Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam Tekle Haymanot Tessemma , also Adal Tessemma , Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam , and Tekle Haimanot of Gojjam , ( 1847 – 10 January 1901 ) was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire . Biography . Born Adal Tessemma , Tekle Haymanot Tessemma was the son of Tessemma Goshu , " Negus " of Gojjam . Gojjam had long been a vassal kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire . The title " King of Gojjam " was an honorific title . The last time a King of Gojjam was elevated to Emperor was during the " Era of the Princes " ( " Zemene Mesafint " ) . Like his father , " Negus " Tessemma Goshu , Adal Tessemma became the " Negus " of Gojjam . Under Tekle Giyorgis . " Dejazmach " Tessemma Goshu died during his son ' s minority . As a result , a rival named Dasta Guala assumed control in Gojjam and imprisoned Adal . Adal eventually escaped to the lowlands and raised an army . After returning to Gojjam and defeating Dasta , Adal submitted to " Nəgusä Nägäst " Tekle Giyorgis who confirmed him as the " Shum " of Gojjam and as " Dejazmach " . The " Nəgusä Nägäst " even allowed Adal to marry his paternal sister , Laqetch Gegre Mehdin . Under Yohannes IV . On 11 July 1871 , " Dejazmach " Kassay Mercha defeated " Nəgusä Nägäst " Tekle Giyorgis and reinstated Dasta in Gojjam . On 21 January 1872 , Kassay Mercha became " Nəgusä Nägäst " Yohannes IV and left Gojjam . Adal then returned to Gojjam and killed Dasta . By 1873 , Adal had consolidated all of Gojjam under his rule . In 1874 , Adal submitted to " Nəgusä Nägäst " Yohannes IV . Adal was now " Ras " Tekle Haymanot Tessemma . On 20 January 1881 , in Debre Tabor , " Nəgusä Nägäst " Yohannes IV appointed " Ras " Tekle Haymanot Tessemma as " Negus " of Gojjam Province and as " Negus " of Kaffa Province . However , the latter province was only his if he was able to conquer it . Unfortunately for " Ras " Tekle Haymanot Tessemma , " Ras " Menelik , " Negus " of Shewa , was also interested in Kaffa Province . Yohannes provided Tekle Haymanot with 8 , 000 rifles to help with the conquest . The Battle of Embabo . The followers of " Negus " Tekle Haymanot Tessemma attempted to extend his control over the Kingdom of Kaffa . But , on 6 June 1882 , his forces were defeated at the Battle of Embabo by the superior forces of " Negus " Menelik . Tekle Haymanot Tessemma was captured and Menelik gained the upper hand in Kaffa . But Yohannes intervened and , while allowing Menelik to have Kaffa , he made Menelik give Wollo Province to " Ras " Araya Selassie Yohannes , his legitimate son . Destruction and submission . In the late 1880s , Mahdi st raiders from the Sudan encroached on Gojjam and Begemder . On 18 January 1888 , a large Mahdist army defeated Tekle Haymanot Tessemma ' s army at Sarweha in Dembea . As a result of this loss , northwestern Ethiopia was open to the Mahdist who followed up their victory by entering , sacking , and burning Gondar . Thousands of Christians were captured , enslaved , and marched off to Metema . Emperor Yohannes IV ordered " Negus " Menelik and his Shewan army into Gojjam and Begemder . Sensing a shift in power , " Negus " Tekle Haymanot Tessemma negotiated a defensive alliance with Menelik . After Menelik secured Gojjam and Begemder , Yohannes ordered him to return to Shewa . In September 1888 , when Tekle Haymanot Tessemma refused to contribute forces to the efforts of Yohannes against Mahdist who had re - entered western Gojjam , Yohannes suspected Tekle Haymanot and Menelik of plotting against him . To destroy the power of Tekle Haymanot , the army of Yohannes laid waste to much of Gojjam . As a result of the destruction , Tekle Haymanot submitted to Yohannes . Under Menelik II . In 1889 , soon after the death of Yohannes at the Battle of Gallabat , Menelik proclaimed himself " Nəgusä Nägäst " Menelik II . " Negus " Tekle Haymanot pledged his allegiance to the new " Nəgusä Nägäst " . Menelik reinstated Tekle Haymanot as " Shum " of Gojjam and named him as an advisor . Battle of Adwa . In 1896 , " Negus " Tekle Haymanot fought at the Battle of Adwa on the side of Menelik and was a hero of that action . Death . Ultimately Emperor Menelik determined that Gojjam was too valuable a province to be held by one man and , upon the death of Tekle Haymanot , Menelik divided Gojjam into three parts . He assigned the three parts to different men responsible to him . One of the men came from Shewa . Tekle Haymanot Tessemma was the father of at least three sons and four daughters . His sons were as follows : Bezabah , Hailu , and Balaw . One of his sons , " Ras " Hailu Tekle Haymanot , succeeded him as Hailu II of Gojjam .