Wasan Sagad (Ge’ez: ዋሳን ሳጋድ) was a general and nobleman in the Ethiopian Empire under Lebna Dengel. He served as a key advisor and general during the early years of Lebna Dengel’s reign and during the Ethiopian-Adal War
Wasan Sagad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15th Century |
| Died | May 31, 1531 [1] |
| Allegiance | Ethiopian Empire |
| Rank | Bitwoded[2] |
| Battles / wars | Ethiopian–Adal War |
Biography
editKnown as "the Father of The Poor", he was well respected among the Ethiopian Nobility and his status akin to that of Lebna Dengel himself according to Shihab ad-Din Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Qader, Ahmed Gurey’s personal scribe.[3] He served as an advisor early on the reign of Lebna Dengel. According to Portuguese missionary and explorer Francisco Álvares he served as Bitwoded of the left during the year 1520. According to Shihab Ad Din, He held enough sway in court to save his brother, Wanag Jan, from execution after the latter's conversion to Islam. He was killed during an ambush at Mount Busat by the army of Ahmed Gurey. He was killed by a Muslim Commander by the name of ‘Ābad ibn Rājih[4][5]
Legacy
editWasan Sagad's sons are mentioned in the chronicles for continuing to resist the invading Adal army. Although Baher Sagad was killed, another son Saf Saggad was able to flee with his relatives and foot soldiers before the invading troops led by Abu Bakr Qatin, a general of Adal could capture the Abyssinian province.[6]
References
edit- ^ Haile, Getatchew. Northeast African Studies, vol. 10, no. 2/3, 1988, pp. 179–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43661193. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.
- ^ Alvares, Francisco. (1975). The Prester John of the Indies; a true relation of the lands of the Prester John, being the narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Ethiopia in 1520. Kraus. OCLC 2313033.
- ^ al-Dīn, Shihāb (2003). The Conquest of Abyssinia. p. 169. ISBN 0972317260.
- ^ al-Dīn, Shihāb (2003). The Conquest of Abyssinia. p. 199. ISBN 0972317260.
- ^ Budge, E. A. A History of Ethiopia: Volume I (Routledge Revivals): Nubia and Abyssinia. Routledge. pp. 327–328.
- ^ Aspen, Harald. Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies Volume 1 (PDF). Norwegian University of Science and Technology. p. 43.