Welde Giyorgis Aboye (horse name Abba Säggäd; 4 November 1851 – 1 March 1918) was one of the most prominent Ethiopian generals who spearheaded Emperor Menelik's southward expansion at the close of the 19th century. His fame soared after leading the conquest on the Kingdom of Kaffa as a Ras, and was subsequently appointed as provincial governor of that fief by the Emperor. Welde Giyorgis later became the governor of Begemder. A few months before his death, he was elevated to Negus, (lit: King) of Gondar by Empress Zewditu in 1917, as recognition for his role in deposing Lij Iyasu.
Ancestry
Of Amhara descent. Welde Giyorgis was the second son of Woizero Ayahilush, a daughter of Negus Sahle Selassie of Shewa. His father was Meridazmach Aboye, who was appointed by Emperor Tewodros II as the imperial viceroy (governor) in Shewa. His father was further distinguished with the title of Afe Negus (lit: ‘‘Mouth of the king’’) or chief of judges.
His full siblings were; brothers Ras Bashah Aboye and Dejazmach Lemma Aboye, and his sisters Wossen Yelesh Aboye and twins Sama'etwa Aboye and Birkenseh Aboye.
He was a cousin of Emperor Menelik II.
Biography
Early career
As a youngster, Welde Giyorgis started service in Negus Menelik's court as a page and rose through the ranks to become chief of the personal guard of the Negus with the title of grazmach in 1883.
Southwestern conquests
In 1885 Welde Giyorgis participated in the conquest on the kingdom of Yamma. In 1886, he assisted Tessema Nadew in defeating the Gumma resistance, and was promoted in April that year to the rank of Dejazmach after establishing himself as a skilled soldier. His first region to govern was Limu, there he demonstrated his military leadership and from that area led a series of successful military campaigns. In 1889 he conquered the small kingdoms of Dawro, Kontu and Kwala in southwestern Ethiopia. He was promoted to the rank of Ras in 1893, and alongside Menelik II conquered the Welamo kingdom in 1894.
Battle of Adwa and submission of Aussa
During the course of the First Italo-Ethiopian War in 1895-1896, forces commandeerd by Welde Giyorgis, Tessema Nadew and Welde Tsadiq were assigned to neutralize the Afar people and prevent them from helping the Italians. The show of Abyssinian force dissuaded the Afar sultan Mahammad Hanfare of the Sultanate of Aussa from honouring his treaties with Italy, and instead Hanfare secured a modicum of autonomy within the Ethiopian Empire by accepting Menelik's indirect rule after the war.
Conquest of Kaffa
Earlier expeditions led by Ras Gobana Dacche in 1882, Bashah Aboye between 1885-1889 and other officers in 1890 failed. Kaffa's leaders, Gali and Gaki pretended to submit to Menelik II, only to refuse to pay the annual tribute.
In January 1897 Emperor Menelik II dispatched three armies (under Ras Welde Giyorgis's command) to areas of modern day southwest Ethiopia that wasn't under his rule at that time. Menelik wanted to bring Amhara civilization to the ‘‘benighted’’ (to the non-Christian population) of the resource rich area of Kaffa and beyond.
Welde Giyorgis was at the head of thirty-one thousand soldiers, leading the bloody campaign against the Kingdom of Kaffa. Fifteen thousand soldiers were directly under Ras Welde Giyorgis, half of whom where equipped with guns. Dejazmach Demissew Nasibu led eight thousand men, half of them with guns; and eight thousand men, almost all with guns were led by Dejazmach Tessema Nadew. The Kaffans bode strong resistance under its last king Gaki Sherocho, even after the fall of Andaraca, his kingdom's capital, in March 1897. Gaki ordered (in vain) the destruction of grain and houses, so that it would hamper the Amhara forces to sustain themselves. The Kaffan leader was captured in September 1897, and presented to Emperor Menelik two months later in silver chains. Kaffa was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire, and Welde Giyorgis was appointed as governor.
Counter British and French encroachment
Before formally assuming his new position as governor of Kaffa, Welde Giyorgis was ordered by Emperor Menelik to participate in a expanded expedition along the southern and south-western border areas to preempt British and French colonial ambitions in that direction. Ras Welde Giyorgis was instructed to advance from Kaffa into the south annexing all lands that lay along the way to the 2nd north meridian and establish a foothold at Lake Turkana.
On 29 March 1898, Welde Giyorgis planted the Ethiopian flag on both of Lake Turkana's shores.