WARQIT
- 3 Min Read
Wayzaro Warqit (who lived in the 19th century), or Wargitu, was a Muslim ruler of the Wallo Galla in the mid-19th century, who succeeded her late husband, Ali Abba Bula.
On behalf of her son, Amade Ali, she governed a wide area of what is now Wallo province. When Emperor Téwodros [reigned 1855-68] began his advance on Wallo and Shawa in 1855, Wargit tried to ally herself with King Haya Malakot of Shawa (reigned 1847-55) to resist Téwodros. But when Ras Ali Alula, an influential figure in northern and central Ethiopia, advised both of them not to risk a major confrontation with Téwodros, they decided not to offer strong resistance.
On September 22, 1855, Téwodros occupied his mountain fortress of Maqala, and turned it into his stronghold. He could not completely subjugate Wallo, however, and there was bitter intermittent warfare with Wayzro Warqit’s supporters for several years.
Unfortunately, Téwodros captured Amade Ali, Wargit’s young son. According to the German-born British missionary Henry Stern, Tewodros won over Amade Ali, who willingly joined him with 24 of his young nobles. It was probably at this time that Amade was baptised, with Tewodros acting as his godfather. The contemporary of Téwodros, the chronicler Zannab, claims that, for a short period in 1858, Amade was even made governor of Magdala by Téwodros. Amade was later regarded as a hostage to ensure his mother’s good behaviour, and Warqit was obliged to accept Téwodros’s terms.
On June 30, 1865, Menilek, the young prince of Shawa who was later to become Emperor Menilek II [reigned 1889-1913], also a hostage of Tewodros, escaped from Maqdala with a few followers, and immediately went to Wargit’s camp, since she had been his father’s friend. In retaliation, almost immediately after the discovery of Menilek’s flight, Téwodros ordered Amade and his fellow hostages to be executed with great cruelty, according to both Zannab and another contemporary chronicler, Walda Maryam.
As soon as Warqit was informed of her son’s death, she ordered Menilek to be conducted to her immediately at Borumeda (near Dassé), where she received him with great pomp and ceremony, and issued a proclamation to the people of Shawa informing them of the imminent arrival of their prince. She sent three detachments of her troops and musicians to escort him to the border of Shawa.
Two years later, Menilek had the chance to repay his debt to Wargit. After her son’s death, Warqit had been forced to hand over her governorship to her kinsman and rival, Wayzaro Mastawat. At the end of the rainy season, in October 1867, Menilek went on an expedition to Wallo, and on November 16, 1868 restored Warqit to power as regent for her grandson.
Five of the seven Galla tribes of Wallo quickly signified their allegiance to Wargit, and Menilek withdrew from Wallo after installing her as governor of the district of Wara Himano.
BELAYNESH MICHAEL
