Wube Haile Maryam

Wube Haile Maryam of Semien, (1799 – 1867), also called by his title Dejazmach Wube, Webé; his name is also given in European sources as ‘‘Ubie’’, was one of the major figures of 19th century Ethiopia, during the closing decades of the Zemene Mesafint (lit: Era of the princes) a period of regional lords vying for power, prestige and territory amid a weakened authority of the emperors.

The regional ruler and Dejazmach of his hereditary province of Semien, and later as the conqueror and non-Tigrayan ruler of the Tigray Province and Mereb Melash. Wube is remembered in Eritrea for ruthless military raids. He died in chains in 1867.

Ancestry Of ethnic Amhara descent. Wube's family originated from the Semien mountains. his father, Haile Maryam Gebre was the governor of the Semien province and belonged to the Orthodox Christian Amharas, his mother, Mintayé of Jan Amora, was a side marriage (or concubine) of his father. Before Haile Maryam death he chose his third son, Wube’s half-Brother Merso, to succeeded him as the governor of semien. However, due to the fact that Merso mother was of Yejju origin, Semien military officers choose Wube as the new governor since his mother was native of Semien.

After Wube's usurpation, his two half brothers and Hirut Gugsa; their mother, fled to Tigray province to their sister Yewub-dar, wife of Sabagadis Woldu.

Later that year, Maru of Dembiya rebelled against Ras Yimam and sided with his rival; Dejazmach Goshu of Gojjam and Damot. Ras Yimam turned to Wube for military backing, which he honored. In October 1827, the combined armies of Yimam and Wube met the combined armies of Goshu and Maru at Kosso Ber in Gojjam and defeated them. Goshu escaped to his mountain fortress but Maru of Dembiya was killed and most of his territories given to Yimam's brother, Dejazmach Marye Gugsa. Half of Wogera was restored back under Wube's control by the Ras, as a reward for his service.

Conquest of Tigray and Mereb Melash In February 1831, Wube and Ras Marye responded with a vigorous military campaign into Tigray. Marye and Wube's coalition met the forces of Sabagadis near the Tekeze river and conflict ensued. Ras Marye perished, but Sabagadis lost (the Battle of Debre Abbay) and was executed by Ras Marye's followers the following day. Wube and his troops remained in Tigray.

Rebellions Kassai Sabagadis; the governor of Agame and son of late Sabagadis Woldu, rose several times in rebellion against Wube in 1838. Kassai escaped Wube's wrath early that year when the warlord stopped pursuing the fleeing rebel over the Tembien mountains. In the second half of 1838, Wube left Tigray with his main army and crossed the Tekeze into Semien in anticipation of an attack by the regent Ras Ali II on his dominion. In the absence of Wube; Kassai Sabagadis once again raised the standard of revolt, and this time took control of nearly all of Tigray. Wube recrossed the Tekeze and ended Kassai's rebellion. Kassai Sabagadis was put in chains and remained Wube's prisoner for over 15 years until Tewodros II freed him.

Another son of Sabagadis, Dejazmach Gwangul Sabagadis from Agame was defeated by Wube in the second half of 1841 following his rebellion, Gwangul escaped with his life by fleeing into the salt plain deserts of Taltals. His status is underpinned by his being exempted from the usual requirement of vassals to attend the court of Ras Ali II, regent to the Emperor of Ethiopia.

In 1841, That same year, Wube defeated Ras Ali II in battle, taking Gondar, the then capital of Ethiopia. Nonetheless, Ras Ali II escaped. In February 1842, their armies clashed again in the Battle of Debre Tabor, where Wube's initial tactical superiority from imported firearms almost carried the day, until a detachment under Dejazmach Birru Aligaz, Ras Ali's uncle, went to pay homage with his forces to Wube's encampment but found him very intoxicated, also without guards and took him prisoner, thus enabling Ali to retain his title.

Although Ras Ali II and Wube continued to have some tension, they avoided any serious clash as there was constant threat from Egyptian rulers from the north.

Defeat and death Some sources date the ending of Zemene Mesafint era, during which Ethiopia lacked effective central authority from approximately 1769 to approximately 1855, to Ras Ali II's defeat at the Battle of Ayshal in 1853, after which Kassa became the de facto ruler of Ethiopia. However, other sources denote the ending of the Zemene Mesafint as Wube's defeat in 1855, as the last remaining autonomous regional ruler. On 9 February 1855, Wube's army was defeated by Kassa Hailu and Wube was captured and imprisoned. Within a few days, Kassa, who had previously been titled as a Negus, was finally crowned Emperor Tewodros II, ironically by Abuna Salama III in the Dirasge Mariam Church. Although some sources suggest that Wube may have died in 1855, it is more commonly accepted that he spent the later part of his years in prison and died in 1867.