- Qedami Qal
Qedami Qal (reigned c.1718 - c.1744), better known as Abuye, was a
Meridazmach ofShewa , an important Amhara noble ofEthiopia . He was the son ofSebestyanos . [Harold Marcus is less definite on this, calling him Sebestyanos' "brother or his son". Ref Ethiopia|Marcus-1995|pages= p. 8] Abir states that he ruled for 25 years, although noting that Harris claims he ruled for 15 years, Coulbeaux for 25 (from 1725 to 1750), and d'Hericourt for 60. [Ref Ethiopia|Abir-1968|pages=p. 147 n.4] His wife was Woizero Tagunestiya, daughter of Mama Rufa'el, Governor of Mamameder.Abuye succeeded on the death of his father, and made his capital at
Har Amba . Sebestyanos had died "by a curious accident", according to Levine. Abuye had been rebuilding some of the churches destroyed byAhmad Gragn , one of which was inDoqaqit dedicated to St. Michael. Part of the ceremony required thetabot in the church in'Ayne , where his father was living, and it was secretly removed to Doqaqit. Sebestyanos saw this as an act of rebellion, and set forth to capture and discipline his son; however, in the ensuing battle one of Qedami Qal's servants accidentally killed the Meridazmach. [Donald N. Levine, "Wax and Gold: Tradition and Innovation in Ethiopia Culture" (Chicago: University Press, 1972), p. 33]Because his father Sebestyanos refused to give homage to the
Emperor of Ethiopia , shortly after Abuye came to power he was confronted with an attack by the army of Emperor Iyasus II. Although Abuye survived this threat unharmed, sources differ on the details. Abir reports one version, that intermediaries arranged an agreement where in exchange for tribute Abuye was officially invested with the title of Meridazmach; [Abir, p. 147.] Marcus elaborates on this version, adding that Emperor Iyasu was more concerned about suppressing theWollo Oromo "closer to his center of power. [Marcus, "Menelik II", p. 8.] Levine notes that a second version claims that Abuye met the Imperial army and defeated it. [Levine, "Wax and Gold", p. 33.]Abuye continued the military consolidation of the
Christian principalities around him, and battling theOromo invaders. He died fighting theKarayu Oromo south ofYifat , and was buried in his capital Doqaqit. [Abir, p. 147.]Notes
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