Battle of Addi Qarro

Battle of Addi Qarro
	Part of the Ethiopian-Ottoman war
Date	December 1578; 445 years ago
Location	Addi Qarro, Tigray Province, Ethiopian Empire
Result	Ethiopian victory;
Belligerents
Ethiopian Empire	Ottoman Empire; Medri Bahri rebels
Commanders and leaders
Sarsa Dengel	Ahmad Pasha †; Bahr Negus Yeshaq †
Strength
150 Musketeers	1000 janissaries; Numerous footmen and Cavalry; 8 cannons
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Most of the army killed; 300 Turks captured; 8 cannons captured

The Battle of Addi Qarro also called the Battle of Addi Qorro was a battle that took place between forces of the Ethiopian Empire and forces of the Ottoman Empire in December 1578 in the Tigray Province of the Ethiopian Empire.^[1] The forces of the Ethiopian Empire were led by the Emperor Sarsa Dengel while the forces of the Ottoman Empire were led by Ahmad pasha supplemented by troops of Bahr Negus Yeshaq who was in rebellion against the emperor at the time.^[2]^[3] The battle followed an earlier Ethiopian victory over the Ottomans at Enticaw on November 13 of the same year and resulted in the liquidation of the invading Ottoman army.^[4]

Battle

The battle took place at Addi Qarro, located in the Tigray province of the Ethiopian Empire. The Ethiopian Forces of the Emperor dealt a sudden and crushing defeat to the Ottoman army, killing its leader Ahmad Pasha along with the rebel Yeshaq.^[10]^[11]

Aftermath

After the battle, Sarsa Dengel and his victorious army advanced on the Ottoman fort at Debarwa, captured it and destroyed the fort along with the mosque which was built by the Ottomans.^[12] With his victories at this and the subsequent battles Sarsa Dengel ended the Turkish threat to the independence of his Empire while also restoring the powerful position of the Ethiopian Emperor in the region.^[13]

Some of the captured Turks were absorbed into the army of the Emperor after being Christianized. They formed a part of the Emperor's army that stormed the mountain strongholds of the Jewish rebel Gushan. Their descendants would also form a special part of the Ethiopian army which remained attached to the Imperial Court.^[14]

References

^ Dombrowski, Franz Amadeus. Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Germany: Brill, 2023, p.23
^ Studies on Ottoman Diplomatic History. Türkiye: Isis Press, 1990, p.152
^ Turcica. Belgium, Éditions Klincksieck, 1978, p.283
^ Dombrowski, Franz Amadeus. Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Germany: Brill, 2023, p.23
^ Casale, Giancarlo. The Ottoman Age of Exploration. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2010, p.152
^ Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114
^ Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114
^ Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114
^ Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114
^ Casale, Giancarlo. The Ottoman Age of Exploration. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2010, p.152
^ Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114
^ Trimingham, J. Spencer. Islam in Ethiopia. United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis, 2013, p.98
^ Dombrowski, Franz Amadeus. Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Germany: Brill, 2023, p.25
^ Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom: School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

[1] Dombrowski, Franz Amadeus. Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Germany: Brill, 2023, p.23

[2] Studies on Ottoman Diplomatic History. Türkiye: Isis Press, 1990, p.152

[3] Turcica. Belgium, Éditions Klincksieck, 1978, p.283

[4] Dombrowski, Franz Amadeus. Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Germany: Brill, 2023, p.23

[5] Casale, Giancarlo. The Ottoman Age of Exploration. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2010, p.152

[6] Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

[7] Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

[8] Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

[9] Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

[10] Casale, Giancarlo. The Ottoman Age of Exploration. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2010, p.152

[11] Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom, School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

[12] Trimingham, J. Spencer. Islam in Ethiopia. United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis, 2013, p.98

[13] Dombrowski, Franz Amadeus. Ethiopia's Access to the Sea. Germany: Brill, 2023, p.25

[14] Aregay, M.. A Reappraisal of the Impact of Firearms in the Military History of Ethiopia (c.1500-1800). United Kingdom: School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 1968, p.114

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