Garad Matan, a talented horseman, commanded the
Somali Adalite Division in combat. The
Geri Koombe created a great big army of knights, horsemen, and foot warriors totaling 3,000 men, who were accompanied by their brethren clans
Harti Koombe, Jairan Koombe, and Harla Koombe, all of whom were
Darod. The
Imam then attached a crimson banner to a spear and gave it to his brother-in-law Garad Matan Bin Uthman ibn Khalid, their captain, knight, and the most daring, bravest of them all. There were 110 knights and 3,000 troops, as well as the
Somali tribes of
Harti Koombe, Jairan Koombe, and Mazra Koombe, all of whom rallied to him.Like previously mentioned Garaad Matan led key battles for the Adal sultanate, also famously leading the
Somali Adalite Division. The Imam gathered all the
Somali tribes and made them one unit entrusting the unit to his Brother In law Garad Matan. The number of patricians killed was staggering, the futuh reports exactly 130 Amhara and Tigrayan patricians were killed Then the Imam dispatched his right-hand man and brother in law
Garad Matan Al Somali who then conquered Eastern Shewa then General Matan Al Somali drove his adalite forces and conquered
Bete Amhara ( House Of Amhara ) by the end of the year
Dawit II fell back behind the
Abay River to seek refuge in
Gojjam much deeper into the highlands.
Garad Matan sacks the home of Lebna Dengel The Imam then commanded Garad Matan along with Farasaham to conquer Andutna this place itself was considered to be the royal towns of the Abyssinian kings. according to historical scholars modern day Andutna is a settlement near north of Addis Abbaba known as Entotto. Nevertheless, when Garad Matan and Farasaham arrived they conquered Andutna and arrived at its church and sacked, it. Arab faqih gives an explicit descriptive account of the sacking of the church. Arab Faqih writes They set out, arrived and burned the church down. Its acroterial ornaments were of gold, and the cross above it was of red gold. They stripped it of its gold and burnt it and plundered its furnishings, which the Christians of the village had left behind in three trenches. But as for gold, they found nothing there apart from what they took from the church.Imam then reunited with Garad Matan after arriving back from Dukam, the Imam and Matan then arrived at the home of Lebna Dengel, Andutna was the home of Lebna Dengel, Matan and the imam entered the house and at first were amazed at it but they then subsequently burned it down, Arab Faqih gives an even more descriptive account Arab Faqih notesThe imam, meantime, marched with his army from Dukam and entered Andutna, a village of the king Wanag Sagad. To return to Farasaham 'Ali and Mattan the two of them joined the imam in the above- mentioned village. In Andutna was the house of the Abyssinian king, in which were paintings, images of lions, of human beings, of birds, depicted in red, yellow, green and white and other colours. The Muslims entered the house, and were amazed at what was in it; and then burnt it.
Garad Matan kills Lebna Dengal's son After the imam and Garad matan laid siege to Andutna, the eldest son of Lebna Dengel named victor was captured and killed by Garad Matan, according to historians Victor was next in line to the throne.
Surprise attack on Imam Ahmed's camp, Imam Ahmed's camp was a subject to surprise attacks from the Abyssinian stragglers. The Christians had descended from the highlands during the night while all the Adalite forces were asleep, they were famous for using poisoned spears. Garad Matan had then noticed the Abyssinian stragglers at his camp. the Abyssinians then shot their spears directly at Matan, Matan then galloped on his horse courageously pushed and chased the Abyssinian stragglers away. :The storyteller, says: When a quarter of the night had passed, there was a surprise attack on the perimeter of the camp by the idol-worshippers who had fought the Muslims on the terrace of the mountain. They shot their arrows into the area where Matan the Somali was. He mounted his horse and put them to flight in the dark until he drove them back up the mountain. Then he returned to his camp. None of the Muslims were harmed. == Martyrdom ==