Battle of Zari explained

Conflict:Battle of Zari
Partof:the Ethiopian–Adal war
Date:13 April 1531
Territory:Complete Ethiopian Withdrawal from Ifat, Fatagar, and Shewa
Result:Adal victory
Combatant1: Adal Sultanate
Combatant2: Ethiopian Empire
Commander1:Ahmed Gurey
Garad Hirabu Goita Tedros
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:Unknown
Casualties1:Minimal
Casualties2:All but 20 killed

The Battle of Zari was fought in 1531 between Adal Sultanate forces under Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi and the Abyssinian army under Takla Iyasus. Ethiopian chronicles mention this battle as the Battle of Ayfars.

After the Christian defeat at Antukyah Eslamu fled to Zari where he received orders from Lebna Dengel demoting him and placed him under the command of Takla Iyasus, The governor of Angot.[1] However, when Iyasus arrived in Zari Eslamu forces where largely reduced by desertations as well as from the casualties at Antukyah. At Zari the Muslims were able to catch the Christian force off guard due to intelligence gathered from native Crypto Muslims.[2] Both Eslamu and Takla Iyasus were slain in the ensuing battle along with numerous Azmachs such as the governors of Begemder, Gojjam, and Hamasien. This devastating loss led to the complete withdrawal of the Ethiopians from the Shewan Plateau.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Shihāb al-Dīn, Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Qādir . Futūḥ Al-Ḥabaša: The Conquest of Abyssinia [16th Century] ]. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. . 2003 . 9780972317269 . Hollywood, California, USA . 146 . Stenhouse . Paul Lester.
  2. Book: The Conquest of Abyssinia pp.336. Frederick A. Edwards. 1905.