Battle of Ayshal
| Battle of Ayshal | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Loyalists to Kassa Hailu | Loyalists to Ras Ali | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Kassa Hailu | Ras Ali | ||||||
The Battle of Ayshal was fought on 29 June 1853, between the forces of Kassa Hailu and the forces of Ras Ali II, in Ayshal, in eastern Gojjam. Kassa's forces won the battle.[1]
The popularity of Kassa continued to grow as he defeated several nobles one after another, including Dejazmach Birru Goshu, Birru Aligaz and Belew. Birru Aligaz and Belew were defeated in the battle of Taqussa, that enraged Ras Ali. Finally, Ras Ali and Kassa fought the battle in Ayshal. The charges of Ras Ali’s host and the Gojjame army were at first advancing against Kassa’s army but they were only smashed when the Gragn, Welde-Kidan who rallied and lead the army from the front, was shot and fell from his horse , dying instantly. Kassa who saw the shock of the enemy ,entered the middle of the battle and rallied his own army and Due to his personal bravery the tide of victory turned. When it became apparent that Kassa was about to be victorious, Ras Ali was among the first to flee from the battlefield,[2] heading to Yeju.[3]: 16–17 According to traditional Ethiopian history, the battle of Ayshal marks the end of the Zemene Mesafint.[4]: 43
References
- ^ Pankhurst, Richard (2001). The Ethiopians. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers. pp. 143–144. ISBN 0-631-22493-9.
- ^ Mordechai, Abir (1968). Ethiopia: the Era of the Princes: The Challenge of Islam and Re-unification of the Christian Empire, 1769-1855. London: Longmans, Green. pp. 139–140. ISBN 9780582645172. OCLC 729977710.
- ^ Selassie (2013-12-19). Ethiopian Revolution. Routledge. ISBN 9781317847946.
- ^ Rubenson, Sven (1966-01-01). King of Kings: Tewodros of Ethiopia. Haile Sellassie I University Press.