Battle of Fatagar

The Battle of Fatagar (alternatively known as Nech Sar) was a reprisal war between the participants of the previous Adal Sultanate and Ethiopian Empire in the Ethiopian-Adal war. It was fought between the forces of the Sultanate of Harar led by Nur ibn Mujahid, and the Ethiopian Empire under Emperor Gelawdewos.[11] The Ethiopian Emperor was killed by Adal forces in this battle.[12][13]

Battle of Fatager
Date23 March 1559 (1559-03-23)
Location
Nech Sar, Fatagar, Ethiopian Empire[1]
Result

Adal victory

  • Nur ibn Mujahid conquers parts of Abyssinia and becomes Emir of Harar and leader of Adal.
Belligerents
Adal Sultanate Ethiopian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Nur ibn Mujahid Gelawdewos †
Strength
1,800 Cavalry[2]
500 Musketeers[3]
"Numerous" Large archers[4]
"Numerous" Spearmen[5]		 Total:1,070[6]
250 Cavalry[7]
100 Musketeers[8]
500 Archers[9]
700 Foot soldiers[10]
Casualties and losses
Minimal

Battle

In 1559, Nur invaded Fatagar to confront Gelawdewos with the Malassay comprising eighteen hundred horsemen, five hundred riflemen, numerous sword and bow-wielding troops. The Abyssinian forces were greatly outnumbered as Gelawdewos had sent an army to lay siege to Harar. However, the explorer Richard Francis Burton tells a slightly different account, adding that Gelawdewos had been supervising the restoration of Debre Werq when he received a message from Emir Nur challenging him to combat. When the Emperor met the Emir, a priest warned that the angel Gabriel had told him Gelawdewos would needlessly risk his life—which caused most of the Ethiopian army to flee.[14] According to Harari chronicle, Early in the battle Galawdéwos was shot, but continued struggling until encircled by numerous Harari cavalry, which gave him a death blow.[15]

References
  1. Pankhurst, Alula; Piguet, François (2009). Moving People in Ethiopia: Development, Displacement & the State. ISBN 9781847016133.
  2. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  3. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  4. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  5. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  6. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  7. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  8. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  9. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  10. Solomon , The Chronicle, p. 246, Chap. 84
  11. Shinn, David (2004). Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. Scarecrow Press. p. 174. ISBN 9780810865662.
  12. Pankhurst, Richard (1997). The Ethiopian Borderlands. Red Sea Press. p. 246. ISBN 9780932415196.
  13. {{cite book |title=History of Harar and Hararis |publisher=Harar Tourism Bureau |page=71 |url=https://everythingharar.com/files/History_of_Harar_and_Harari-HNL.pdf
  14. Richard Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa (New York: Praeger, 1966), pp. 183f
  15. Pankhurst, Richard (1997). The Ethiopian Borderlands. Red Sea Press. p. 246. ISBN 9780932415196.
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