governments, of adventurers usurping thrones, only to be remained unsubdued. Berro, Bas of Gojam, in order to
themselves unseated, and of raids, rapine, and pillage. save himself, attempted to combine with Tigre, but his
Into this chaos enter from time to time broad rays of army was . intercepted by Kassa and totally destroyed,
sunshine, the efforts of a few enlightened monarchs to himself being taken prisoner and executed (May 1854)!
evolve order from disorder, and to supply to their people Shortly afterwards Kassa moved against Tigre, defeated
the blessings, of peace and civilization. Bearing these Ubie’s forces at Deragie, in Simen (February 1855), took
matters in mind, we find that during the 18th century their chief prisoner and proclaimed himself Negus Nagasti
the most prominent and beneficent rulers were the of Ethiopia under the name of Theodore. He now turned
Emperor Yesu of Gondar, who died about 1720, Sebastie his attention to Shoa.
Negfis of Shoa (1703-18), Amada Yesus of Shoa, who
Retracing our steps for a moment in that direction, we
extended his kingdom and founded Ankober (1743-74), find that in .1813 Sahela (or Sella) Selassie, younger son
Tekla Giorgis of Amhara (1770-98?) and Asfa Nassen o the preceding Bas Wassan Seghed, had proclaimed himof Shoa (1774-1807), the latter being especially renowned self Negus or king. His reign was long and beneficent.
as a wise and benevolent monarch. The first years of the He restored the towns of Debra Brehan and Angolola
19th century were disturbed by fierce campaigns between and founded Entoto, the strong stone-built town whose
Guxa, Has of Gondar, and Wolda Selassie, Has of Tigre,
ncnv
the modern hut-capital of Addis
who were both striving for the crown of Guxa’s master, Abbaba. Inoverlook
the terrible “famine of St Luke” in 1835
the Emperor Eguala Izeion. Wolda Selassie was eventu- Selassie still further won the hearts of his subjects by
ally the victor, and practically ruled the whole country his wise measures and personal generosity; and by extendtill his death in 1816 at the age of eighty. Mention must mg his hospitality to Europeans, he brought his country
here be made of the first British mission, under Lord within the closer ken of civilized European Powers.
Valentia and Mr Henry Salt, which was sent in 1805 to
unng his reign he received the missions of Maior
conclude an alliance with Abyssinia, and obtain a port on Harris (1841) and M. Bochet d’Hericourt (1843), with
the Bed Sea in case France secured Egypt by dividing up both of whom he concluded friendly treaties on bethe Turkish empire with Kussia. This mission was suc- halt of their respective governments. He also wrote to
ceeded by many travellers, missionaries, and merchants of
all countries, and the stream of Europeans continued until Pope Pius IX., asking that a Boman Catholic bishop
should be sent to him. This request was acceded to,
well into Theodore’s reign. To Wolda Selassie succeeded and the Pope despatched Monsignor Massaja to Shoa.
Sabagadis of Agame, by force of arms, and as Bas of Tigre But before the prelate could reach the country, Selassie
he introduced various Englishmen, whom he much admired, was dead (1847), leaving his eldest son, Hailu Melekot,
into the country. He improved the prosperity of his land to succeed him. Melekot at once proclaimed himself
considerably, but by so doing roused the jealousy of Bas Negus, and by sending for Massaja, who had arrived at
Marie of Amhara—to whom he had refused tribute—and Gondar, gave rise to the suspicion that he wished to
Ubie, son of Hailo Mariam, a governor of Simen. In an have,
himself crowned as emperor. By increasing his
ensuing battle (in January 1831), both Sabagadis and
Mane were killed, and Ubie retired to watch events from dominions at. the expense of the Gallas, he still further
his own province. Marie was shortly succeeded in the roused the jealousy of the Northerners, and a treaty
Ras-sfup of Amhara by Ali, a nephew of Guxa and a which he concluded with Bas Ali against Kassa in
18o0, determined the latter to crush him at the earliest
Mohammedan. But Ubie, who was aiming at the crown
soon attacked Bas Ali, and after several indecisive cam- opportunity.
it was that in 1855 Kassa, under the name
paigns proclaimed himself Negfis of Tigre. To him of Thus
the Emperor Theodore, advanced against Shoa with a
came many French travellers, chief of whom were
large army. Dissensions broke out among the Shoans,
Lieut. Lefebvre, charged with political and geographical and after a desperate and futile attack on Theodore at
missions, and Captains Galimier and Ferret, who completed for him a useful triangulation and survey of Tiore Debra Brehan, Hailu Melekot died of exhaustion and
fever, nominating with his last breath his eleven-yearand Simen (1840-42).
°
old. son Menelek as successor (November 1855). Darghe,
Northern Abyssinia was now divided into two camps Hailu s brother, took charge of the young prince, but
the one, Amhara and Bas Ali, under Protestant British
and the . other, Tigre and Ubie, under Boman Catholic after a hard fight with Angeda, one of Theodore’s Bases,
was obliged to capitulate. Menelek was handed over to
„ rc:nch’ influence.1 The latent hostility between the two
tactions threatened at one time to develop into a religious the Negus, taken to Gondar and there trained in Theodore’s
war, but no serious campaigns took place until Kassa service.
. The following shows Menelek’s descent since the begin(later iheodore) appeared on the scene. Kassa (b. 1818)
°
son of the chief of Kwara, a western district of Amhara! ning of the 19th century:—
by his talent and energy rapidly came to the front. In
Asfa Nassen d. 1807
consequence of the arrest of his brother Bilawa by Bas
Wassan Seghed = Woizero Zenebe Work
All he raised the standard of revolt against the latter
d. 1811
I
and collecting a large force, repeatedly beat the troops
tliat were sent against him by the Bas (1841-47). As
his power was increasing, to the detriment of both Bas
Becurraye
Sella Selassie = Woizero Betsabesh
AH and Ubie, these two princes combined against him
(1795-1847) I
but were heavily defeated by him at Gorgora (on the
southern shore of Lake. Tsana) in 1853. Ubie retreated
Hailu Melekot = Ejigayu
Siefu
Dargbe
° Tigre, and Bas Ah fled to Begemeder, where he
(1825-1855) |
'
(1826-1860)
b. 1827
eventually died. Kassa now ruled in Amhara, but his
ambition was to attain to supreme power, and he turned
I
Mashasha
Menelek
His attention to conquering the remaining chief divisions
b. 1844 = Tai'tu
of the country, Gojam,* Tigre, and Shoa, which still
For names of Europeans, v. article in Ency. Brit., 9th edition
2
South of Amhara.
1 son (dead)
Zauditu (Judith)
Tanina Work (daughter)
