Battle of Amba Sel

The Battle of Amba Sel was fought on 28 October 1531, between the Ethiopians under their Emperor Dawit II, and the forces of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi of the Adal Sultanate.^[1]

Battle of Amba Sel
Part of the Ethiopian–Adal war
Date 28 October 1531; 493 years ago (1531-10-28) Location Bale, Ethiopian Empire Result Adalite victory Territorial changes Bete Amhara and Angot annexed by Adal
Belligerents
Ethiopian Empire	Adal Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Dawit II	Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Garad Matan Ahmed Girri Garad Hirabu
Casualties and losses
3,000 killed 200 captured	Unknown

Battle

The Battle of Amba Sel was one of the bloodiest battles waged in the whole war. The two armies fought fiercely and bravely until Addalu fell and was promptly beheaded by the Adalite soldiers. His men therefore fled, pursued by the Adalites who killed many Christians and took many others captives. Thousands of Christians were killed, including innumerable nobles and 3,000 cavalrymen, and some 200 noble men who were seized. The land was covered with corpses and blood ran like streams according to Arab Faqīh. The Imam then ordered all of the inhabitants of Bali to embrace Islam or be killed. Arab Faqih states that the entire land therefore embraced Islam and the Imam appointed a certain Umar as the province's governor.^[2]