Ras Gobena

Ras Gobena Dache (Ge'ez: ራስ፡ ጎበና Oromo: Goobanaa Daaccee, 1821 - July, 1889) was an ethnic Oromo member of the Shewan aristocrats of central Ethiopia in the mid-19th century. He is known for coordinating his Shewa Oromo^? army with the central army of Menelik II, who later became Ethiopian Emperor, to incorporate more lands into the Ethiopian Empire in the late 19th century.

During his early years, Gobena was lord of Falle before he gained fame around the region for his bravery, strength and leadership ability. During the reign of Emperor Tewodros II, Gobena assisted southern rebellion who kept the Emperor's reign troubled with conflicts. In addition to Gobena's actions, other northern Oromo militias, Tigrayan rebellion, and the constant incursion of Ottoman Empire and Egyptian forces near the Red Sea weakened and contributed to the downfall of Emperor Tewodros II who died after his last battle with a British expeditionary force.

When the young Menelik escaped from Tewodros' fortress at Maqdala in 1865, Gobana was one of the first to submit to him and help him secure control of Shewa. In return, Menelik made him chief of his palace guard, which began Gobana's rapid rise to power. In 1878, Gobana was made Ras, which Mohammed Hassan believes makes Gobana "the first Christianized and Amharized Shawan Oromo to receive this highest title."

A few years earlier before the rise of Gobana, there had emerged a Yejju Oromo dynasty elsewhere in northern Ethiopia: These were Abba Seru Gwangul]], Ras Ali I, Ras Aligaz, Ras Gugsa Mursa, Ras Yimam, Ras Marye, Ras Dori and Ras Ali II. These ruled the empire making the emperors of the Solomonic dynasty as mere figureheads. Menelik’s wife Empress Taytu Betul and Ras Gugsa wolle, husband of Queen Zewditu Menlik were also member of the Yejju dynasty. While the Yejju Oromo dominated the northern Christian Amhara, Tigray and Agaw provinces, Amharic was the court language of Gondar, and Christianity remained the state religion. Similar to the noblemen of Tigray and Agaw subgroups like Wag, Qwara and Awi these northern Christian Oromo noblemen ruled the empire using Amharic for official purposes, and speaking Oromiffa language privately and identifying themselves with their clan name. Like the rest too, they built churches, appointed bishops and regional chiefs under the name of the powerless emperors.

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