Mahfuz - Life and Reign

Life and Reign

Mahfuz led raids into the eastern provinces of Ethiopia for a number of years, selecting the season of Lent for his attacks, when the defenders were weakened by their fasts, until his final raid when he was slain in battle, randomly targeting Amhara, Shewa, and Fatagar south of the Awash River.

Sources differ over the number of years he raided Ethiopia: Francisco Álvares states that his raids began in the reign of Eskender, and lasted 25 years; however, Beckingham and Huntingford note that the Ethiopian Paris Chronicle, which draws on contemporary Ethiopian records, dates the beginning of these raids to the ascension of Lebna Dengel in 1508.

Upon reaching majority, Emperor Lebna Dengel decided to forgo his observance of Lent and oppose the Imam in battle, despite the advice and wishes of his councilors and people. He sent spies out to determine Imam Mahfuz's plans for that year, and learning the Imam was in Fatagar led his army there. He found Imam Mahfuz with the sultan of Adal encamped on a plain that was surrounded by mountains; after first sending soldiers out to secure the passes, the Ethiopian Emperor closed upon Imam Mahfuz.

Although Imam Mahfuz managed to enable Sultan Muhammed to escape with but four horsemen, according to Alvarez, Imam Mafhuz knew he was trapped and sought to die with honor. He called to the Ethiopians a challenge to fight in single combat, and Gabra Endreyas, who had been a follower of Emperor Lebna Dengel's father, accepted and killed the Imam. Mahfuz's head was cut from his body and displayed publicly in the Emperor's court.

Alvarez states that this battle occurred the same year the Portuguese fleet attacked and burned Zeila, undefended because its garrison was with Imam Mahfuz in Fatagar, which Alvarez states happened in July 1517. Beckingham and Huntingford note that a later Ethiopian historical manuscript (MS Bruce 88) states that this battle occurred when Emperor Lebna Dengel reached the age of 20, which indicates the battle happened in 1516 instead.