Medri Bahri

Medri Bahri was a special kingdom in the highlands of what is now Eritrea.

It sat north of the Mereb River and west of the Bur Province. The land included the historical areas of Hamasien and Seraye. The kingdom was not part of the Ethiopian Empire, but it was ruled by a leader called the Bahr Negash. This title means "Ruler of the Sea."

This title first appeared during the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob between 1433 and 1468. Earlier, a king named Tatadim used the name in the 11th century.

To make the kingdom stronger, Emperor Zara Yaqob gave the Bahr Negash more power. He placed him above other local chiefs in the highlands. The Emperor even sent Maya warriors from the south to live there. These settlers were so strong that people said the earth trembled when they arrived. Some local people were so afraid that they fled the country. Later, in the 1520s, a traveler named Francisco Alvares visited the area. He met a leader named Dori who lived in the town of Debarwa. Dori was an uncle to Emperor Lebna Dengel and paid him tribute with horses and fine carpets. Dori was also a kind supporter of Christianity and gave many gifts to churches.

War brought many hard times to Medri Bahri over the years. During the Ethiopian-Adal War, the region faced many battles. A leader named Za-Wangel died fighting in the Battle of Shimbra Kure in 1529. By 1535, the forces of Imam Ahmad crossed the Mereb River. This caused much destruction and violence in the highlands. Many people had to hide on mountains with their animals to stay safe. In 1541, a warrior named Miguel de Castanhoso saw that the land was nearly empty because people were hiding. Later, the Ottoman Turks took the port of Massawa in 1557. They even tried to hold the town of Debarwa, but the local people used guns to make them leave.

In the 1800s, the region saw new leaders and new struggles.

A powerful man named Bahr Negash Yeshaq used guns from the coast to gain influence. However, he later fought against Emperor Sarsa Dengel and was captured. By the time the traveler James Bruce visited in 1769, the Bahr Negash had less power. The land was often divided into small districts ruled by local elders. In the mid-1800s, villages like Hazega and Tsazega fought for control. Leaders like Woldemichael Solomon eventually took over large parts of the highlands through fighting.

Medri Bahri became very important again during the reign of Emperor Yohannes IV. The land had to be defended against an army from Egypt. In 1875, a leader named Woldemichael Solomon gave in to the Egyptians. This allowed them to build a fort at Gura, but a leader named Ras Alula stopped them. Alula won the Battle of Gura and became the governor of the province. He fought many battles against the Italians who arrived at the coast. After Emperor Yohannes IV died at the Battle of Gallabat, the region was exhausted from war. Eventually, the Italians took control of the land, and it was recognized in the Treaty of Wuchale.