Postby Waachis » Mon Feb 18, 2019 6:58 pm
''The Oromo relate that Gobana, after the death of his father, was banished from his country, and reduced to the rank of a reaper on the plantations of Menelik the 2nd (at this time, only king of Shoa).
Once, during the feast of the Cross, Gobana went to the ritual joust, and unhorsed all the jousters.
Menelik the 2nd, who was present at the joust, desired to know the winner (Gobana) personally.
Gobana appeared before the king's throne and revealed to Menelik that he (Gobana) was the son of a King. Then Menelik appointed him 'Ligaba,' and gave him the title of 'Ato.'
His first expedition was made against the Gurage, following one led there by Waldie Baseyum.
Gobana had, at this time, only 50 guns of ancient type, and 12 Sanadir (the Abyssinian name of ''Sniders''); nevertheless he conquered and plundered the country of the Gurage, but without remaining there long enough to subdue the region decisively.
Then he was sent by Menelik against the Oromos of Shoa, and he defeated Tufa Botora, chief of the Abbiccu and Galan.
He marched victoriously into Falle, and established his chief camp (Amharic=Katama) in the former district of his father.
There he was appointed Ras. When Menelik decided to conquer Salale, Ras Gobana and Ras Darge (Menelik's uncle) united their strength and, after six months, set out for Salale to subdue its inhabitants.
Later, Gobana made three expeditions against the kingdom of Tufa Oba (another portion of the Galan, Abbiccu and Gullallie territory), but without conquering the land.
The 4th time he was stopped in a new invasion against Daggac Nado, who had already concluded an agreement with Tufa Oba.
After making sure of the dominion of the Amara over the Oromo of Shoa, Menelik also desired to extend the frontiers of his kingdom beyond the Gibe. At this time, those Oromo districts were occupied by the Gojjame army which, after subjugating the intermediate countries, had advanced as far as Kaffa.
Ras Gobana, in charge of this far from easy enterprise, feigned to rebel against Emperor Yohannes and King Menelik, and demanded to be appointed governor of the Oromo countries occupied by the Gojjames.
The Emperor Yohannes refused to grant to him these lands, and Gobana began a campaign against the Gojjames and passed the Gibe.
At this time (1882), the King of Gojjam-Takla Haymanot, was already engaged in his third invasion of Kaffa, when the hostilities between Shoa and Gojjam began.
Menelik stood, at the beginning secretly, then publicly by Ras Gobana. The King Takla Haymanot, to avoid being surprised far from his own country, withdrew the greater part of his army toward Gojjam, leaving his officer, Ras Daraso, in Jimma Abba Jifar to guard the territory already conquyered.
Daraso had under his command the army of Jimma, the Leqa Horda led by Tucco Danno, and the Gudru.
Menelik sent against those troops Ras Gobana, who, without fighting, forced Daraso to retreat.
Finally at Dilalo in Nonno, the two armies assailed each other; but after a short struggle, almsot without shedding of blood, Daraso continued his retreat.
Ras Daraso continued his march toward Gojjam til he reached Embabo, a plain in Gudru.
There he stopped and awaited his enemies, drawn up for battle.
After numerous actions favorable to the Gojjames, the king Takla Haymanot himself appeared on the field of battle.
The final combat took place on Sunday, December 25th 1875 (Abyssinian era).
The Shoans (led by Gobana) won a great victory. Takla Haymanot was taken prisoner by a Negro slave named Sambato who, therefore, was freed and appointed fitawrari.
Ras Mangasa Atikam recognizing that the prisoner taken by Sambato was the king of Gojjam, bought him for ten thalers, and led him to Gobana's tent.
Gobana, seeing the king, cried to him (in Amharic), ''O Gojjame, bring to me the plate!''
answering thus a boast of Takla Haymanot, who had said that: ''After the battle Ras Gobana will bear my mitad during the return journey to Gojjam!''
The mitad is a plate of iron used by the Abyssinians to break bread (Injera).
After this victory Ras Gobana, instead of returning to Shoa, advanced toward the territory of the Cabo Oromo to subdue them.
But when he reached Warego, he was assailed and pushed back by the Cabo; during the battle, the brother-in-law of Gobana, Birru Nagawe was killed.''
[Varia Africana III, Vol. 3 (Classic Reprint)
by E. A. Hooton (Author), Pages 70-73]