|
Wolde Selassie (Geez: ዎልደስላሴ; c.1745〔Henry Salt estimated his age at 64 when he visited him in 1809. ''A Voyage to Abyssinia and Travels into the Interior of that Country'' () (London: Frank Cass, 1958), p. 325〕 - 28 May 1816) was a ''Ras'' of Ethiopia and warlord of Tigray. He was the son of ''Dejazmach'' Kefla Iyasus, governor of Enderta province, and his wives included Mentewab (died 1812 from smallpox), the sister of Emperor Egwale Seyon; and Sahin, the daughter of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I.〔Richard K.P. Pankhurst, ''History of Ethiopian Towns'' (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1 p. 206.〕 His brothers included ''Dejazmach'' Bilaten-Geta Mennase and ''Dejazmach'' Debbab, the great grand father of Emperor Yohannes IV. John J. Halls, in his ''Life and Correspondence of Henry Salt'', preserves a description of this powerful warlord, as "small in stature, and delicately formed, quick in his manner, with a shrewd expression, and considerable dignity in his deportment."〔John J. Halls, ''Life and Correspondence of Henry Salt'', (London, 1834), vol. 1 p. 114〕 Nathaniel Pearce also notes that Ras Wolde was an avid chess player, and "would play at from morning till night".〔Nathaniel Pearce, ''The Life and Adventures of Nathaniel Pearce'', J.J. Halls. ed. (London, 1831), vol. 2 p. 92〕 == Life == Wolde Selassie, who descended from the nobility of Antalo (Hintalo) in Enderta,〔Mansfield Parkyns, ''Life in Abyssinia'', vol. 2 p. 93.〕 emerged as the ruler of Tigray, Hamasien and Mareb Melash (Eritrea) after years of fighting; Nathaniel Pearce describes an encounter where he made a name for himself by single-handedly slaying the brothers Abel and Cail, "two of Ras Michael's choice men" who were sent by Michael to kill Wolde Selasse. Despite the fact ''Ras'' Mikael Sehul was so impressed at this act of bravery that he tried to make peace with him, but Wolde Selassie remembered how the older man had killed his father, and until the old ''Ras'' died he spent his years in exile amongst the Wollo Oromo and in Gojjam.〔Pearce, ''The Life and Adventures'', vol. 2 pp. 87f〕 Wolde Gabriel, grandson of ''Ras'' Mikael, attempted to crush Wolde Selassie when the later was in Wogera, but according to Pearce after besieging Wolde Selassie for 20 days Wolde Gabriel came off the worse, and made peace by proclaiming him ''Balgadda'', or governor of the salt-making districts.〔Pearce, ''The Adventures'', vol. 2 p. 88〕 After Wolde Gabriel's death in battle against Ras Aligaz of Yejju the then Emperial regent of Abyssinia, Wolde Selassie petitioned Emperor Tekle Giyorgis for the governorship of his kingdom, Enderta, but the Emperor "according to his usual bad faith" made another warlord, ''Ras'' Gebre Masqal, governor of Enderta instead. Wolde Selassie then quickly marched forth with a smaller army against the ''Ras'', which he defeated, then entered Gebre Masqal's camp and took the ''Ras'' prisoner. Shortly afterwards he marched on Gondar. The two Emperors, Tekle Haymanot and Tekle Giyorgis bestowed Wolde-Sillasie the titles of both Ras and Bitwoded of the Abyssinian empire in 1790.〔Henry Salt, ''A voyage to Abyssinia'', p. 252〕 Wolde Selassie made his seat of government in Chalacot, but maintained his capital at Antalo in Enderta Province. He built four palaces, at Chelekot, Antalo, Felegdaro and Mekelle, all in Enderta. He played a role in the politics of the Imperial Throne, in part by providing shelter to Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I in 1799 and 1800, and was visited by the former Emperor Baeda Maryam in 1813.〔Pankhurst, ''History'', pp. 201f.〕 Although at first he cooperated with ''Ras'' Aligaz, the Imperial Regent, after his power grew, Wolde Selassie came to challenge Aligaz for that office prior to Aligaz's death in 1803.〔Mordechai Abir, ''Ethiopia: The Era of the Princes; The Challenge of Islam and the Re-unification of the Christian Empire (1769-1855)'' (London: Longmans, 1968), p. 31〕 The first years of the 19th century were disturbed by fierce campaigns between ''Ras'' Gugsa of Begemder, and ''Ras'' Wolde Selassie of Tigray, who fought over control of the figurehead Emperor Egwale Seyon. Wolde Selassie was eventually the victor, and practically ruled the whole country as ''Enderase'' till his death in 1816. Wolde Selassie, a conservative Christian who greatly valued Ethiopia's monarchical traditions, hated the Yeju parvenus. He hit out at them by effectively conquering the Azebo and Raya Oromo and by taking control over all the important passes in Lasta leading to Tigray. He then turned his attention to the coast, slowly but surely imposing his suzerainty over the Muslim authorities there until he finally could control and tax their trade inland; he used the revenues, to train, reform and re-equip his army and when the 19th century opened, Wolde Selassie was by far Abyssinia's leading figure and certainly the main champion of the Solomonic tradition.〔Harold G. Marcus, ''A history of Ethiopia'' (University of California press: 2002), p. 53〕 Ras Wolde Selassie was known to have had wielded the most power during his reign, exceeding formidable rases such as Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Ras Gugsa of Gojam and the Oromo chieftain Gojje; and throughout his vast provinces and districts, all kinds of crimes, grievances, rebellions, disputes and inheritances were directly referred to him and most wars were carried by himself in person. 〔Salt, ''A Voyage to Abyssinia'', p. 109〕 According to Paul Henze, ''Ras'' Wolde Selassie was the first ruler of this period to have close contact with Europeans, hosting three British diplomats, George Annesley, Viscount Valentia, his secretary Henry Salt, and Pearce. Salt's arrival in Abyssinia culminated in the signing of a treaty of friendship with Wolde Selassie representing Abyssinia and the former representing Great Britain in 1805. Henry Salt also proposed inaugurating trade with Britain; Wolde Selassie was quick to see possible advantages in relations with Britain and promised to encourage such commerce with every means in his power. Revealing himself a realist, and speaking, Salt says, with 'great sincerity', he nevertheless expressed the fear that his country : might not be able to supply any quantity of valuable commodities sufficient to recompense our merchants for engaging in so precarious a trade; more especially as the Abyssinians were not much acquainted with commercial transactions...Could any plan, however, be arranged for obviating these difficulties...he would most readily concur in carrying it into effect. Wolde Selassie also touched on a major obstacle that the Ethiopians had faced, the Egyptians had control over the port of Massawa which they acquired from the Ottoman Empire and reminded King George that with their "naval superiority in the red sea" Abyssinia might find it difficult to gain access to the port.〔Salt H., A Voyage to Abyssinina (London, 1814)〕 Wolde-Sillasie's effort however, did bear fruit in the long term when his successors ''Dejazmatch'' Wube of Semien and Tigray and Emperor Yohannes of Ethiopia followed up on the treaty that was struck between him and the kingdom of Britain. Nathaniel Pearce lived with Ras Wolde from about 1808 and the warlord's death. Pearce's diary of his stay is not only valuable for the history of this period, but also provides enormous detail about daily life in Ethiopia.〔Paul B. Henze, ''Layers of Time, A History of Ethiopia'' (New York: Palgrave, 2000), p. 122〕 The ''Ras'' died at the age of 80 due to natural causes at his residence in Hintalo, Enderta. His death was universally mourned. 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「Wolde Selassie」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|