British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences

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1-8

Information on sources of Ethiopian history; remarks on few chroniclers of the Emperors Téwodros, Yohannes and Menilek and of King Täklä Haymanot; how and why the author wrote the chronicle.

9-29

The late history of the Gondär dynasty from the reign of Täklä Haymanot the Cursed to that of Fessame Mängest Täklä Giyorgis, and the subsequent rise of provincial aristocratic power with particular attention to Great Ras Haylu, the father of the ruling family of Goggam.

29-32

The rise of Däggazmac Zäwdé Selt'an; the battle of Debo Kidanä Mehrät and the defeat of the forces of Ras Wäldä Gäbriel and Däggazmac Akläwäg; Ras Haylu's courtiers and about his illness and death.

32-37

The succession of Ras Mär'ed and his disciplinary actions against the nobility and soldiers in his domain; the battle of Wägära and the death of Ras Mär'ed and Ras Wäldä Gäbriel.

37-43

The succession of Däggazmac Gwalu and his alliance with Ras Gugsa against Däggazmac Zäwdé; the latter's come-back from his retreat in Damot, and his victory over the forces of Agäw and Goggam; Däggazmac Zäwdé's defeat in a battle against Ras Gugsa, and his death in captivity on the island of C'äqla Mänzo.

43-53

The succession of Däggazmac Go??u; about the ancestors and kinsmen of Däggazmac Zäwdé; Däggazmac Go??u's campaign at Kutay and his fight against Däggazmac Gubäna; the death of Däggazmac Gwalu; the marriages of Ras Gugsa's daughters; about Ras Gugsa's successors - the Rases Yemam, Marreye and Dori and their rivals, the Däggazmac Haylä Maryam, Webé and Sabagaddis; Däggazmac Ma'et'äntu's fight against Däggazmac Go??u and Däggazmac Berru; about the rich man Blatta Aykäl and the magician Aläqa Ar'aya.

53-59

Ras Ali's succession and the defeat of his Däggazmacoc in Goggam; the battle of Angat't'a and the defeat of Däggazmac Go??u; Däggazmac Berru's persecution of Tädla Gwalu.

59-67

The rise of Kasa Haylu of Qwara and his victory over Lady Mänän; the battle of Guramba and the death of Däggazmac Go??u; the defeat of Ras Ali's forces and the burning of Däbrä Tabor; Ras Ali's defeat at the battle of Ay?al and his flight to ?äwa and Wällo; Däggazmac Kasa's punishment of Däga Damot.

67-76

Däggazmac Kasa's pursuit of Däggazmac Berru and the latter's imprisonment; Tädla Gwalu's submission and subsequent desertion from Däggazmac Kasa; his campaigns in Goggam leading to his becoming its de facto ruler; the defeat of Däggazmac Webé and his captivity together with Abunä Sälama; the coronation of Däggazmac Kasa as Emperor Téwodros; Téwodros's campaign in Wällo and his march to ?äwa.

76-84

Téwodros's campaign in ?äwa, the death of King Haylä Mäläkot, and the capture of Menilek; the appointment of Mär'ed Azmac Haylä Mikaél over ?äwa; Téwodros's campaign in Goggam against Däggazmac Tädla and various outlaws; about Adal Täsämma and his mother's ancestry; the death of Däggazmac Täsämma and the case of Abba Wäldä Sellase.

84-91

26. Adal Täsämma's quarrel with and flight from Däggazmac Tädla; Lady Gudayé's desertion from Däggazmac Tädla and the burning of Mänqorär; the arrival of Abunä Qérlos; Abéto Säyfu's rebellion and the emperor's second campaign in ?äwa; the death of Empress Täwabäcc and Ras Ali; the battle against Garräd and the death of Liqä Mäkwas Yohnnes; the rebellions of Berru Haylu and Agäw Negusé; the marriage of Téwodros and T'eru Wärq Webé and the birth of Alämayyähu; about Däggazmac Berru's lamentation over his wife's infidelity, his cruel treatment of his subjects, and his transfer from C'elga to Mäqdäla.
27. The Emperor's change of character; his quarrel with Abunä Sälama and Abunä Qérlos; the story of Aläqa Fänta and Blatta Bäqätu; Téwodros' persecution of the clergy and däbtära; the parable of an Arab king and the annulment of a decree which had imposed tax on the däbtära; the arrival of Rassam with a letter from Queen Victoria; the detention of Rassam together with the captives at Mäqdäla; the case of a gun sent by the British as a present to the emperor; Däggazmac Berru's unsympathetic response to the Emperors request; the death of Däggazmac Webé; the big cannon made by the missionaries; the suppression of Gembaro Kasa's rebellion.

