Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi, also known…

Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi, also known as Ahmad Gragn, had conquered Adal in the mid-1520s and launched a holy war against Christian Ethiopia, also known as Abyssinia, which was then under the leadership of Lebna Dengel, enthroned as Dawit II.

Supplied by the Ottoman Empire with firearms, Ahmad had been able to defeat the Ethiopians at the Battle of Shimbra Kure in 1529 and seize control of the wealthy Ethiopian highlands.

The Abyssinians, under continuous assault by the Sultanate of Adal, whose forces the Ottoman Turks at Zeila have armed with modern weaponry, continue to resist from the Christian highland areas.

The royal compound at Amba Geshen is captured in January 1540, the royal prisoners interred there slaughtered with their guards, and the royal treasury looted.

The Muslims establish their presence throughout the highland zone as they hunt the Ethiopian king, chasing him from one mountain retreat to the next.

Later in this year,