During the rule of his father,
Ras Gugsa of Yejju, Marye challenged his father's authority with an open rebellion; Marye was defeated in battle. After Gugsa's death Marye also challenged the succession of his own brother
Yimam by rebelling. Marye had his capital in
Debre Tabor, from 1828 to 1831. Upon
Meru of Dembiya's death, he was given that nobleman's territories in
Dembiya,
Wegera and
Belessa to rule, but he had not held them for very long before Meru's relations came forward with their own claims; the immediate claimants included
Dejazmach Walde Tekle, who claimed the lands for himself, and
Welette Tekle, who claimed them for her son Kinfu. The struggle over control of these territories continued long after Marye's death, eventually involving Empress
Menen Liben Amede. Marye's final military campaign was against
Ras Sabagadis of
Agame, who had succeeded
Wolda Selassie as the dominant warlord of
Tigray. Supported by
Wube Haile Maryam of
Semien and
Goshu of
Gojjam, Marye led his army across the
Takazze River and defeated Sebagadis at the
Battle of Debre Abbay (14 February 1831). However,
Ras Marye was killed in the battle, and Sebagadis surrendered to Wube. Wube handed the defeated warlord to
Ras Marye's
Oromo troops, who killed their defeated foe, and ravaged Tigray in revenge for their leader's death. == Notes ==