Walda Giyorgis

Walda Giyorgis[note 1] (died June 1918) was an ecclesiastic during the reign of Menelik II.

Biography

Early years

Walda Giyorgis was a monk of Amhara lineage, who in his early years, served at the monastery of Mahbere Selassie, near the border town of Metemma in Begemder province.[2][3][4]

Gojjam period

He was summoned to the court of Negus Tekle Haymanot, where he gradually accumulated influence, and became the chief confessor (Alaqa) of the Negus. Walda Giyorgis accompanied his Negus to Embabo, when on 6 June 1882, he witnessed (some sources say he inspired soldiers and took part in) the Battle of Embabo. The Shewan forces won out against the Gojjames, and took Tekle Haymanot prisoner. Thereafter, at Menelik's invitation, he went to the victor's court in Shewa.[1][2][3]

Under Menelik II

He taught church education at Entoto Raguel Church in the northern outskirts of Addis Ababa. His star pupil, Heruy Wolde Selassie became one of Ethiopia's most iconic litterateur.[5]

Over the years, Walda Giyorgis gained Menelik's trust, and in 1896, following the victory over the Italian invaders at the Battle of Adwa, he was elevated as the Nebura-ed[note 2] of Aksum. Walda Giyorgis was thus invested with significant control over Tigray Province; his contemporaries called him ‘‘Menelik II's agent in Tigray.[2][3]

Notes
  1. Walda Giyorgis[1][2] is also spelled in various sources as Walda-Giyorgis[3]
  2. Nebura-ed is a traditional Ethiopian ecclesiatic title, usually referring to the senior administrator of Aksum.[6]

References
  1. Pankhurst, Richard; Woldeyes, Asrat (1990). An Introduction to the Medical History of Ethiopia. p. 55. ISBN 9780932415448.
  2. Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro; Yimam, Baye (2010). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: O-X. Walda Giyorgis. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 1100. ISBN 978-3-447-06246-6.
  3. Caulk, Richard (2002). Between the Jaws of Hyenas - A Diplomatic History of Ethiopia (1876-1896). Harrassowitz. p. 591. ISBN 9783447045582.
  4. Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: He-N. Mahbara Sellase. Wiesbaden: Harrossowitz Verlag. p. 653. ISBN 9783447056076. OCLC 921905105.
  5. Zewde, Bahru; Wolde Selassie, Heruy; Walda-Masqal, Mahtama-Sellasse (1996). "Heruy's "Ya-Heywat Tarik" and Mahtama-Sellase's "Che Balaw": Two Perceptions of a Biographical Dictionary". History in Africa. Cambridge University Press. 23: 391. doi:10.2307/3171950. JSTOR 3171950.
  6. Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: He-N. Nebura ed. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 1161–1162. ISBN 9783447056076. OCLC 921905105.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.