As I have said it in Part One, there is no evidence of Wolqait-Tegede having strong relations or ties with Tegray let alone to be ruled by Tegrayan governors. Even though I am not positively sure Dejazmach Nayzgi appears to be among the first if not the first rulers of the Wolqait-Tegede provinces. I will let Richard Pankhurst tell us the rest of the fascinating story. ******************************************Iyasu I and Walatta SeyonEmperor Iyasu I, the greatest of the Gondarine rulers, also had close associations with Hamasen, as is evident from his chronicle. In September 1683, a year after assuming the throne, he summoned the Patriarch, and asked him to marry him to Walatta Seyon, the daughter of Habta Iyasus of the Daq Asgade family from Baqla, a district of Hamasen. The bride was described as beautiful and gracious, but the monarch, it may be assumed, chose her at least partially because of the desirability of a political alliance with her strategically important province. The marriage was a long one, and came to an end only with Walatta Seyon's death in 1693. She was buried with much ceremony on the island of Mesraha in Lake Tana. Her brother Asma Giyorgis was (or became) a person of consequence: he was accorded the princely title of Abeto, and on his death, in 1700, his royal brother-in-law reportedly wept bitterly because he loved him much.
Oral Traditions of the Reign of Iyasu I: Gara Krestos
Relations with the Gondarine state during the reign of Iyasu I also figure in the Hamasen traditions. They state that Dejazmach Hab Sellus ordered his eldest son and heir, who held the title of Bahr Negash, to travel to Gondar to introduce himself to the Emperor, and present the customary tribute of the area, as he, Hab Sellus, had done before him. The young man, by name Iyasu, was, however, frightened of the journey. Pleading illness, he declined to travel. His younger brother, Gara Krestos, went in his stead. (He was probably the Gabra Krestos mentioned in the Chronicle whom the Emperor had addressed over the Murad affair). Speaking of his elder brother he said to himself, Since he has refused to go it is I who will become the chief.
On reaching the capital Gara Krestos, like his father a generation earlier, served for a long time as a palace guard. He thereby became well known to the Emperor, and was eventually given the title of Dajazmach. Iyasu, because of his regard for the young man's father Hab Sellus, subsequently gave him the hand of his daughter, Sabana Gargesh significantly enough the third reported marriage between the Hamasen and imperial ruling houses. On the occasion of the wedding the monarch promised his son-in-law that wherever Sabana Gargesh passed the night would be Gara Kresot's hereditary fief. At the same time he appointed the young man governor of Bambalo-Mellash, the position earlier held by Hab Sellus.
The appointment of Gara Krestos while his father was still alive caused considerable disquiet in Hamasen. The elders deliberated on the matter, but dispersed without coming to any decision. Their gathering was therefore likened to the croaking of frogs, and the place where it was held became known as May Mankae, i.e. the Water, or River, of Frogs.
News of all this duly reached Gara Krestos. Anxious to avoid any conflict, he sent messengers to his father and countrymen, telling them he had no intentions of opposing their wishes. He placed himself loyally under Hab Sellus, and seated himself at the latter's feet. On his father's death, however, he inherited the government, and ruled for thirty-eight years. He was by then a rich man, for as a result of the Emperor's decree he held many fiefs between Gondar and Hamasen, reportedly wherever his wife had spent the night. These estates were subsequently inherited by his children.
Tasfa Sen and Mammo
Gara Krestos, like his father, continued to pay taxes to Gondar. On one occasion he sent his son, Tasfa Sen to the capital, instructing him to bring the tribute, then leave. The young man, however, tarried instead at the palace, where, like his father and grandfather before him, he served as a guard, and won the Emperor's favor. Though his father was still alive, he persuaded the monarch to appoint him as governor. Observing, that Tasfa Sen was the son of his sister, Sabana Gargesh, the monarch nominated him to the rank of Dajazmach, and gave him Gara Krestos's fiefdom. Tasfa Sen thereupon returned to Saazzega, and elevated him to the rank of Dajazmach.
Mammo, a second son of Gara Krestos by Sabana Gargesh (and hence Emperor Iyasu's grandson), subsequently embarked, with imperial authorization, on a campaign to the south against the Oromos, probably in Wallo. He defeated them, baptized them as Christians, and himself their governor. The monarch rejoiced, gave him many decorations, and elevated him to the rank of Dajazmach.
