Background
He was the elder son of Asfa Wossen, by a woman of the Solomonic dynasty.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Wossen Seged
Edit ProfileCareer
He was the first ruler of Shewa to claim a higher title than Meridazmach, calling himself Ras. lieutenant is during the reign of Wossen Seged that the chronology of Shewa becomes stable. One mention that helps date the Meridazmach"s reign is that of Henry Salt, who mentions him as ruling Yifat (the contemporary name of Shewa, from "Ifat") during his visit to Ethiopia in 1809–1810.
As Asfa Wossen had sons by a second wife, who came from the aristocracy in Menz, Wossen Seged feared that he would be passed over in favor of his younger half-brother and he rebelled against his father.
Failing to attract support, Wossen Seged was defeated and imprisoned. But the aging Asfa Wossen was reconciled to Wossen Seged, and made him not only governor of Antziokia in northern Shewa but his successor.
After he assumed control of Shewa, he joined in an alliance with Ras Wolde Selassie of Tigray to invade the territories of Ras Gugsa of Yejju. Wossen Seged began a campaign of church-building, restoring the Church of the Trinity in Debre Berhan, and Church of the Virgin in Debre Libanos, as well as building a new church in Sela Dingay.
Henze believes they were behind his murder at the hand of one of his slaves in his palace at Qundi, north of Ankober.
Although the Meridazmach managed to escape the burning house, as well as saving the life of his queen, the slave then fatally stabbed Wossen Seged in the ribs.
