Early history of Harar

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Early history of Harar city is generally obscure, as many documents and records differ the exact date of the origin of the city. Most historical records state that Harar's history date back to 16th century, beginning with Adal Sultanate moving its capital from Dakkar to Harar during the reign of Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad. Other rudimentary oral tradition produced in 19th and 20th century stated that Harar history dated by in the 10th century or Abadir Umar ar-Rida founded the first Harar kingdom after migrating from Arabian Peninsula to spread Islam in 12th and 13th century.

Harar and the surrounding countryside illustration by Sir Richard Francis Burton (1856).

In 1647,

Egyptian invasion in 1874, and the British take over of Egypt, ultimately under Hewett Treaty, the Emirate ceded to the Ethiopian Empire in exchange of assistance against Mahdist Sudan. The Emirate eventually defeated at the Battle of Chelenqo in 1887 by Ethiopian armies guided under Negus Menelik II
, incorporated to the Ethiopian Empire.

Accounts

According to historical texts, Muslim city of

Ifat Sultanate in the east.[2]

In 18th and 19th century, three handwritten documents published in Amharic, Arabic and French described Harar being liberated by Dawud dynasty from

Egyptian conquest in 1875.[3]

History

Walashma dynasty

Sultanate of Ifat at its extent with Ethiopian (Abyssinian) Empire in red

The imams of Harar came to conflict with Walasma ruling classes that exacerbate the conflict through preaching the rulers for their reluctance to fulfill their religious duty. The religious party heightened its power by 16th century and able to intervene the country's policy. Meanwhile,

Somalis sided with the extinct Harla people, Afar, Argobba, Hadiya forces along with Turkish and Arab gunmen, with both use of Maya mercenaries.[4]

Sultanate of Harar

Market place in Harar, 1883

Harar formed its

Hadiya. Interestingly, Gelawdewos headed to Kaffa province after which Nur ibn Mujahid declared a jihad.[8] Nur took a lot of damage in his first campaign, it took him nine years to recover, in 1559 he assembled an army of 1800 horsemen and 500 riflemen and numerous swords- and bowmen, this time he was successful and invaded Fatagar.[9]

During series campaigns against each territories, Gelawdewos sent the governor of

Kambata and Ras Fasil to destroy Harar. After finding out Nur marches to Fatagar, the two governors sacked Harar;[10] Gelawdewos was shot by Harari rifleman and eventually battered to death while fighting Harari cavalry at the Battle of Fatagar on 23 March 1559.[11]

Emirate of Harar

Harar emir Ahmad III during Richard Burton's visit to Harar in 1855

Emirate of Harar emerged in 1647[12] when Harari people refused to accept Imam Umar Din as their ruler after broke up from Aussa Sultanate to form their own state under Ali ibn Da'ud.[13] According to League of Nations prior to Emperor Menelik II invasion to the kingdom, the Harar kingdom made up of area stretching Awash and Shebelle while Ogaden was a tributary state. Originally, this kingdom comprised the present day Somaliland and south of eastern Ethiopia including Arsi province.[14]

Harar has been trading spot to Shewa region via Zeila and Barbara, linked by Aliyu Amba. Foreign citizens were also involved in local business, mostly Armenians, Greeks, Indians, Syrians, Italians and several Egyptians engaged in selling cotton, cloth, clothing, glassware, brass and copper, drinks and preserves. Locally produced woven clothing, earrings, bracelets, wax, butter, honey, mules, sorghum, wheat karanji (a bread used by travellers), ghee and all kinds of tallow were imported to Harar and exported to other parts of the world. Other monopolized items like ivory, ostrich feathers and musk were exported. Khat was widely transported through Aden with market price of quarter rupees per parcel.[15][16]

Trading stability dwindled in the 19th century due to lack of resources and famine. Like other Muslim sultanates, the Emirate technically under control of Ottoman Empire. In 1875, Harari was annexed by Egypt and the British defeated the Khedivate, seizing its territory including Harar. They evacuated Harar and ceded to the Ethiopian Empire in exchange of assistance against Mahdist Sudan. In accordance with Hewett Treaty, the British left Harar to the son of former Emir of Harar with a few hundred rifles, some cannon and a handful of British trained officers. The Emirate eventually sacked by armies of Negus Menelik II at the Battle of Chelenqo in 1887.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Scientifique, Secrétaire. "Islam médiéval en Ethiopie / Medieval Islam in Ethiopia". UN ŒIL SUR LA CORNE / AN EYE ON THE HORN (in French). Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  2. ^ "Harar: The History of Ethiopia's Muslim City". 22 July 2022.
  3. ^
    JSTOR 44324707
    .
  4. OCLC 36543471
    .
  5. ^ Dr. E. Cerulli, Documenti arabi per la storia dell'Ethiopia, Memoria della Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Vol. 4, No. 2, Rome, 1931.
  6. ^ Adugna, Minale. Women and warfare in Ethiopia. Gender Issues Research Report Series 13. p. 10.
  7. ^ Castanhoso, Miguel de (1902). Whiteway, R.S. (ed.). The Portuguese expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543 as narrated by Castanhoso. London: Redford Press.
  8. ^ The Chronicle. Solomon. pp. 22, Chap 38.
  9. ^ The Chronicle. Solomon. pp. 246, Chap 84.
  10. ^ A history of the Oromo Asma Giyorgis and his work history of the Galla and the kingdom of sawa. Edited and translated Bairu tafla. Bairu Tafla.
  11. ^ Ethiopian Borderlands. Pankhurst. p. 246.
  12. ISSN 2108-6796
    .
  13. ^ "HISTORY OF HARAR AND THE HARARIS" (PDF). 23 July 2022.
  14. ^ "THE OROMO OF ETHIOPIA, 1500-1850THE OROMO OF ETHIOPIA, 1500-1850" (PDF). 23 July 2022.
  15. ISBN 978-0-8103-7099-9
    .
  16. S2CID 162314806
    .
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