91-95

The arbitrary justice of the Emperor Téwodros; the battle of Engebara and Téwodros's massacre of the Goggam forces; Menilek's escape from Mäqdäla and Téwodros's punishment of the Yäggu noblemen detained in the fortress; the looting of the regions around Lake Tana.

95-101

Téwodros's mass execution of people to supress alleged rebellions in Amara Sayent, Wadla, Agäw Meder, Méc'c'a and the regions to the north and east of Lake T'ana; famine as a consequence of pillage; booty that was transfered to Mäqdäla; the detention and death of Abunä Sälama at Mäqdäla.

101-112

The death of Däggazmac Tädla and the succession of his son Dästa Tädla who had ousted his brother Negusé Tädla; the jester Raq Masärya Gobäzé; the British expedition against Emperor Téwodros, the battle of Mäqdäla and the death of the Emperor; the release of the Mäqdäla prisoners and the appointment of Täklä Giyorgis of Säqot'a.

112-124

Däggazmac Dästa's defiance of Täklä Giyorgis and his subsequent submission to him; the battle of Manguda and the capture of Adal Täsämma; the battle of Borabur and Däggazmac Dästa's victory over Gäbru Mädhane Aläm; Adal Täsämma's reconciliation with and subsequent desertion from Däggazmac Dästa; the battle of Amwat't'a and Täklä Giyorgis's victory over Däggazmac Dästa; the appointment of Adal over Damot with the title of Däggazmac, his subsequent victory over Däggazmac Dästa and his promotion to Ras and the governorship of Goggam at large; Menilek's payment of tribute to Täklä Giyorgis; the marriage of Ras Adal to Lady Laqäcc; Ras Adal's capture of the rebel Engeda Éliyas; the death of Däggazmac Berru; the battle of Adwa and Täklä Giyorgis's defeat by Däggazmac Bäzbez Kasa.

125-131

The coronation of the Emperor Yohannes, his campaign in Goggam and the appointment of Däggazmac Dästa Tädla; the battle of Ay?al and the defeat and death of Däggazmac Dästa; Ras Adal's reconcilation with the emperor and his reappointment over Goggam; Menilek's correspondence with Egypt; the defeat of the Egyptian forces at Gudagudi, Awsa and Gura; Ras Adal's campaign to the region south of the Blue Nile.

132-135

The resistance of Oromo chieftains such as Qädida, Abä?i Gärba and Bäyan Huluqa to the Goggam forces; the battle of Zäyyobärr and Ras Adal's victory over Ras Wäldä Maryam.

135-142

Däggazmac Näga?'s rebellion against Yohannes; Ras Adal's campaigns against the rebel and the latter's defeat and imprisonment; Menilek's military manoeuvre and his sojourns in Bägemeder and Goggam; rebellion against Menilek in ?äwa and Wällo; Emperor Yohannes's campaign in ?äwa and Menilek's submission to him; Ras Adal's campaign in Kutay; the author's coming to Goggam as a captive from Kutay.

142-153

The arrival of four bishops from Egypt and the crowning of Menilek and Adal as kings; the imperial decree to make the Muslims of Wällo Christians; King Täklä Haymanot's appointment of his son, Bäzzabeh, over Damot with a title of ras; the king's founding of the church of Marqos and the renaming of Manqorär as Däbra Marqos; territorial expansion of Täklä Haymanot and Menilek in the Oromo regions to the south of the Blue Nile, the battle of Embabo, the defeat of the Goggam forces and the surrender of King Täklä Haymanot.

153-160

Menilek and his captive's submission to Yohannes after the battle of Embabo; Dästa Hayle's execution; Dahna ?um Fänta's expedition against the Darvishes and his deliverance of the Turko-Egyptian forces; King Täklä Haymanot's first campaign to Mätämma and his victory over Amir Uthman Diqna; the marriages of Ar'aya to Zäwditu and Menilek to T'aytu; Menilek's pacification of his domain and his conquest of Harärge.

160-167

Menilek's friendship with the Italians; King Täklä Haymanot's second campaign to Mätämma and his defeat at the battle of Sar Weha; Abu'anga's revenge and the looting and burning of Gondär; Mentewab Täklä Haymanot's death in captivity; the reason for the defeat of the Goggam forces at Embabo and Sar Weha.

167-176

Menilek's march to Bägemeder and his agreement with Täklä Haymanot on his way back to ?äwa; Emperor Yohannes's campaign in Goggam and Täklä Haymanot's retreat to Gebäla and Mutära; the ransacking of Goggam and Täklä Haymanot's submission to Yohannes; the emperor's march against the Darvishes, the battle of Mätämma and his death; the meeting of Menilek and Täklä Haymanot at Qwana and the former's announcement of his succession to the throne; the author's audience with Täklä Haymanot and his being taken into service.

