Adal Sultanate

Between 1528 and 1540, the Adal Sultanate attempted, under Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi, to
conquer the Ethiopian Empire. Entering, from the low arid country to the south-east with support
from the Ottomans, Arabs and mercenaries from foreign lands on pretext of a Jihad, encroached
upon much of the Ethiopian plateau, forcing the Emperor to take refuge in the mountain fastnesses.
In this remote location, the Empress turned to the Portuguese for military assistance against
Ottoman guns. João Bermudes, a subordinate member of the mission of 1520, who had remained in
the country after the departure of the embassy, was sent to Lisbon. Bermudes claimed to be the
ordained successor to the Abuna (archbishop), but his credentials are disputed.[citation needed]
In response to Bermudes message, a Portuguese fleet under the command of Estêvão da Gama,
was sent from India and arrived at Massawa in February 1541. Here he received an ambassador
from the Empress beseeching him to send help against the Muslims, and in the July following a force
of 400 musketeers, under the command of Cristóvão da Gama, younger brother of the admiral,
marched into the interior at first were successful against the enemy; but subsequently defeated at
the Battle of Wofla (28 August 1542), and their commander captured and executed. The 120
surviving Portuguese soldiers fled with Queen Mother Seble Wongel and regrouped with Ethiopian
forces led by the Emperor to enact several defeats on the Adal over late 1542 and early 1543. [51] On
February 21, 1543, Al-Ghazi was shot and killed in the Battle of Wayna Daga and his forces were
totally routed. After this, quarrels arose between the Emperor and Bermudes, who had returned to
Ethiopia with Gama and now urged the emperor to publicly profess his obedience to Rome. This the
Emperor refused to do, and at length Bermudes was obliged to make his way out of the country