Enderta Province

History

Enderta, locally known as 70 Enderta (seb-aa Enderta as it is pronounced in Tigrinya) was part and parcel of the Axumite empire. The book of Aksum written and compiled probably before the eighteenth century shows a traditional schematic map of northern Ethiopia which is Tigre; the map which has the city of Aksum at its center indicates Enderta as one of the 13th principal provinces of Tigre/Tigray--“Tembien, Shire, Sarawe, Hamasen, Bur, Sam’a, Agame, Amba Senayt, Garalta, Enderta, Saharti and Abergale”. Enderta then would rise to prominence and absorb Garalta and Saharti and would become one of the biggest provinces of Tigre

Capital

Hintalo, known as Antalo by its historical name has been Enderta’s capital city for hundreds of years; it is located on a high plateau beneath the south face of Amba Aradam, which made the town a natural fortress. It was first mentioned by the Yemeni ambassador Hasan ibn Ahmad al-Haymat, who described it as a "fortified town". In 1678 Antalo was the location of a battle; some of the prominent men of Lasta intended to join a rebellion in Antalo, but they were defeated, and some men fell over the precipices. Antalo would for centuries remain as one of the three most important cities in the empire of Abyssinia along side Adowa and Gondar. The city of Antalo had a vibrant market place; in its hay day, the market had a trade in ivory during the 1890s; also at the market 16,000 oxen, 8,000 cows, 8,000 goats, and 17,000 sheep were sold annually.

The ascend of the Aristocratic family of Enderta to power and Zemene Mesafint (1769-1855)

Zemene Mesafint or Era of Princes was a time in Ethiopian history when the country was divided into autonomous provinces with sporadic conflicts and war raging between warlords of Abyssinia from all parts of the country; as a consequence, the Emperor which was the absolute ruler was rendered a mere symbol and was reduced to little more than a figurehead confined to the capital city of Gondar, religious conflict both within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and with Ethiopian Muslims were often used as the pretext for the powerful to battle each other.

The beginning of this period is set to the date Ras Mikael Sehul killed Emperor Iyoas (7 May 1769) the act of which sent a shock wave through out the empire as it was unAbysinian to even consider killing an Emperor anointed by God let alone killing him. Ras Suhul Michael after he was badly defeated by the Amhara chiefs and Oromo lords however, was chained in Gondar and let go to his native Tigre after being stripped off his Enderasieship (Prime ministership); he arrived in Tigre in disgrace. Up on hearing Michael’s predicament, Dejatch Kefla Yossous of Enderta who was temporarily administering Tigre during the absence of Suhul Michael, challenged Michael for the governorship of Tigre; but Kefla Yossous was defeated and was killed barbarously by Suhul Michael; Kefla Yossous was mutilated and left to die. Wolde Sellasie the third son of Dejat Kefla Yessous was a young man, his brothers included Bilaten-Geta Mennase and Debib. Born in 1745 in Antalo, Wolde Sellasie rose to prominence. He emerged as a heroic warrior after years of fighting; Nathaniel Pearce who lived with Ras Woldesellasie for many years, describes an encounter where Wolde Sellassie made a name for himself by single-handedly slaying the brothers Abel and Cail, "two of Ras Michael's choice men". Ras Mikael Sehul was so impressed at Woldesellasie’s bravery that he offered him the governorship of Enderta. However, Wolde Selassie remembered how the older man (Suhul Michael) had his father killed, and spent the years until the old Ras died in exile amongst the Wallo Oromo and in Gojjam. Up on the death of Michael however, Suhul’s son Wolde Gabriel succeeded the governorship, but was soon fiercely challenged by Kefla Yossous’ son Wolde sellassie. Immediately, the two men went to war; Wolde Gabriel attempted to crush Woldesellasie in wajerat, but according to Pearce after besieging Woldesellassie for 20 days Woldegabriel came off the worse and quickly made peace with Wolde Sellassie by proclaiming him Balgadda or governor of the salt-making districts, but Wolde Sellassie was aiming for the highest office in the land and when Wolde Gabriel was killed in a battle he waged against Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Woldesellasie went after another powerful war lord of Tigray by the name of Gerazmach Gebra Meskel.

