Pearce provides a short account of Baeda Maryam's reign. He had been made Emperor by
Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel, and after he was deposed by
Ras Aligaz, Baeda Maryam found refuge with
Ras Guebra. The
Royal chronicle provides further details: when Emperor
Tekle Giyorgis I was absent from
Gondar raiding near
Shawra, Baeda Maryam was proclaimed emperor over the protests of
Abuna Yosab III and the
Ichege. At the same time Wolde Gabriel was elevated to
Ras and
Betwodded. However, according to the
Royal chronicle Baeda Maryam found little support beyond Wolde Gabriel: not long after his coronation, retainers of
Ras Guebra at
Shawada and
Mosabit clashed with the retainers of Wolde Gabriel;
Dejazmach Wolde Selassie appeared to support Baeda Maryam as emperor, but he sent a secret message to
Dejazmach Haile Wand Bewossen of support. Both
Ras Wolde Gabriel and Emperor Baeda Maryam campaigned in the provinces in a show of strength, but by the
rainy season Baeda Maryam had returned to Gondar. Towards the end of 1795,
Dejazmach Haile Wand Bewossen marched from
Lasta, supported by
Oromo from
Wollo, and defeated Wolde Gabriel in battle at Felaqit Saturday 8 Teqemt. Wolde Gabriel retreated towards the
Checheho pausing at
Maryam Weha and his enemies at Agala. When Wolde Gabriel attempted to retire towards
Sabisabar, he was attacked and defeated once again at Tsanfa Gumara. Wolde Gabriel withdrew to
Quratsa, where the monks made peace between him and Haile Wand Bewossen. Wolde Gabriel then went to the monastery at
Mahdere Maryam while Haile marched on Gondar, where he summoned Tekle Giyorgis to resume the throne. By 1802, Baeda Maryam was reportedly a prisoner in
Semien. By January 1813, he was still in Semien, at which time he visited
Ras Wolde Selassie to seek his help in being restored to the throne, but the
Ras declined to help. Pearce later notes that Wolde Selassie was thought to be supporting the claims of another former Emperor, Tekle Giyorgis, but did not act because "he is persuaded to wait for the Abuna from Egypt and take him with him." ==Notes==