Wolde Selassie, who descended from the nobility of
Antalo in Enderta, emerged as the ruler of Tigray,
Hamasien and
Mareb Melash (Eritrea) after years of fighting; Nathaniel Pearce describes an encounter where he made a name for himself by single-handedly slaying the brothers Abel and Cail, "two of
Ras Michael's choice men" who were sent by Michael to kill Wolde Selasse. Despite the fact
Ras Mikael Sehul was so impressed at this act of bravery that he tried to make peace with him, but Wolde Selassie remembered how the older man had killed his father, and until the old
Ras died he spent his years in exile in
Wollo and
Gojjam.
Wolde Gabriel, grandson of
Ras Mikael, attempted to crush Wolde Selassie when the later was in
Wogera, but according to Pearce after besieging Wolde Selassie for 20 days Wolde Gabriel came off the worse, and made peace by proclaiming him
Balgadda, or governor of the salt-making districts. After Wolde Gabriel's death in battle against Ras
Aligaz of Yejju the then Imperial regent of Abyssinia, Wolde Selassie petitioned Emperor Tekle Giyorgis for the governorship of his kingdom, Enderta, but the Emperor "according to his usual bad faith" made another warlord,
Ras Gebre Masqal, governor of Enderta instead. Wolde Selassie then quickly marched forth with a smaller army against the
Ras, which he defeated, then entered Gebre Masqal's camp and took the
Ras prisoner. Shortly afterwards he marched on
Gondar. The two Emperors, Tekle Haymanot and Tekle Giyorgis bestowed Wolde-Sillasie the titles of both Ras and
Bitwoded of the Abyssinian empire in 1790. Wolde Selassie made his seat of government in
Chalacot, but maintained his capital at Antalo in
Enderta Province. He built four palaces, at Chelekot, Antalo, Felegdaro and Mekelle, all in Enderta. He played a role in the politics of the Imperial Throne, in part by providing shelter to Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I in 1799 and 1800, and was visited by the former Emperor
Baeda Maryam in 1813. Although at first he cooperated with
Ras Aligaz, the Imperial Regent, after his power grew, Wolde Selassie came to challenge Aligaz for that office prior to Aligaz's death in 1803. The first years of the 19th century were disturbed by fierce campaigns between
Ras Gugsa of Begemder, and
Ras Wolde Selassie of Tigray, who fought over control of the figurehead Emperor
Egwale Seyon. Wolde Selassie was eventually the victor, and practically ruled the whole country as
Enderase till his death in 1816. Wolde Selassie, a conservative Christian who greatly valued Ethiopia's monarchical traditions, hated the Yeju parvenus. He hit out at them by effectively conquering the Azebo and Raya and by taking control over all the important passes in Lasta leading to Tigray. He then turned his attention to the coast, slowly but surely imposing his suzerainty over the Muslim authorities there until he finally could control and tax their trade inland; he used the revenues, to train, reform and re-equip his army and when the 19th century opened, Wolde Selassie was by far Abyssinia's leading figure and certainly the main champion of the Solomonic tradition. Ras Wolde Selassie was known to have had wielded the most power during his reign, exceeding formidable rases such as Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Ras Gugsa of Gojam and the Yejju chieftain Gojje; and throughout his vast provinces and districts, all kinds of crimes, grievances, rebellions, disputes and inheritances were directly referred to him and most wars were carried by himself in person. According to
Paul Henze,
Ras Wolde Selassie was the first ruler of this period to have close contact with Europeans, hosting three British diplomats,
George Annesley,
Viscount Valentia, his secretary
Henry Salt, and Pearce. Salt's arrival in Abyssinia culminated in the signing of a treaty of friendship with Wolde Selassie representing Abyssinia and the former representing Great Britain in 1805. Henry Salt also proposed inaugurating trade with Britain; Wolde Selassie was quick to see possible advantages in relations with Britain and promised to encourage such commerce with every means in his power. Revealing himself a realist, and speaking, Salt says, with "great sincerity", he nevertheless expressed the fear that his country might not be able to supply any quantity of valuable commodities sufficient to recompense our merchants for engaging in so precarious a trade; more especially as the Abyssinians were not much acquainted with commercial transactions...Could any plan, however, be arranged for obviating these difficulties...he would most readily concur in carrying it into effect. Wolde Selassie also touched on a major obstacle that the Ethiopians had faced, the Egyptians had control over the port of Massawa which they acquired from the Ottoman Empire and reminded King George that with their "naval superiority in the red sea" Abyssinia might find it difficult to gain access to the port. Wolde-Sillasie's effort however, did bear fruit in the long term when his successors
Dejazmatch Wube of Semien and Tigray and Emperor Yohannes of Ethiopia followed up on the treaty that was struck between him and the kingdom of Britain. Nathaniel Pearce lived with Ras Wolde from about 1808 and the warlord's death. Pearce's diary of his stay is not only valuable for the history of this period, but also provides enormous detail about daily life in Ethiopia. After a period of internal wars in
Tigray province, a half-
Tigrayan, half-
Irob warlord
Sabagadis Woldu was victorious and became the new lord of the province in 1822. == Reputation ==