History
The Walashma princes of Ifat and Adal all possessed Arab genealogical traditions. According to both Maqrizi and the chronicle of the Walashma, 'Umar Walashma, the founder of the dynasty, was of Quraysh or Hashimite origin.
The 19th century Ethiopian historian Asma Giyorgis suggests that the Walashma themselves spoke Arabic, which is similar to Ge'ez. He additionally describes the family as among the first Muslims to enter Abyssinia ("Habasa"), which he writes was originally inhabited by the Saba, Balaw, Kalaw and Noba.
'Umar Walashma's son Ali ibn Wali Ashma later conquered the Muslim Kingdom of Shewa.
The last member of this dynasty was Sultan Barakat ibn Umar Din, who was driven from his capital of Harar in 1559 by the Ethiopian General Hamalmal.
Read more about this topic: Walashma Dynasty
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