Semien Province

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Map of the provinces of Ethiopia before 1935. (Derived from Perham, Margery (1969):The Government of Ethiopia)

Semien Province (

Abergele, and on the west by Wegera.[1] Alexander Murray include Wag as part of Semien.[2]

History

The first mention of the Simien Mountains comes from the Monumentum Adulitanum, an Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the sixth century AD. The inscription describes the area as "inaccessible mountains covered with snow" and where soldiers walked up to their knees in snow.[3] There is also a note in Cosmas Indicopleustes' work which states that the Simien Mountains was a place of exile for subjects condemned to banishment by the Aksumite king.[4]

16th century

The region was governed by Uthman b. Guhar of Adal.[5]

17th century

Semien was governed by members of the

Susenyos made his son Fasilides governor of Semien Province with the title of Aggafari. The title ‘‘Aggafari of Semien’’ became a normal title for the Crown Prince. Thereafter, the title became an honorific title for the governor of Semien, which came to occupy the fifth place in Ethiopian table of ranks.[6]

Susenyos, became the new governor (Aggafari) of Semien.[7]

Yostos, the eldest son and presumptive heir of Emperor Yohannes I governed Semien before his untimely death in June 1676. His brother, Iyasu the Great, then a prince, succeeded him. Iyasu I later became the Emperor in 1682, and moved to Gondar. Iyasu's sister Eleni, a remarkable figure in Ethiopia's 17th century political history succeeded her brother as governor.[8][9]

18th century

Ras Gebre (1771-1815) governed Semien since the early years of the Zemene Mesafint period, for more than four decades. On Amba Hay was their fortress stronghold and the main residence of the family.[10][11][12]

19th century

Succeeding his father Gebre,

Tekeze to rule Tigray Province and modern day Eritrea.[11]

empress consort to Menelik II
and niece of Wube, hailed from Semien province.

Economic history

In his early 19th century writings, traveller

sheepherding. Semien itself was the object of insulting jokes by other provincials. Semenites were even ridiculed as soldiers whose shields were made of sheepskin.[13][14]

According to

Wallis Budge 1928 publication, Semien was known for its semi-precious stones such as turquoise, carnelian, jaspers of various colors and agates.[15]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-317-05271-5
    .
  2. ^ Murray, Alexander (1808). Account of the Life and Writings of James Bruce ...: Author of Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, & 1773. A. Constable. p. 304.
  3. ^ Discussed further in Frederick J. Simoons, "Snow in Ethiopia: A Review of the Evidence", Geographical Review, 50 (1960), pp. 402-411.
  4. ^ Wolska-Conus, W., La topographie chrétienne (Paris Press univ. de France 1962)
  5. ^ Chekroun, Amélie. Le” Futuh al-Habasa” : écriture de l’histoire, guerre et société dans le Bar Sa’ad ad-din (Ethiopie, XVIe siècle). l’Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. p. 336.
  6. OCLC 722894586. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  7. OCLC 722894586. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  8. OCLC 921905105.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  9. ISBN 9783447052382
    .
  10. ISBN 9781107450516
    .
  11. ^
    ISBN 9780195382075
    .
  12. ISBN 978-3-447-06246-6. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  13. OCLC 15027465
    .
  14. ISBN 9780932415103
    .
  15. OCLC 874381390
    .


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