Mahfuz

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For other uses, see Mahfuz (name).
Mahfuz
Imam of Zeila, Garad and Emir[1]
Reign16th century
DiedJuly 1517
IssueBati del Wambara
Names
Mohammed
ReligionIslam

Mahfuz (or Mohammed) (Harari: ማሕፉዝ, Arabic: محفوظ; died July 1517) was a Harari Garad, Emir of Harar and Governor of Zeila in the Adal Sultanate.[2][3]

Life and reign[]

Mahfuz led raids into the provinces of Abyssinia for a number of years. He selected the season of Lent for his attacks, when the defenders were weakened by their fasts. He was eventually slain in battle during his final offensive, targeting the Amhara, Shewa, and Fatagar provinces south of the Awash River. According to Portuguese explorer Francisco Álvares, Mahfuz exclusively targeted Abyssinian soldiers capturing them however left civilians unharmed.[4]

Sources differ over the number of years Mahfuz raided Abyssinia. Francisco Álvares states that his raids began during the reign of Eskender, and lasted 25 years.[5] However, Beckingham and Huntingford note that the Ethiopian Paris Chronicle, which draws on contemporary Ethiopian records, dates the beginning of these raids to the ascension of Dawit II (Lebna Dengel) in 1508.[6] Mahfuz is reported to have caused the deaths of Ethiopian Emperors Na'od and Eskender.[7][8]

Upon reaching the age of majority, Emperor Lebna Dengel decided to forgo his observance of Lent and oppose the Imam in battle, despite the advice and wishes of his councilors and people. He sent spies out to determine Imam Mahfuz's plans for that year, and learning the Imam was in Fatagar led his army there. He found Imam Mahfuz with the sultan of Adal encamped on a plain that was surrounded by mountains. After first sending soldiers out to secure the passes, the Abyssinian Emperor closed upon Imam Mahfuz.

Although Imam Mahfuz managed to enable Sultan Muhammed to escape with but four horsemen, according to Alvarez, Imam Mafhuz knew he was trapped and sought to die with honor. He called to the Abyssinians a challenge to fight in single combat, and Gabra Endreyas, who had been a follower of Emperor Lebna Dengel's father, accepted and killed the Imam. Mahfuz's head was cut from his body and displayed publicly in the Emperor's court.[9] After defeating Mahfuz, Dawit II used appellation Wanag Segad, which is a combination of Ge'ez and Harari terms.[10]

Legacy[]

Mahfuz' daughter, Bati del Wambara, married Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi of the Adal Sultanate. Ten years after Mahfuz's death, Al-Ghazi embarked on a Conquest of Abyssinia (Futuh al-Habash).[11]

See also[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ J. D., Fage (1975). The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 3. Cambridge University Press. p. 166. ISBN 9780521209816.
  2. ^ Bruce, James, Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile (1805 edition), vol. 3, p. 143
  3. ^ Hassen, Mohammed. "Review work Futuh al habasa". International Journal of Ethiopian Studies: 184. JSTOR 27828848.
  4. ^ Aregay, Merid. Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. University of London. p. 199.
  5. ^ Alvarez, Francisco (1961) The Prester John of the Indies, translated by C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford. Cambridge: Hakluyt Society, p. 412.
  6. ^ Their discussion of Mahfuz is taken from their Introduction to Alvarez, Prester John, pp. 16f.
  7. ^ Burton, Richard. First Footsteps in East Africa. p. 179.
  8. ^ Huntingford, G.W.B. The historical geography of Ethiopia from the first century AD to 1704. Oxford University Press. p. 105.
  9. ^ Alvarez, p. 413.
  10. ^ Gate, Henry (2 February 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. p. 482. ISBN 978-0195382075.
  11. ^ Sihab ad-Din Ahmad, in his Futuh al-Habasa (translated by Paul Lester Stenhouse with annotations by Richard Pankhurst [Hollywood: Tsehai, 2003]) consistently uses the word "Jihad" to refer to Ahmad Gragn's conquest of Ethiopia.
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