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Ras Alula Engida (Ge'ez: ራስ አሉላ እንግዳ) (1827 – 1897; also known by his horse name Abba Nega and by Alula Qubi〔Shinn, p. 25〕) was a general and Ethiopian politician. He was one of the important leaders of the Ethiopian armies of the 19th century and was described by Haggai Erlich as the greatest leader whom Abyssinia produced since the death of Emperor Tewodros II in 1868,〔From the back cover of Haggai Erlich's biography, Haggai Erlich, ''Ras Alula and the Scramble for Africa: A Political Biography: Ethiopia & Eritrea 1875-1897'' (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1996) ISBN 1-56902-029-9〕 and was referred to by Europeans as "the Garibaldi of Abyssinia".〔Augustus B. Wylde, ''Modern Abyssinia'' (London: Methuen, 1901), p. 29〕 He participated in many battles for the independence of Ethiopia, most importantly Dogali and Adwa. == Early years == Alula was born in Mennawe, a village in Tembien, 15 miles south of Abiy Addi, the son of Engda Eqube, a farmer of modest origins. Haggai Erlich relates a story about Alula's childhood -- "well known throughout Tigray": a group of people carrying baskets of bread to a wedding ceremony were stopped by a group of children led by the future ''Ras'', who demanded to know where they were going. "To the Castle of Ras Alula Wadi Qubi," they mockingly replied. "Thereafter," concludes Erlich, "his friends and the people of Mannawe nicknamed him Ras Alula."〔Haggai Erlich, ''Ras Alula and the Scramble for Africa: A Political Biography: Ethiopia & Eritrea 1875-1897'' (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1996), p. 5 Erlich states the year of his birth as 1847.〕 At first Alula attached himself to the distinguished ''Ras'' Araya Dimtsu, hereditary chief of Enderta who was lord of the land his father farmed; before long he gained the attention of ''Ras'' Araya's successful nephew, ''Dejazmach'' Kassa Mercha (the future emperor Yohannes IV), who made him his ''elfegn kalkay'' ("chamberlain and doorkeeper"). Erlich records an oral tradition that the young Alula distinguished himself by being the one who captured Tekle Giyorgis in the battle where Emperor Yohannes crushed his opponent (11 July 1871).〔Erlich, ''Ras Alula'', p. 9〕 In spite of his humble backgrounds, Alulua succeeded in climbing the ladder of the feudal hierarchy. He had three children by his first wife Wozero B'tweta. However in order to enhance his position at the Imperial court, he divorced his wife and married Woizero Amlesu Araya, daughter of ''Ras'' Araya Dimtsu, the powerful and much respected uncle of Emperor Yohannes IV. His second marriage was purely for political reasons, to improve his legitimacy with the local aristocracy, who did not hide their disapproval at seeing the son of a peasant reach this stature. Alula demonstrated his military skill in the Battle of Gundet and Gura, which were fought in November 1875 and March 1876 respectively, where he routed the Egyptian forces. Emperor Yohannes badly needed a man with these skills at the moment, for ''Ras'' Wolde Mikael was in revolt in Hamasien; Alula was promoted to ''Ras'' and sent to deal with this unruly aristocrat, who fled to Bogos. On 9 October 1876, the Emperor Yohannes IV made Alula governor of Mereb Mellash and Midri Bahri (today part of Eritrea).〔Erlich, ''Ras Alula'', p. 13〕 That same year the new ''Ras'' moved his family and following to Asmara, where he built a palace at the top of a hill in the middle of that town. From Asmara, he devoted himself to defending the northern borders of Ethiopia against the Italians, the Anglo-Egyptian forces, and later the Mahdists. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ras Alula」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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