai Abir believes that Sarsa Dengel's focus on the northern provinces was a mistake. He thinks the Emperor should have spent more effort stopping the Oromo expansions in the south.
This decision, according to Abir, was a major turning point in Ethiopian history. It allowed the Oromo people to expand into the Ethiopian plateau. This expansion then contributed to the decline of the Ethiopian Empire.
Images for kids
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King Sarsa Dengel as depicted in a historical painting.
