Garmame

Garmame's first (military) role of significance occurred in the aftermath of King Sahle Selassie's death. He is said to have been in service of Haile Melekot when King Sahle Selassie was still alive. On the death of the latter, the Oromos of Shewa rose in open revolt. He advised the new king, Haile Melekot, not to lead the military expedition himself, and took the task upon him to put down the rebellion. Garmame skillfully divided the Oromo chiefs, and days later led a victorious military campaign as far as Nazret. Thus, Garmame along with the two princes Darge Sahle Selassie and Sayfu Sahle Selassie played a major role in stabilizing Haile Melekot's new administration.[2][6]

Since his military feat, until his death (except for the period Tewodros II conquered Shewa between 1855-1865), Garmame governed the region of the Awash Valley, from his seat at Debre Gojo, southwest of Ankober and Tegulet.[2]

Garmame was instrumental in the escape of Shewan royal family, most notably Menelik II, and other notable political prisoners of Tewodros II. Garmame managed to feign loyalty to Tewodros and even been given the hand of Qataro Merso,[note 4] whom he suspected was a spy for Tewodros. Garmame was the intermediary between secret correspondence between Menelik II and his loyal followers back in Shewa. To avoid any leaks of secrets, Garmame pretended to be ill, and moved his bed from house to house to one or other of his loyal friends at Tewodros II's camp. Oblivious, his wife Qataro sent all the people her husband told her who were knowledgeable of medicine to him, when in reality they were Garmame's secret agents.[5]

In July 1865, crafty Garmame threw a feast and invited his friends, and the guards of the fortress gate to eat and drink at his house. He acted in the manner of a most generous host and saw to it that everyone, including his wife, had an abundance of liquor. After midnight, when everyone was intoxicated and asleep, Garmame led Menelik II and twenty other Shewans through the unguarded gates, and escaped the fortress. By dawn, the fugitives, on horses purchased in advance by Garmame's agents, had reached Werqitu's camp in Wollo some kilometers to the south. After replenishing their strength, they left for Shewa on the third day.[2][5]

In 1877 before leaving Shewa for a military campaign in Gojjam, Menelik had entrusted the administration of Shewa to Azzaj Wolda Tsadeq and Dejazmach Garmame. Bafena inspired rebellion through Haile Mikael Sahle Selassie took them by surprise, and the aged noble took control of Ankober on May 2, 1877, proclaiming himself as the Negus of Shewa. Two days later, Garmame supported by Afe Negus Madhane restored order by defeating Haile Mikael's forces in battle. Haile Mikael was wounded, captured and imprisoned at Ankober.[3]

On 15 May however, the sly Bafena convinced Menelik to make her regent in his absence, and came into possession of his royal seal that authorized her above Garmame and Wolda Tsadeq, and took control of the strategic fortress of Tamo, and plotted her next coup attempt.[3]

Unlike many of his peers, Garmame preferred landed property and the cultivation and storage of grain to anything else. During the great famine of 1888-1892, he was the only notable governor who could supplement the depleted granaries of the imperial palace.[4]

He died of illness and was buried at the Lalibala church cemetery of Qacama around 1899 or 1900.[4][1]