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{{short description|Nobleman and central figure of Zemene Mesafint in Ethiopia (1692–1784)}}

'''Mikael Sehul''' ([[Tigrigna language|Tigrigna]] "Mikael the Astute"; his name at birth was '''Blatta Mikael'''; c.[[1690s|1690]] - [[1780]]) was a Ras or governor of [[Tigray]]. He was a major political figure from the reign of [[Emperor of Ethiopia|Emperor]] [[Iyasus II of Ethiopia|Iyasu II]], and his successors until almost the time of his death.

{{Infobox royalty

| title = [[Ras (title)|Ras]]

| name = Mikael Sehul

| image = File:Ras Mikael Sehul burst coin.jpg

| caption = ''Ras'' Mikael Sehul purported burst coin

| succession = Governor of [[Tigray Province]]

| reign = 1748–1784

| predecessor = probably [[Takle of Tigray|Takle]]

| successor = [[Wolde Selassie]]

| birth_name = Blatta Mikael

| birth_date = 1692

| birth_place = Naeder, [[Tigray Province]], [[Ethiopian Empire]]

| death_date = {{death date and age|1784|1692}}

| burial_place =

| spouse =

| regnal_name =

| issue = ''Ras'' Faris the Great

| dynasty =

| father = ''Abeto'' Hezeqeyas Wolde Hawaryot

| mother = ''Woizero'' Ishate Mariam

| religion = [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo]]

}}

'''Mikael Sehul''' ([[Tigrigna language|Tigrigna]] "Mikael the Astute"; his name at birth wasborn '''Blatta Mikael'''; c.[[1690s|1690]]1692 -– [[1780]]1784) was a nobleman who ruled Ethiopia for a period of 25 years as regent of a series of emperors. He was also a [[Ras (title)|Ras]] or governor of [[Tigray Province|Tigray]] 1748–71 and again from 1772 until his death. He was a major political figure fromduring the reign of [[Emperor of Ethiopia|Emperor]] [[Iyasus II of Ethiopia|Iyasu II]], and his successors until almost the time of his death.

The Scottish explorer [[James Bruce]] met Mikael during his stay in Ethiopia, and recorded the following description of the Ras when he granted Bruce an audience:

He first enters history as having a part in some of the difficulties that the experienced by the deligation sent to [[Cairo]] to obtain a new ''[[Abuna]]'' for the Empire in [[1745]]. On their outbound trip, the party had been held up at [[Massawa]] by the local [[Naib]] for six months, and only released them after they gave him half of their funds. On the return trip, [[Abuna Yohannes]] was held for ransom at [[Arqiqo]] until the abbot of the monastery of [[Debre Bizan]] helped him to escape. This affront was too serious to be overlooked, then Dejazmach Mikael was subjected to a punitive campaign by the Emperor. However Dejazmach Mikael

<blockquote>"We went in, and saw the old man sitting upon a sofa; his white hair was dressed in many short curls. He appeared to be thoughtful, but not displeased; his face was lean, his eyes quick and vivid, but seemed to be a little sore from exposure to the weather. he seemed to be about six feet high, though his lameness made it difficult to guess with accuracy. His air was perfectly free from constraint, what the French call ''degagée''. In face and person he was liker my learned and worthy friend, the [[Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon|Count de Buffon]], than any two men I ever saw in the world. They must have been bad physiognomists that did not discern his capacity and understanding by his very countenance. Every look conveyed a sentiment with it: he seemed to have no occasion for other language, and indeed spoke little.<ref>Bruce, ''Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile'' (1805 edition), pp. 416f; this passage can also be read in the abridged version, ''Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile'', selected and edited with an introduction by C.F. Beckingham (Edinburgh: University Press, 1964), p.66</ref>"</blockquote>

remained too powerful, and he was soon forgiven.^[[#Notes|1]]

== Biography ==

Early in the reign of Iyasus's successor [[Iyoas I of Ethiopia|Iyoas I]], Dejazmach Mikael found himself the beneficiary of two dynastic ties to the [[Solomonid dynasty|Imperial house]]: Empress [[Mentewab]] married him to her daughter Aster, and Mikael's son, Wolde Hayawrat, was married to another daughter of the Empress. It was at this time that he was granted the title of Ras.^[[#Notes|2]]

[[File:Princess Aster00.jpg|thumb|{{center|Princess Aster of Gondar}}]]

Mikael was born to ''Abeto'' Hezeqeyas Wolde Hawaryot and ''Woizero'' Ishate Mariam, the daughter of Azzaz Yakub in the district of [[Naeder Adet|Na'eder]]. Both of his parents claimed descent from the [[Solomonic dynasty]] through his ancestor ''Ras'' [[Faris the Great]], and his father used the title ''Abeto'', a prince of imperial [[Cadet branch|cadet line]]. Mikael's first official wife was ''Woizero'' Walatta Gabr'el (died at [[Adwa]] after 1766); his second was Princess [[Aster Iyasu|Aster]], daughter of Empress [[Mentewab]].

