The 16th century Horn of Africa was a region of dynamic and often violent interaction between competing powers and faiths. At the heart of a major conflict during this era was the Ethiopian-Adal War (1529-1543), a brutal struggle that pitted the Christian Ethiopian Empire against the expansionist Muslim Adal Sultanate, led by the formidable Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, often known as Ahmad Gurey (the Left-Handed). A key historical account of this period, particularly from the perspective of one of the intervening forces, is found in the book “The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543 as Narrated by Castanhoso.”
Miguel de Castanhoso was a participant in the Portuguese force sent to aid the beleaguered Ethiopian Emperor. His narrative, a valuable primary source, offers a firsthand account of the Portuguese involvement, detailing their journey, battles, and observations of the land and the conflict. The book, often presented in English translations such as the notable edition by R.S. Whiteway, provides a unique European perspective on a war that reshaped the region.
Imam Ahmad Gurey, a figure of immense historical significance, launched a highly successful invasion of the Ethiopian Empire. Leveraging firearms acquired from the Ottoman Empire and rallying a diverse force, he inflicted severe defeats on the Ethiopian forces, conquering large swathes of the empire. This period, sometimes referred to as the “Conquest of Abyssinia” from the Adal perspective, brought the Ethiopian Empire to the brink of collapse. The image you shared also references “The Rise and Fall of Imam Ahmad,” highlighting his central role in these events. The note in the image about the argument for “grey was a Somali .. ibn Ibrahim” touches upon the historical discussion surrounding Imam Ahmad’s ethnicity, though his nickname “Gurey” is indeed Somali for “the left-handed.”
Facing imminent defeat, the Ethiopian Emperor Lebna Dengel appealed for assistance from Portugal, a burgeoning maritime power with interests in the Indian Ocean and a historical connection to the mythical Christian kingdom of “Prester John” in Africa (associated with Ethiopia). In response, a Portuguese expeditionary force of around 400 musketeers, led by Cristóvão da Gama (son of the famous explorer Vasco da Gama), arrived in 1541.
Castanhoso’s narrative vividly describes the campaigns of this small but well-armed Portuguese contingent fighting alongside the Ethiopian forces, later led by Emperor Gelawdewos after his father’s death. The Portuguese intervention, though small in number, brought crucial technological and tactical advantages, particularly their effective use of firearms, which helped to turn the tide against Imam Ahmad’s forces.
The conflict culminated in a series of battles. While the Portuguese initially achieved victories, Cristóvão da Gama was eventually captured and executed by Imam Ahmad in 1542. However, the war continued, and in February 1543, at the Battle of Wayna Daga, a combined Ethiopian and remaining Portuguese force decisively defeated Imam Ahmad’s army. Imam Ahmad himself was killed in this battle, a turning point that led to the decline of the Adal Sultanate’s power and the eventual recovery of the Ethiopian Empire.
“The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543 as Narrated by Castanhoso” remains an essential historical document for understanding this complex conflict. It offers a rare eyewitness account from one of the foreign participants and sheds light on the military strategies, political dynamics, and the harsh realities of warfare in the Horn of Africa during the 16th century, a period profoundly shaped by the actions of leaders like Imam Ahmad Gurey and the intervention of powers like Portugal.