The two fought on many battles but Gerazmach Gebra Meskel was on the loosing side; this prompted Wolde sellassie to head for Gondar to claim the governorship of Enderta. When he petitioned the Emperor Tekle Giorgis for that office, the Emperor however, gave the position to Gerazmach Gebra Meskel instead; this angered Wolde sellasie, and he soon quickly marched forth with a small army against Gebra Meskel. He defeated his troops, then entered Gebremeskel’s camp and took him prisoner. Woldesellassie, after effectively cleared the way for the highest office for him self, headed back to Gondar and placed his claim to the throne. Inspite of the combined forces of the chiefs of Amhara, the two Emperors, Teklehaimanot and Teklegiorgis bestowed Woldesellsie both the titles Ras and Betweded of the empire of Abyssinia in 1790.

Enderassie Ras Wolde Selassie

The family of Dejat Kefla Yessous and Wolde selassie were distinguished origin, and came from Antalo, in Enderta, of which place they were chiefs. Wolde Sellasie was known to be one of the bravest princes in the records of Abyssinia after engaging successfully in more than forty battles and rising to the level of Betwded Enderassie while a governor of all provinces as well as major districts of Tigray (Enderta, Tembien, Agame, Shire, Adowa, Axum and Tigre) from 1790-1816. He is distinguished more for his intrepidity and firmness than by the politics and policy with which he had uniformly governed Abyssinia as Enderassie during the reign of Emperors Teklehaimanot, Tekle Giorgis and Eguale Sion. His wives included Mentwab (died in 1812 from small pox), the sister of Emperor Egwale Seyon; and Sahin, the daughter of Emperor Tekle Giorgis.

For twenty 25 years as an independent ruler, Ras Wolde Selassie was known to have had wielded the most power during his tenure as Ras exceeding formidable rases such as Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Ras Gugsa of Gojam and the Oromo Chiftan Gojje; and through out his vast districts, all kinds of crimes, grievances, rebellions, disputes and inheritage were directly referred to him and most wars were carried by him self in person. At the effort of Ras Woldesselasie, Abyssinia received its bishop from Egypt at around 1816: Abune Qerellos III (1816-1828) who made his residence in Antalo. The traveler Henry Salt who was one of the three British diplomats who visited Abyssinia both in 1805 and in 1810 was hosted by Ras Wolde Selassie at his residence in Antalo, Enderta; he writes, "Ras Wolde sellasie ruled Abyssinia with firmness and a vigor of constitution that united the different ethnic groups of Abyssinia. When ever I have seen him in the exercise of his power, he has shown a vicacity of expression, a quickness comprehension, and a sort of commanding energy, that overawed all who approached him". Parkyns adds, “Wolde Sellasie reigned for twenty-five years, and during this long period obtained and maintained for him self the character of a good and wise prince”. Ras Woldesellasie was an avid chess player, Pearce notes, "which he would play at from morning till night”. He died at an advanced age in 1816 at his residence in Antalo, Enderta due to natural causes.

The county of 70-Enderta and its local legend

Enderta is one of the eight Awrajas (counties) of Tigray (Enderta is not part of the 36 Weredas as stated above), often it is called 70 Enderta by its indigenous inhabitants. Located at the Eastern edge of the Ethiopian highlands, Enderta is/was the center of social, political and economical development of the Ethiopian Empire.

According to the local legend, 70 elders are elected from each districts of the county of Enderta to mediate among each Weredas when rivaleries and neighbor hood disputes arise (Erqi Enderta, as it is still called in the region). These 70 elders hold also regional authority in representing the people of the Enderta Awraja in grievance as well as in any legal disputes which might arise in the many districts that are in an enclave of this County; this kind of political system is a form of democratic governance that has survived for centuries in between these peculiar endogenous people of Enderta in the Ethiopian Kingdom.

Location

70 Enderta is bordered on the West by Tembien, South Western by Wag of Gonder, South by Raya Azebo, on the Eastern by Aseb Awraja Administration, and Northern by Kelete Awlaelo, Agame and Adwa.

Meqele--current capital city

Meqele (as pronounce with typical Endertawai slang), meaning to share, being the capital city of 70 Enderta and it is the center of the entire political and social life of the Tigray regional administration. No exact date and year is available as to when Meqele was founded but one can be sure that the city administration started to regroup before the reigns of Atse Yohannes IV (1871-1889). During the Emperor's reign all the administrative and command of authority of Ethiopia was centered in Meqele.

70 Enderta is made up of more than 10 Weredas (districts).

1. Enderta – Meqele 2. Dedeba Dergajen - Kwiha 3. Gabat melash – Hentalo 4. Wenberta – Maimekden 5. Degua Slowa – Dala 6. Saharti – Gijet 7. GereAlta – TsigeReda 8. Waereb – Samre 9. Wajerat – Debub 10. Denkel – Shekhet