HeSehul first enters history as having played a part in some of the difficulties that thewere experienced by the deligationdelegation sent to [[Cairo]] to obtain a new ''[[Abuna]]'' (bishop) for the Empireempire in [[1745]]. On their outbound trip, the party had been held up at [[Massawa]] by the local ''[[Naib]]'' for six months, and only released them after they gave him half of their funds. On the return trip, [[Abuna Yohannes XIV|Abuna Yohannes]] was held for ransom at [[Arqiqo]] until the abbot of the monastery of [[Debre BizanBizen]] helped him to escape. This affront was too serious to be overlooked, and the then ''[[Dejazmach]]'' Mikael was subjected to a punitive campaign by the Emperor Iyasu II. However ''Dejazmach'' Mikael remained too powerful, and he was soon forgiven.<ref>The misadventures of the delegation is described in the Royal Chronicle of Iyasus II's reign, translated in [[Richard K.P. Pankhurst]], ''The Ethiopian Royal Chronicles'' (Oxford: Addis Ababa, 1967), pp.&nbsp;125-9. It is J. Spencer Trimingham (''Islam in Ethiopia'' [Oxford: University Press, 1952], p.&nbsp;105) who states that ''Ras'' Mikael was held responsible and punished.</ref>

Ras Mikael intervened in the [[Ethiopian Church]], and was a champion of the [[Karva Haymanot]] doctrine.^[[#Notes|3]]

He''Dejazmach'' Mikael was offended by the behavior of his superior ''Ras'' [[Anda Haymanot]] king of [[Midre Bahri]] during a hunting expedition, and returned to [[Adowa]]Adwa which he fortified, and rebelled from Anda Haymanot. Eventually Ras Mikael fought, captured, then executed his one-time master in [[1759]].<supref>[[#Notes|4]]Richard K.P. Pankhurst, ''History of Ethiopian Towns'' (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol.&nbsp;1 p.&nbsp;194.</supref> AdowaAdwa was located at a strategic point on the trade route between Massawa and [[Gondar]], and from the fees and duties he extracted he was able to recruit an army of 8000 men and arm them with [[musket]]s.

Early inDuring the reign of IyasusIyasu II's successor [[Iyoas I of Ethiopia|Iyoas I]], ''Dejazmach'' Mikael found himself the beneficiary of two dynastic ties to the [[SolomonidSolomonic dynasty|Imperial house]]: Empress [[Mentewab]] in 1769 married him to her daughter Aster, and Mikael's son, [[Wolde HayawratHawaryat]], was married to another daughter of the Empress, [[Altash Iyasu|Altash]]. It was at this time that heMikael was granted the title of ''Ras''.<supref>[[#Notes|2]]Pankhurst, ''Royal Chronicles'' pp.&nbsp;133f, and Paul B. Henze, ''Layers of Time: A History of Ethiopia'' (New York: Palgrave, 2000), p.&nbsp;121</supref>

Upon the death of Iyasu II, his son Iyoas took the throne and rivalry exploded between the mother of the late Emperor, and and his widow. Empress Mentewab and been crowned co-ruler when her then underage son had succeeded her husband. Now that her son was gone, she believed that she was entitled to remain as co-ruler. However, Iyasu's widow, Welete Bersabe (known as Wubit), strongly believed that it was her turn to take the leading role at the court of her son Iyoas as her mother-in-law had done during the previous reign. The young Emperor took the side of his mother against his grandmother. Empress Mentewab gathered her relatives from her native [[Qwara]] and their forces flooded into Gondar to support her claims. When news of the arrival of the Qwaran troops arrived, Welete Bersabe also summoned her relatives from [[Yejju]], and throngs of of Oromo soldiers arrived from that district to uphold her claims. The city of Gondar was swamped by these two tense armies, and a bloodbath seemed imminent.

