Ahmed Gurey ~ the Conqueror of the Horn

After Jamal Ad Diin II died a natural death in the 1430s, there were a few sultans who led the empire, however they had little significance shaping the horn. It wasn’t until Ahmed Gurey rose and become a general where the religion and the politics of the horn changed forever

He put his brother, Umar Din in power after killing Abu Bakr Maxamed.

Abu Bakr became the sultan of Adal in 1525 after killing the leaders before him and creating division. Once Ahmed Gurey killed him in a battle and replaced him with his brother, the empire drew more united

The Ethiopian and the Portuguese empire both attacked Adal in the previous decades and therefore did not think it was a threat to the Christiandom. They were wrong. On October 1531, Ahmed Gurey and his troops attacked Dawit II, the Abyssinian emperor.

This battle named the battle of Amba Sel left Ethiopia weak. Nearly 1000 Ethiopian soldiers were left dead with almost 300 wounded, only 200 soldiers from Adal were martyred, May Allah grant them the highest rankest of jannah

This victory meant that Adal expended into the southern Amhara territory. Within a matter of days, Adal troops marched across the Walaqa river taking control of cities as they marched. They then moved up north crossing the lake Hayq and eventually made it into Lalibela

After they made it into the northern Amhara region, Ahmed Gurey and his troops were too strong for Ethiopia. However, what the straw which broke the camels back was, is when Adal defeated the Abyssinian troops allowing them to enter the Tigray region, especially Aksum

Aksum was an ancient city and contained the most important church in the whole of Ethiopia, the church of Lady Mary of Zion. This church was very important to them because Christians claim it contains the Ark of the Covenant and also Abyssinian rulers had to be crowned here

What was once a weak Muslim empire which only ruled saylac and neighbouring cities took over Aksum. Ahmed Gurey brought Ethiopia to its knees, the clear victor over Ethiopian aggression, may Allah grant him the highest rankest of jannah

The emperor of Ethiopia was forced to beg the Portuguese for support in the hopes of breaking down the Muslim empire of the horn. Cristòvão Da Gama was sent with 400 skilled musketeers. Cristòvão was the son of the famous explorer Vasco Da Gama

Da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea, this started a long lasting Portuguese imperialism in Asia which inspired other European empires to do so as well. Without Vasco Da Gama, western imperialism and slavery would have not occurred the way it did or at all.

His son, Cristòvão was sent to Ethiopia to protect their Christian empire and try take control over Somalis and the Muslims of the horn. When he and his 400 musketeers arrived, they were met with Ahmed Gurey and his men.

The Portuguese and Abyssinian troops attacked the Muslims multiple times, each time they weakened them but it was not enough to make them flee or surrounded. On the fourth attack which took place in August 1542, Ahmed Gurey managed to turn the tables and kill most musketeers

Cristòvão, the son of an European imperialist was killed by Ahmed Gurey after he refused to surrender. Ahmed Gurey and his soldiers, although the odds were against him, with the help of Allah, managed to make the remaining Portuguese men flee and destroy the Ethiopian empire.

The greatest hero in medieval Somali history. His legacy can be seen everywhere, from making Ethiopians lands Muslim to being one of the only people to defeat the medieval Portuguese empire. He will always be our national hero