Background Of
Amhara lineage, Demetros was a native from the
Shewan district of
Merhabete. While most of Shewa was conquered by the
Oromo invasions, Christian communities survived in his homeland of Merhabete. There were unbroken links with the empire, and the Christian regeneration took place well before the better known case of the
Menz dynasty of his Shewan
Amhara contemporary,
Negasi Krestos.
Lasta campaign In December 1679, after months of tensions between the crown and the region of
Lasta, Emperor
Yohannes I launched an punitive expedition into Lasta. On the 7th day of the campaign, the imperial forces were hindered by unfavorable weather conditions. Detached from the imperial army by the order of his majesty,
dejazmach Demetros destroyed a fortress in Dabot, seizing glory that day. On the 8th day, Demetros further distinguished himself by taking a mountain settlement called Maskot, which previous emperors and commanders failed to conquer.
1690's Throughout the 1690s Demetros was a close confidant of
Iyasu I, helping plan attacks on the
Oromos and participating in
Iyasu's campaigns. By 1693 he held the title of
Sahafe Lam of
Shewa. By the end of the decade, however, he had lost favour at
Iyasu's court. In March 1699, at the conclusion of yet another campaign against the Oromo, Iyasu stripped Demetros of his appointment as Sahafe Lam of Shewa, and reduced his territorial control to his homeland, the district of Merhabete. == Notes==