Ethiopian military titles

Ethiopian military titles

The military ranks of the Ethiopian Army originally came from the traditional organization of their forces. An army in the field or in camp was composed of a vanguard, main body, left and right wings and a rear body. The titles of the upper level of officers reflected this organization:

* Dejazmach (ደጅአዝማች, "Commander or general of the Gate") a military title meaning commander of the central body of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+et0163) Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life] Library of Congress]

* Fitawrari (ፊትአውራሪ, Commander of the Vanguard), a military title meaning commander of the vanguard of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+et0163) Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life] Library of Congress]

* Grazmach (Commander of the Left Wing) a military title meaning commander of the left wing of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+et0163) Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life] Library of Congress]
* Qegnazmach (Commander of the Right wing) a military title meaning commander of the right wing of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+et0163) Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life] Library of Congress]
* Asmach (Commander of the Rearguard) a military title meaning commander of the rearguard of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. This was usually a trustworthy counselor and the leader's chief minister. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+et0163) Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life] Library of Congress]
* Balambaras (Commander of an Amba or fortress), these could also be commanders of the guards, artillery or cavalry of a traditional Ethiopian armed force, a man entrusted with important military commands. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+et0163) Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life] Library of Congress]

Traditionally the governors of the provinces were at the head of their local "Sefari" (provincial or district armed force) and levy. Depending on the importance of their locality they were called "Dejazmach Negarit", "Degiac Negarit" or "Degiac". A Degiac was the commander of a unit equivalent to a regiment, composed of two to three thousand men. [ "La preparazione abissina", Articoli ...]

The traditional army units were organized on the decimal system and the titles of their commanders, the Basciai, [ "La preparazione abissina", Articoli ...] reflected this organization:
* Shaleqa (Commander of a Thousand), later as modern military organization was adopted it came to mean the commanding officer of a Battalion [ Mockler, Anthony, "Haile Selassie's War." New York: Olive Branch Press. pg. xxiii ] or Major. [ Milkias, The Battle of Adwa, pg. xii ]

* Shambel (Commander of Two Hundred fifty), later as modern military organization was adopted it came to mean the commanding officer of a Company [ Mockler, Anthony, "Haile Selassie's War." New York: Olive Branch Press, 2003. pg. xxiii ] or a Captain. [ Milkias, The Battle of Adwa, pg. xii ]

* Metoaleqa (Commander of One Hundred), later as modern military organization was adopted it came to mean commander of a platoon [ "La preparazione abissina", Articoli ...] or lieutenant. [ Milkias, The Battle of Adwa, pg. xii ]

* Amsa Aleqa as modern military organization was adopted this rank came to be that of an NCO commander of a platoon. [ "La preparazione abissina", Articoli ...]

* Ila Ammist Aleqa as modern military organization was adopted this rank came to be that of an NCO. [ "La preparazione abissina", Articoli ...]

* Asiraleqa (Commander of Ten), later as modern military organization was adopted it came to mean squad leader [ "La preparazione abissina", Articoli ...] or Corporal. [ Milkias, The Battle of Adwa, pg. xi ]

These ranks have been retained in the modern army, the upper rank titles of the army follow the European model.

References

Sources

* Mockler, Anthony, "Haile Selassie's War." New York: Olive Branch Press, 2003. ISBN 1-56656-473-5
* Paulos Milkias, Maimire Mennasemay, Getachew Metaferia, The Battle of Adwa: Reflections on Ethiopia's Historic Victory Against European Colonialism, Algora Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0875864139
* "La preparazione abissina", Articoli tratti da Cronache illustrate dell'azione italiana in A.O., Tuminelli e C. Editori, Roma, 1936. [http://web.archive.org/web/20070519132247/http://regioesercito.dns1.us/campagne/etiopia/campet2.htm]


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