Demetros of Amhara

Demetros[note 1] was a military commander under several Emperors, from Yohannes I to Tewoflos. He was regarded as a founder of a local dynasty in his native Merhabete, from where he initiated wars of reconquest of Shewan territories against the Oromos. Under Iyasu I he was elevated to the governship (Sahafe Lam) of Shewa.

Biography

Background

Of Amhara lineage, Demetros was a native from the Shewan district of Merhabete. While most of Shewa was conquered by the Oromo invasions, Christian communities survived in his homeland of Merhabete. There were unbroken links with the empire, and the Christian regeneration took place well before the better known case of the Menz dynasty of his Shewan Amhara contemporary, Negasi Krestos.[2][4]

Lasta campaign

In December 1679, after months of tensions between the crown and the region of Lasta, Emperor Yohannes I launched an punitive expedition into Lasta. On the 7th day of the campaign, the imperial forces were hindered by unfavorable weather conditions. Detached from the imperial army by the order of his majesty, dejazmach Demetros destroyed a fortress in Dabot, seizing glory that day.[3]

On the 8th day, Demetros further distinguished himself by taking an mountain settlement called Maskot, which previous emperors and commanders failed to conquer.[3]

Conflict against the Oromos - 1684

In 1684, the Edju Oromos invaded Amhara, dejazmach Demetros fought alongside Emperor Iyasu I to expel them. The enemy were caught in a narrow defile, from each end of which they were attacked and slain in large numbers.[1]

1690's

Throughout the 1690s Demetros was a close confidant of Iyasu I, helping plan attacks on the Oromos and participating in Iyasu's campaigns. By 1693 he held the title of Sahafe Lam[note 2] of Shewa. By the end of the decade, however, he had lost favour at Iyasu's court. In March 1699, at the conclusion of yet another campaign against the Oromo, Iyasu stripped Demetros of his appointment as Sahafe Lam of Shewa, and reduced his territorial control to his homeland, the district of Merhabete.[2]

Notes
  1. Demetros[1][2] is called in various sources as Demetros of Amhara[2] and Demyanos[3]
  2. Sahafe Lam is an old title, associated with the governship of a few important provinces such as Bete Amhara, Damot and Shewa.[5]

References
  1. Budge, Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis (1966). A history of Ethiopia, Nubia & Abyssinia. According to the hieroglyphic inscriptions of Egypt and Nubia, and the Ethiopian chronicles. London, Oosterhout: Methuen (1928), N.B. Anthropological Publications (1966). p. 409. OCLC 874381390.
  2. Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro; Yimam, Baye, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha. p. 129. ISBN 9783447052382. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. Alāf Sagad, Zenahu la negus negast (1955). Annales Iohannis I, Iyāsu I, Bakāffā. Louvain L. Durbecq. p. 44. OCLC 1244212657. Le 7° jour depuis que le brouillard était Lombé, le roi ayant envoyé le daÿäzmaäè Demyanos, alla vers Dabot, en détruisit la forteresse et en pilla tous les objets (les richesses). Car les Paysan: ne pouvaient pas lui opposer résistance, pas plus que le roseau au feu brûlant. Le 8° jour après les ténèbres du brouillard, lorsque le soleil resplendit de nouveau comme d'ordinaire et que le brouillard fut dispersé, tous les chefs sortirent du camp, prêts à faire la guerre sur l'ordre du Roi des rois A'läf Sagad. Le daigaz mas Demya- hos et le Zan serär Hawaryä s'étant réunis tous les deux, en se séparant des chefs, mirent en fuite les Paysans et leur firent aban- donner les maisons bâties sur le versant du mont, dont le nom est Maskot, que les chefs antérieurs et les rois devenus fameux n'avaient pas réussi à gagner. Après avoir dispersé les Paysans, comme la : fumée ou les cendres d'une fournaise, ils brûlèrent les maisons de ce pays de Maskot, dont la route est étroite et resserrée. Qüelques- uns des combattants trouvèrent des tentes, d'autres apportèrent des trompettes; les autres richesses trouvées étaient innombrables. Alors la majesté du Roi des rois A'Iaf Sagad épouvanta tous les habi- tants du Laslä, comme un lion terrible ou une ourse qui a mis bas. [On the 7th day since the fog was Lombé, the king having sent the daÿäzmaäè Demyanos, went towards Dabot, destroyed the fortress and plundered all the objects (wealth). For the Peasants: could not oppose him any more resistance than the reed to the burning fire. On the 8th day after the darkness of the fog, when the sun shone again as usual and the fog was dispersed, all the leaders came out of the camp, ready to make war on the order of the King of kings A'läf Sagad. The daigaz mas Demyahos and the Zan serär Hawaryä having both united, separating from the chiefs, put the Peasants to flight and made them abandon the houses built on the slope of the mountain, whose name is Maskot. , which earlier chiefs and kings who became famous had failed to win. After having dispersed the Peasants, like the smoke or the ashes of a furnace, they burned the houses of this country of Maskot, whose road is narrow and constricted. Some of the combatants found tents, others brought trumpets; the other riches found were innumerable. Then the majesty of the King of kings A'Iaf Sagad terrified all the inhabitants of Laslä, like a terrible lion or a bear that has given birth.]
  4. Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: He-N. p. 783. ISBN 9783447056076. OCLC 921905105. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro; Yimam, Baye (2010). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: O-X. pp. 459–460. ISBN 978-3-447-06246-6. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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