Emirate of Harar
The Emirate of Harar was a Muslim kingdom founded in 1647 when the Harari people refused to accept Imām ʿUmardīn Ādan as their ruler and broke away from the Imamate of Aussa to form their own state under `Ali ibn Da`ud.
Emirate of Harar | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1647–1887 | |||||||||
The Emirate of Harar and the Horn of Africa on a map from 1873 | |||||||||
| Status | Sovereign kingdom (1647–1875) (1884–1887) Subject of the Khedivate of Egypt (1875–1884) | ||||||||
| Capital | Ge | ||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Harari, Somali, Oromo, Argobba | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Emir | |||||||||
• early 17th century | `Ali ibn Da`ud | ||||||||
• 19th century | Abdullahi II | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1647 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1887 | ||||||||
| Currency | Mahlak | ||||||||
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The city of Harar Gey served as its sole capital. Prior to its invasion by Shewan forces under Menelik II, the League of Nations noted that the Harar Emirate made up the area between the rivers Awash and Shebelle while the Ogaden was a tributary state. Originally however the Harar Emirate composed of present-day Somalia and to the south of eastern Ethiopia including the Arsi Province. Numerous Oromo and Somali clans in the region paid tax to the Emirate as late as the 18th century despite their gradual annexation of lands in the Harari state. Harar also dominated trade in Shewa.
Harar's influence began shrinking in the 19th century possibly due to lack of resources and famine. Like all Muslim states in the area, the Emirate of Harar was technically under the protection of the Ottoman Empire. Egypt annexed the Emirate in 1875. The British Empire defeated the Khedivate and occupied its territories in 1882 including Harar, but the British agreed to evacuate Harar and essentially cede the city to the Ethiopian Empire's sphere of influence in exchange for assistance against Mahdist forces in Sudan. As per the terms of their agreement (the Hewett Treaty), the British withdrew from Harar in 1884, leaving the city to the son of the former Emir of Harar with a few hundred rifles, some cannon and a handful of British trained officers. The Emirate would be finally destroyed and annexed by the armies of Negus Sahle Maryam of Shewa (the future Emperor Menelik II) in 1887 following the Emirate's defeat at the Battle of Chelenqo.