Tenta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Tenta
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pushpin_label_position = bottom
pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ethiopia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Ethiopia
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Amhara
subdivision_type2 = Zone
subdivision_name2 = Semien (North) Shewa
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population_total = 4,022
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timezone = EAT
utc_offset = +3
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latd=11 |latm=19 |latNS=N
longd=39 |longm=15 |longEW=E
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elevation_m = 2972
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Tenta is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, Tenta has a latitude and longitude of coord|11|19|N|39|15|E with an elevation of 2972 meters above sea level.

A notable landmark in this town is the church dedicated to St. Michael, which was constructed at the patronage of Negus Mikael around 1899, who made this town his headquarters. It is unusual for having three altars: one dedicated to St. Michael, another to St. Tekle Haymanot, and the third to the Holy Trinity. Three different masses are said to be celebrated simultaneously in this church. In a nearby mausoleum Negus Mikael is buried with his second wife Zennebech and two sons by his first wife, Ali and Desta. [Aleqa Gebre-Igziabiher Elyas, "Prowess, Piety, and Politics: The Chronicle of Abeto Iyasu and Empress Zewditu of Ethiopia (1909-1930)", translated by Reidulf K. Molvaer (Köln: Rüdiger Köppe, 1994), p. 414 n.431]

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Tenta has an estimated total population of 4,022 of whom 1,996 were males and 2,2026 were females. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table B.3] The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 2,320 of whom 1,050 were males and 1,270 were females. It is one of three towns in Tenta woreda.

History

Tenta is the birthplace of the unlucky Emperor Iyasu V, the son of Negus Mikael, who was born there 4 February 1895 or 1896. A Swedish missionary who visited Tenta in the early 1930s found the settlement to be a strange little "king's town" surrounded by meter-high stone walls in three curves inside each other. On one side having a steep rock face, no wall was necessary. [http://130.238.24.99/library/resources/dossiers/local_history_of_ethiopia/t/ORTTEF.pdf "Local History in Ethiopia"] (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 16 December 2007)]

The settlement had an Italian garrison still until 19 May 1941 when it surrendered to Colonel Anderson, but in its final months it was under siege by "arbegnoch" fighters. It was later subjected to an air attack in November 1989 but escaped fatalities; however, in a second air attack on 4 January 1990 two were killed.

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