176-185

The Italo-Ethiopian treaty of friendship and the problem with the seventeenth article; the coronation of Menilek and T'aytu; the epidemic that wiped out the cattle and the subsequent great famine; Täklä Haymanot's expeditions for food and cattle to regions south and west of Goggam; the severity of the famine in Goggam; the author's complaint against the misappropriation of food ration to the King's liveried men.

185-193

The severity of the famine in ?äwa and Menilek's policy for the procurement and distribution of grain; the Emperor's decree against prejudices concerning farming and artisanship; Täklä Haymanot's expedition to Käfa together with some of Menilek's forces; the looting of Käfa and the resistance and submission of its people; the king of Käfa and the admirable social system within his domain; Täklä Haymanot's illness and the imprisonment of his son Ras Bäzzabeh.

193-198

39. Ras Zäwdé's rebellion and his subsequent defeat and imprisonment at the hands of Ras Wälé; the punishment of Lady Gudayyé; Täklä Haymanot's distribution of the cattle brought from Käfa among the Goggam peasants; Menilek's conquest of Wälamo, Sidamo and Gamo and the distribution of the cattle brought from there among the peasants of ?äwa; Menilek's decree against the soldiers' abuse of peasants; the end of famine and the emergence of peasant arrogance; the author's assignment to illuminating manuscripts and his appointment as vicar; Ras Mäkonnen's visit to Rome; Afä Wärq's alert to Mäkonnen about an Italian newspaper report on the Wec'ale Treaty; Menilek's campaign in Tegray and the submission of the Ras Mängä?a and Däggazmac Sebhat; Menilek's dispute over Article XVII with Counts Salimbeni and Antonelli; rebellion in Tegray and Italian encroachment into the province.
40. Antonelli's persistence over the negotiation and his departure without success; the defiance of Tigrean nobles to Menilek and their final submission; how Menilek managed to purchase ammunition and armaments from the Italians and the French; Colonel Piano's failure to avoid confrontation; the battles of Ko'atit and Däbrä Hayla and the coming of the Italian forces up to Mäqäle; the battle of Amba Alage and the death of Major Toselli.

198-207

41. The seige of Mäqäle and Major Galliano's withdrawal of his forces to Edaga Hamus; the alignment of Italian and Ethiopian forces at Adwa; the sabotage activities of Ras Hagos and Ras Sebhat behind the enemy lines; the battle of Adwa, the defeat of the Italian forces and their retreat to Asmara. 42. The victory procession and the unjust punishment of the Eritrean askaris; European reaction to the Italian defeat at Adwa; the Italian change of policy due to public pressure; the return of Menilek and Täklä Haymanot from Tegray; Menilek's conditions for peace; victory celebrations in Addis Ababa; how St. George helped the Ethiopians in the battle of Adwa; about the churches of T'amme Giyorgis and Arada Giyorgis.

207-212

The imprisonment of Mängä?a Yohannes; the British victory over the Mahdist forces and the repatriation of the Ethiopian captives; the expeditions of Ras Wäldä Giyorgis and Däggazmac Dämess to Käfa and Wälläga as a counter move to the British march to colonize Southern Sudan; the stiff resistance of the people of Käfa and their final submission; Täklä Haymanot's campaign in the western frontier region of Goggam; the author's marriage to Alämitu Mär?a; Negest Täklä Haymanot's marriage to Ras Mäsfen.

212-225

44. The rebuilding of the church of Marqos; Lady Laqäcc's illness and the punishment of Mämher Kenfu, his nephew and some sorcerers; the death of Abunä Luqas and his piety; King Täklä Haymanot's sojourn in the region south of the Blue Nile and his building of churches; the King's illness and death; the mourning of his death in Goggam.
45A. The generosity of the King; a list of his battle engagements; the Kings regular banquets and a list of the warriors, officials and craftsmen who attended them; the kings generous stipends and banquets for clerics; a list of the King's officials.

225-236

The dispute over the succession to the King's domain; Menilek's dismemberment of the King's domain by designating officials to the various sub-regions; Däggazmac Seyyum's appointment of administrative and clerical officials in Goggam proper; his reforms with regard to the court, the management of people in its service and the collection of royal tithes.

237-247

Däggazmac Seyyum's attempt to register and collect firearms; about the incumbents of the late king who caused a dispute between Däggazmac Seyyum and Ras Bitwädäd Mängä?a; Menilek's investigation of the dispute; a trial of the case in Addis Ababa; Däggazmac Seyyum's and the author's imprisonment having been found guilty of forging a letter.