Upon the death of Iyasu II, his son Iyoas took the throne and rivalry exploded between the mother of the late Emperor, and and his widow. Empress Mentewab andhad been crowned co-ruler when her then underage son had succeeded her husband. Now that her son was gone, she believed that she was entitled to remain as co-ruler. However, Iyasu's widow, [[Welete Bersabe]] (known as Wubit), strongly believed that it was her turn to take the leading role at the court of her son Iyoas as her mother-in-law had done during the previous reign. The young Emperor took the side of his mother against his grandmother. Empress Mentewab gathered her relatives from her native [[Qwara province|Qwara]] and their forces flooded into Gondar to support her claims. When news of the arrival of the Qwaran troops arrived, Welete Bersabe also summoned her relatives from [[Yejju]], and throngs of of Oromo soldiers arrived from that district to uphold her claims. The city of Gondar was swamped by these two tense armies, and a bloodbath seemed imminent.

To resolve the faceoff, Empress Mentewab looked to her son-in-law Ras Mikael to intervene. Mikael Sehul arrived with an army of 26,000 promising to mediate the dispute between the two queens and their followers. He took control of the capital city of Gondar and assumed an increasingly dominant role. Emperor Iyoas became alarmed, and after secretly intreguing with [[Fasil of Damot|Fasil]] ordered the Ras to return to Tigray. Ras Mikael Sehul disobeyed, and defeated Fasil's army. He returned to Gondar and demanded an assembly of the nobility before whom he announced that he had proof that the Emperor Iyoas had plotted to have him killed while he was off defending his throne for him.

To resolve the standoff, Empress Mentewab looked to her son-in-law ''Ras'' Mikael to intervene. Mikael Sehul arrived with an army of 26,000 promising to mediate the dispute between the two queens and their followers. He took control of the capital city of Gondar and assumed an increasingly dominant role.

The assembly was presented with testimony, and agreed that it was a grievous crime, deserving of death, but that as a monarch could not be killed, they merely confined the Emperor to his palace. Mikael Sehul then ordered the Emperor killed. As it was considered wrong to pierce the heir of Solomon with a spear, or cut him with a sword, or to strike him with bullets, Mikael Sehul ordered the Emperor strangled with a length of silk in imperial red in January [[1769]]. The death of the Emperor put both dowager queens, Empress Mentewab and Welete Bersabe, in a distraught state. Mentewab removed herself from all political activity and secluded herself at her palace at Qusquam where she buried her grandsone with much pomp and grandure.

ToOn resolve22 theJanuary faceoff1768, EmpressMikael Mentewabwas looked to her son-in-lawmade ''Ras MikaelBitwodad'' toand intervene. Mikael Sehul arrived with an army''[[Enderase]]'' of 26,000 promising to mediate the dispute between the two queens and their followersEmpire.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} HeHis tookgrowing control of the capital city of Gondar and assumed an increasingly dominant role.power alarmed Emperor Iyoas became alarmed, and after secretly intreguingexchanging messages with [[Fasil of Damot|Fasil]] ordered the Emperor ordered Ras Mikael to return to Tigray. The ''Ras Mikael Sehul'' disobeyed, and defeated Fasil's army. He returned to Gondar and demanded an assembly of the nobility beforeso whom''Ras'' heMikael announcedSehul thatcould heshow hadhis proof that the Emperor Iyoas had plotted to have him killed while he was off defending his throne for him.

Ras Mikael then apointed the next two Emperors: [[Yohannes II of Ethiopia|Yohannes II]], who proved to be a nonentity and was quickly gotten rid of, then [[Tekle Haymanot II of Ethiopia|Tekle Haymanot II]]. Despite his power over the throne, the populace rebelled; Ras Mikael responded with a reign of terror over Gondar ([[1770]]), but failed to control the countryside where the armies of Fasil, [[Goshu of Amhara]], and [[Wand Bewossen]] of [[Begemder]] allied to fight him. The parties met at [[Sarbakusa]], where Ras Mikael was finally defeated, and finally surrendered to Wand Bawasan on [[4 June]], [[1771]]. Wand Bawasan imprisoned Mikael Sehul for a year, then either sent him back to Tigray to live out his last years as governor of that province, or Ras Mikael voluntarily retired to that province.^[[#Notes|5]]

