Walashma dynasty facts for kids

The Walashma dynasty was a powerful Muslim family in the Horn of Africa during the Middle Ages. They started ruling in 1285 from a city called Zeila. They built their power across the region. This dynasty controlled the Ifat and Adal Sultanates. These areas are now parts of Somaliland, Djibouti, and eastern Ethiopia.

The Walashma Dynasty: Rulers of the Horn of Africa

Who Were the Walashma?

Some people believe the Walashma princes of Ifat and Adal had Arab family roots. Old writings suggest they came from important Arab tribes. For example, some traditions link them to Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, a relative of the Caliph Ali.

However, other stories suggest the Walashma dynasty was more connected to a local Somali man named Sheikh Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn from Zeila. Many historians believe he helped start this dynasty. The Aw Barkhadle site is a special burial place for these rulers. Sheikh Al-Kowneyn himself is buried there. While many tribes in the Horn of Africa claim Arab origins, the Walashma were likely from the local area.

An Ethiopian historian from the 1800s, Asma Giyorgis, thought the Walashma people spoke Arabic.

The Sultanate of Ifat

The Sultanate of Ifat was founded around the same time as the Sultanate of Showa. A ruler named ʿUmar DunyaHuz started Ifat in Zeila in 1185. It was one of eight sultanates in the Horn of Africa back then.

Ifat's Rise to Power

In 1278, the Walashma rulers of Ifat took over the Sultanate of Showa. By 1280, they had added Showa to Ifat. This made Ifat the biggest and strongest sultanate in the region. People often say ʿUmar did this, but he had died 50 years earlier. It was more likely his grandson Jamal ad-Dīn or great-grandson Abūd who achieved this.

Ifat's Conflicts and Fall

In 1332, the King of Adal, who was based in Zeila, was killed. This happened during a war against the Abyssinian Emperor Amda Seyon I. Emperor Amda Seyon then chose Jamal ad-Din I as the new King. Later, Jamal ad-Din's brother Nasr ad-Din took over.

Even with these challenges, the Muslim rulers of Ifat kept fighting. The Abyssinian Emperor called the Muslims "enemies of the Lord." He invaded Ifat again in the early 1400s. After a long fight, Ifat's army was defeated. Their ruler, King Sa'ad ad-Din II, ran to Zeila. Abyssinian forces followed him there and killed him.

Rulers of Ifat

The Sultanate of Adal

Islam came to the Horn of Africa very early, soon after the Hijra (the journey of Prophet Muhammad). By the late 800s, Muslims were living along the northern Somali coast. The Adal kingdom, with its capital in Zeila, may have existed since the 800s or 900s.

Adal's Beginnings and Growth

Local families, who were either Somalis who adopted Arab culture or Arabs who adopted Somali culture, ruled Adal. Adal's history was full of battles with its neighbor, Abyssinia.

After the last Sultan of Ifat, Sa'ad ad-Din II, was killed in Zeila in 1410, his children went to Yemen. They came back in 1415. In the early 1400s, Adal's capital moved inland to Dakkar. There, Sabr ad-Din II, the oldest son of Sa'ad ad-Din II, set up a new base.

The Great War with Abyssinia

Adal's main city moved again in the next century, this time to Harar. From Harar, Adal built a strong army. This army was led by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, also known as Ahmad "Gurey" or Ahmad "Gran." In the 1500s, this army invaded the Abyssinian empire. This war is known as the "Conquest of Abyssinia."

During this war, Imam Ahmad was one of the first to use cannons. These cannons came from the Ottoman Empire through Zeila. He used them against the Abyssinian forces and their Portuguese allies. The war showed how important firearms like cannons and muskets were, compared to older weapons.

Rulers of Adal

See also

In Spanish: Dinastía Walashma para niños29. Kifleyesus, Abbebe (2006). Tradition and Transformation: The Argobba of Ethiopia. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 84. ISBN 978-3-447-05341-9.