17th century The earliest sourced mention of Debarq appears to date back to the late 17th century, serving as a stopover for replenishment to journeys and military campaigns that emperor
Iyasu I undertook from
Gondar to the north.
18th century In early 1770, explorer
James Bruce was one of the earliest foreign sources to mention Debarq. Bruce noted in his journal, the contrasting and temperate climate as he passed through a market in Debarq.
19th century In 1814, Debarq appeared on a map by traveller
Henry Salt Richard Pankhurst notes that by the early 19th century its market was important enough to be one of six in Ethiopia requiring a
nagadras ("head of the market") to oversee it and collect the fees. The revenue from taxes levied on the marketplace in the 1830s paid the governor of
Semien province (
Wube Haile Maryam) 3,000
Maria Theresa Thalers and about as much to the
nagadras. During a clash with his rebellious nephews, Emperor
Tewodros II saw his close friend and advisor John Bell killed in battle here in 1860. Although his nephews were killed in the skirmish, and their 1700 followers immediately surrendered, he exacted vengeance the next day by
beheading all of their men.
20th century During
Ethiopia's occupation by Fascist Italy, Debarq was the scene of violent fighting between the fascist Italian occupiers and local Ethiopian freedom fighters. After the liberation Debarq became the capital of the
Semien Awragga. During the
Ethiopian Civil War, the
Tigrayan People's Liberation Front launched an offensive against the
Ethiopian Army's 603rd Army Corps of the
Derg, and after destroying the government forces stationed at Debarq, they controlled the town 3 January 1989. == Demographics ==