The assembly was presented with testimony, and agreed that it was a grievous crime, deserving of death. However, butEthiopian thatlaw asstated that a monarch could not be killed, so they merely confined the Emperor to his palace. Mikael Sehul then ordered the Emperor killed.; Asas it was considered wrong to pierce the heir of Solomon with a spear, or cut him with a sword, or to strike him with bullets, Mikael Sehul ordered the Emperor strangled with a length of silk in imperial red in January [[1769]]. TheThis deathmurder of the Emperor putIyoas I devastated both dowager queens, EmpressEmpresses Mentewab and Welete Bersabe, in a distraught state. and Mentewab removed herself from all political activity and secluded herself at her palace at [[Qusquam]] where she buried her grandsonegrandson with much pomp and granduregrandeur, never again participating in state affairs which she had run since the death of her husband Emperor [[Bakaffa]]. Empress Welete Bersabe retired to Yejju in her grief, but her Yejju relatives would later return to prominence seizing the regency in subsequent reigns. Some historians date the beginning of the "Zemene Mesafint" era of the decline of the monarchy and the rise of the regional aristocracy and the fragmentation of state power, to the murder of Emperor Iyoas I at the order of Mikael Sehul.

Ras Mikael then apointedappointed the next two Emperorsemperors: [[Yohannes II of Ethiopia|Yohannes II]], who proved to be a nonentity and was quickly gotten rid of,; then [[Tekle Haymanot II of Ethiopia|Tekle Haymanot II]]. Despite his power over the throne, the populace rebelled; Ras Mikael responded with a reign of terror over Gondar ([[1770]]), but failed to control the countryside where the armies of Fasil, [[Goshu of Amhara]], and [[Wand Bewossen]] of [[Begemder]] allied to fight him. The parties met atsouth of [[SarbakusaTeda, Ethiopia|Teda]], wherein the [[Three battles of Sarbakusa]]; Ras Mikael was finally defeated, and finally surrendered to Wand BawasanBewossen on [[4 June]], [[1771]]. Wand BawasanBewossen imprisoned Mikael Sehul for a year, then either sent him back to Tigray to live out his last years as governor of that province, or Ras Mikael voluntarily retired to that province.<supref>[[#Notes|5]]This narrative is based in part on Richard Pankhurst, ''An Introduction to the Economic History of Ethiopia'' (London: Lalibella House, 1961), pp.&nbsp;88f, with details drawn from Harold G. Marcus, ''A History of Ethiopia'' (Berkeley: University Press, 1994), pp.&nbsp;46f and 51f</supref>

He was succeeded, each briefly, by his son Wolde Samuel of Tigray, then by his grandson Wolde Gabriel, and by his nephew [[Gabre Maskal]] who lost to ''Ras'' [[Wolde Selassie]] of [[Enderta Province|Enderta]].

#Ras Mikael intervened in the [[Ethiopian Church]], and was a champion of the [[Christological disputes in Ethiopia|Karva Haymanot]] doctrine.<ref>Mordechai Abir, ''The era of the princes: the challenge of Islam and the re-unification of the Christian empire, 1769-1855'' (London: Longmans, 1968), p.&nbsp;40.</ref>

== Notes ==

{{reflist}}

# The misadventures of the delegation is described in the Royal Chronicle of Iyasus II's reign, translated in Richard R.K. Pankhurst, ''The Ethiopian Royal Chronicles'' (Oxford: Addis Ababa, 1967), pp. 125-9. It is J. Spencer Trimingham (''Islam in Ethiopia'' [Oxford: University Press, 1952), p. 105) who states that Ras Mikael was held responsible and punished.

# Pankhurst, ''Royal Chronicles'' pp. 133f, and Paul B. Henze, ''Layers of Time: A History of Ethiopia'' (New York: Palgrave, 2000), p. 121.

# Mordechai Abir, ''The era of the princes: the challenge of Islam and the re-unification of the Christian empire, 1769-1855'' (London: Longmans, 1968), p.40.

# Richard R.K. Pankhurst, ''History of Ethiopian Towns'' (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), p. 194.

# This narrative is based on Richard R.K. Pankhurst, ''An Introduction to the Economic History of Ethiopia'' (London: Lalibella House, 1961), pp. 88f, with details drawn from Harold G. Marcus, ''A History of Ethiopia'' (Berkeley: University Press, 1994), pp. 46f and 51f.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sehul, Mikael}}

[[Category:Warlords of the Zemene Mesafint]]

[[Category:18th-century Ethiopian people]]

[[Category:1692 births]]

[[Category:1784 deaths]]