Relations between Tasfa Sen and his deposed father had meanwhile deteriorated. The young man, so far from behaving in a filial manner, lorded it arrogantly over Gara Kresots. His father was so bitter that he rejoiced when his son fell ill, for he hoped that by the latter's death he would regain his title. When Tasfa Sen actually died, however, the old man was full of remorse. He passed away shortly afterwards, whereupon his son Mammo succeeded him as governor of Bambolo-Mellash.
Mammo subsequently fought once more against the Oromos, during which time his office was temporarily occupied by another brother, Reesa Haymanot. The latter obtained the Emperor's permission to wage war in Wajerat, far to the south in Tegray.
Dispute over the Tribute from Bambolo-Mellash and Walqayt
Mammo, according to the traditions, subsequently resumed his position as ruler of Bambolo-Mellash. He was involved in a long-remembered, and historically interesting, dispute with Dajazmach Nayzgi, the governor of Walqayt. It concerned the tribute they each paid to the Emperor. Nayzgi, it appears, had sneered at the taxes paid by Mammo, and in front of everyone at court declared by way of challenge, "Let us see who will pay the largest tribute, you or I!" Mammo replied, Alright, let us fix the day! Emperor Iyasu, who was no doubt well pleased with such competition between his liegemen, asked each how long they needed to collect their dues. Nayzgi disdainfully replied, "Six months," but Mammo, more cautiously, answered, "A year." They then left to collect their respective taxes, to be paid at the times proposed.
After six months Nayzgi arrived with his tribute. It consisted of cooking utensils (presumably made of pottery), cotton cloth, cloaks, guns, and silver coins (probably imported Austrian Thalers), three herds of cattle, white, black and brown, and a large number of cotton shammas, or togas. When Mammo saw these magnificent items he feared he might lose the contest, but gave orders that the most precious things, utensils and cattle, in his district be collected and brought to him.
The traditions, which thus far reflected the customary tribute obtained from the northern periphery, at this point begin to take on a fantastic character. They claim that Mammo was riding with some of his companions when his horse's hoof into the ground. Jumping off his steed he saw a small hole where his horse had placed its foot, and ordered his men to dig there. They soon came upon a magic house, where they discovered a gold mouse, a gold frog, a gold lizard, a gold snake, a gold royal coach, and many other objects of gold.
Mammo later set forth for Gondar taking with him all the taxes his people had collected. They consisted of ordinary tribute, as well as the fabulous gold objects he had discovered. His gifts all in all were so plentiful that while the first of his mules were being unloaded at May Saada the last was still at far-off Addi Baro.
On eventually reaching the Emperor's court at the appointed time he proudly displayed his presents. The first installment consisted of nothing but scarlet and striped cloth. Then came pieces of abugedid, or cotton cloth, carpets, jars, brelle, or glass bottles, lamps, cloaks and rifles. All this was followed by six herds of cattle, white, black, brown, brown speckled, black speckled and gray speckled, and a troop of monkeys. Finally came a herd of mules, carrying glass bowls, glass beads, precious stones, needles, tweezers for removing thorns from the feet, and solver coins, presumably imported.
Seeing all this wealth the monarch exclaimed to Mammo, "You have won!" and all his chiefs agreed. The victor, on hearing his triumph, then made a remarkable display of largesse, by offering gifts to all present. Addressing all the nobles he cried out, "Here is a meal for the chiefs!" after which he poured out of a bag some of the golden objects he had so miraculously found. A moment later, he shouted, "And there is a meal for the King's wife!" and proffered her a gold cat and cock. Then, proclaiming, "The meal of the King!" he produced a golden snake, its eyes glittering with fine pearls, and gave it to Iyasu himself. The monarch, we are told, was, not surprisingly, "much astonished" at this profusion of wealth.
Nayzgi, angered by his humiliating defeat, challenged Mammo to a duel. The two men fought, and Mammo was once more victorious, taking Nayzgi prisoner. The latter's domains thereupon passed to Mammo who in consequence assumed the government of Walqayt for seven years. Emperor Iyasu later interceded on the defeated chief's behalf. A pact was concluded, whereby Mammo gave his daughter in marriage to Nayzgi's son, while Nayzgi was allowed to resume his old government, albeit under Mammo's overall sovereignty.
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