Medri Bahri
State | Defunct
1137 CE to 1890 CE
Medri Bahri is a medieval kingdom in the Horn of Africa.
Situated in modern-day Eritrea, it is ruled by the Bahri Negus (also called the Bahri Negasi), whose capital is located at Debarwa.
At some periods in its history, it is a vassal state of the Ethiopian Empire.[
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The Eritrean highlands had come the domain of Bahr Negash, ruled by the Bahr Negus, after the decline of Aksum.
The area is known at this time as Ma'ikele Bahr ("between the seas/rivers," i.e., the land between the Red Sea and the Mereb river).
It is later renamed under Emperor Zara Yaqob as the domain of the Bahr Negash, the Medri Bahri ("Sea land" in Tingrinya, although it includes some areas like Shire on the other side of the Mereb, today in Ethiopia).
With its capital at Debarwa, the state's main provinces are Hamasien, Serae and Akele Guzai.
The area is known at this time as Ma'ikele Bahr ("between the seas/rivers," i.e., the land between the Red Sea and the Mereb river).
It is later renamed under Emperor Zara Yaqob as the domain of the Bahr Negash, the Medri Bahri ("Sea land" in Tingrinya, although it includes some areas like Shire on the other side of the Mereb, today in Ethiopia).
With its capital at Debarwa, the state's main provinces are Hamasien, Serae and Akele Guzai.
The Ottomans succeed in conquering Medri Bahri by 1517.
They occupy all of northeastern present-day Eritrea for the next two decades, an area that stretches from Massawa to Suakin in Sudan.
They occupy all of northeastern present-day Eritrea for the next two decades, an area that stretches from Massawa to Suakin in Sudan.
Ottoman Turks briefly occupiy the highland parts of Baharnagash in 1559 and withdraw after they encounter resistance and are pushed back by the Bahrnegash and highland forces.
In 1578 they try to expand into the highlands with the help of Bahr Negash Yisehaq, who had switched alliances due to power struggle, and by 1589 once again they are apparently compelled to withdraw their forces to the coast.
After this, the Ottomans abandon their ambitions to establish themselves on the highlands and will remain in the lowlands until they leave the region by 1872.
In 1578 they try to expand into the highlands with the help of Bahr Negash Yisehaq, who had switched alliances due to power struggle, and by 1589 once again they are apparently compelled to withdraw their forces to the coast.
After this, the Ottomans abandon their ambitions to establish themselves on the highlands and will remain in the lowlands until they leave the region by 1872.
The Scottish traveler James Bruce will report in 1770 that Medri Bahri is a distinct political entity from Abyssinia, noting that the two territories are frequently in conflict.
The Bahre-Nagassi ("Kings of the Sea") alternately fight with or against the Abyssinians and the neighboring Muslim Adal Sultanate, depending on the geopolitical circumstances.
Medri Bahri is thus part of the Christian resistance against Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi of Adal's forces, but later joins the Adalite states and the Ottoman Empire front against Abyssinia in 1572.
The sixteenth century also marks the arrival of the Ottomans, who begin making inroads in the Red Sea area.
The Bahre-Nagassi ("Kings of the Sea") alternately fight with or against the Abyssinians and the neighboring Muslim Adal Sultanate, depending on the geopolitical circumstances.
Medri Bahri is thus part of the Christian resistance against Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi of Adal's forces, but later joins the Adalite states and the Ottoman Empire front against Abyssinia in 1572.
The sixteenth century also marks the arrival of the Ottomans, who begin making inroads in the Red Sea area.
The former territory of Medri Bahri becomes an Ottoman governorate (eyalet) known as the Habesh Eyalet.
Massawa serves as the new province's first capital.
When the city becomes of secondary economical importance, the administrative capital is soon moved across the Red Sea to Jeddah.
Its headquarters will remain there from the end of the sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century, with Medina temporarily serving as the capital in the eighteenth century.
The Ottomans are eventually driven out in the last quarter of the sixteenth century.
However, they will retain control over the seaboard until the establishment of Italian Eritrea in the late 1800s.
Massawa serves as the new province's first capital.
When the city becomes of secondary economical importance, the administrative capital is soon moved across the Red Sea to Jeddah.
Its headquarters will remain there from the end of the sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century, with Medina temporarily serving as the capital in the eighteenth century.
The Ottomans are eventually driven out in the last quarter of the sixteenth century.
However, they will retain control over the seaboard until the establishment of Italian Eritrea in the late 1800s.
James Bruce reports in his book, published in 1805, that Hadawi, the seat of Baharanagash, is part of the Tigré province of Abyssinia, which is ruled by Ras Mikael Sehul at the time of his travels.
The officer in Hadawi watches over the Naybe of Masawa (the Ottoman province of Habesh Eyalet), and starves him into obedience by intercepting his provisions, whenever the officer in Hadawi and the governor of Tigré find it necessary.
Bruce also locates Tigré between the Red Sea and the river Tekezé and states that many large governments, such as Enderta and Antalow, and the great part of Baharhagash, are on the eastern side of Tigré province.
The officer in Hadawi watches over the Naybe of Masawa (the Ottoman province of Habesh Eyalet), and starves him into obedience by intercepting his provisions, whenever the officer in Hadawi and the governor of Tigré find it necessary.
Bruce also locates Tigré between the Red Sea and the river Tekezé and states that many large governments, such as Enderta and Antalow, and the great part of Baharhagash, are on the eastern side of Tigré province.