An Argument for Beta Israel(Semien) Independence in 1444

[Aelia]

I'd like to argue that Beta Israel should be independent at game start, I'll use mainly those sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Israel#Political_independence_.284th_century_.E2.80.93_1632.29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Semien

and the Hebrew one which goes further into details:

https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/תולדות_ביתא_ישראל:_1270–1529#.D7.94.D7.A7.D7.99.D7.A1.D7.A8_.D7.93.D7.95.D7.95.D7.99.D7.AA_.D7.94.D7.A8.D7.90.D7.A9.D7.95.D7.9F_.D7.95.D7.99.D7.95.D7.A8.D7.A9.D7.95

Don't think I need to do much explaining considering the Era is explicity called
"Political independence (4th century – 1632)" but I'll anyways:

In 1444, the Semien Kingdom was practically sovereign. It had a king, it had an army and it was actively fighting a war against the Ethiopian Empire under Yeshaq, sometimes invading foreign territory outside of Lake Tana and the mountains of Semien. The Jews lost an important battle at Weger which resulted in the loss of their main source of income, the fertile farmlands and they were pushed back to the mountains but they didn't stop fighting nor did the Kingdom of Semien cease to exist, that would happen only 200 years later. By 1450 the Jews managed to annex back all the territories they lost to Emperor Yeshaq. Only in 1462 the Ethiopian Empire was able to defeat them and even then he didn't manage to fully incoporate all their lands. Only in 1642 in the reign of Emperor Susenyos the Kingdom was finally annexed and defeated for good.

Also, here a translation of the introduction of the page titled "The Chronoicles of Beta Israel" in Hebrew Wikipedia:
"The years 1270-1529 are known as the "Survival Era". This era begun with the Solomonid dynasty ascension to the throne and the overthrow of the Zagwa Dynasty. The overthrow of the Zagwa was ominous for the people of Beta Israel, but they refrained from intervening. Afterwards, after the strengthening of Ethiopia (The empire), it fought a war of extermination against the Jews. Despite all of that, the Jews managed to keep their independence in the mountains of Semien and around Lake Tana. This era [Of Survival] ended in the invasion of Adal Sultanate to Ethiopia, signifying the start of the "Defeat Era"[1529-1630], in which the Jews were once aside the Muslims and once aside the Christians."

Another relevant part in this page is Eliyahu of Ferrara letter from 1435, it reads like this: Beta Israel is an independent kingdom ruled by ministers and kings. It has an army with which it fights the Axumites [Refering to the non-Jewish Ethiopians] he even writes that the Jews "are making fun of Christianity" and then he goes on to describe the unique language they use which he hasn't heard before.

 

[AirikrStrife]

Historicaly Ethiopia was at war with Adal, Hadiyya and the Jewish rebels. If all are implemented ingame it should make a quite tough campaign.

Not really, in most cases Ethiopia would overcome that force, I'm quite sure off. Then it'd have a starting situation there they've imediatly beaten Adal and Hadiya back and perhaps taken provinces within a few years. Btw were Ethiopia really in war with Hadiya 1444? I understand they were in war a lot but by that time Eleni was the wife of Zara Yacob and the devs have choosen to start Hadiya as a vassal to Ethiopia.

Splitting the culture group would cause effects which would last the whole campaign essentially and weaken Ethiopia's growth and stability.

 

[LinusLinothorax]

Btw were Ethiopia really in war with Hadiya 1444?

I am relatively sure it was, though I would need to check again to be 100% sure.

Splitting the culture group would cause effects which would last the whole campaign essentially and weaken Ethiopia's growth and stability.

I would handle northern and central Ethiopia with an Ethio-Semitic culture and an Omotic one. Ethio-Semitic could cover Tigrinya (Medri Bahri) and Amhara (Ethiopia). Omotic covers Hinnario (Ennarea), Kafficho (Kaffa) and Waleyta (Waleyta, which is called Damot in game). Not sure how to handle the Kushitic speakers though. Should there be one Kushitic group also including the Somali? Or should they be a group on its own?

 

[AirikrStrife]

Do you mean Omotic would be it's own culture group with one culture in it? I'm fairly sure Devs would never do that. Even splitting Cushitic in two is kinda lot to ask for, but as off now I think it is a reasonable thing to ask for in order to make horn of africa a bit more realistic.

Abyssinian (as I would call it) versus the rest is probably the simpliest solution and the most efficient game wise, although I do get why you think it is a bit of a long stretch to include Omotic and Somali in the same group.

Looking at horn of Africa I'd say religion (roughly) would be the best way to divide the region in.

Abyssinian would be Tigray and Amhara and Agew (Agew, I think is reasonable to include in the game as an independent culture present in Agew, Dembiya and Semien). Despite language I'd definitly see them as part of the Abyssinian group rather than cushitic.

Either it would be "the rest" left or a further divide in roughly a muslim and a pagan group (not wholly pagan but less within the core muslim/christian areas)

Muslim/Cushitic would be Afar, Somali and Harari.

A pagan/Omotic would be Sidamo, Omotic and Oromo.

Waleyta (Waleyta, which is called Damot in game).

Not sure what you mean with this. There are one kingdom named Damot which is just southwest of Ethiopia with Amharic culture and coptic religion which starts as a vassal of ethiopia, and then there are Welayta in the deep south with Sidamic culture and pagan religion.

So as I see it if a new Omotic culture would be included it would cover Ennarea, the province of welayta (because the eastern province of the kingdom Welayta is the province of Sidamo) and Kaffa.

The kingdom of Damot however should not be Amharic, but sources I've read says they're not sure what language/identity the Damot kingdom even had speculating it was either "Sidamic" (meaning some sort of eastern highland cushitic) in nature or Omotic.

 

[LinusLinothorax]

Do you mean Omotic would be it's own culture group with one culture in it?

One culture group but with all the cultures I mentioned, so Hinnario, Kafficho and Wolayta. If thats not too specific, at least.

Not sure what you mean with this. There are one kingdom named Damot which is just southwest of Ethiopia with Amharic culture and coptic religion which starts as a vassal of ethiopia, and then there are Welayta in the deep south with Sidamic culture and pagan religion.

The kingdom of Damot however should not be Amharic, but sources I've read says they're not sure what language/identity the Damot kingdom even had speculating it was either "Sidamic" (meaning some sort of eastern highland cushitic) in nature or Omotic.

Historically there was no Damot in 1444 anymore. It was annexed under Amda Seyond during the earlier 14th century. Thats why I would suggest to switch it with the Wolayta Kingdom. Eventually I could also organize other petty kingdoms in southern Ethiopia, if the devs are still willing to enhance the region even further.

 

[JKiller96]

If Hadiya was at war with Ethiopia, remove them as a vassal of Ethiopia, buff Adal slightly in development or ideas (they were an actual threat to Ethiopia) make Semien at war with Ethiopia and make Medri Bahri an Ethiopian vassal.

 

[AirikrStrife]

One culture group but with all the cultures I mentioned, so Hinnario, Kafficho and Wolayta. If thats not too specific, at least.

Is simply not gonna happen. Devs explicitly said they won't do any new OPM cultures.So the chances they're gonna create a whole culture group consisting of 1-2 province cultures are essentially null. Besides what is the motivation to separate Omotic speaking groups from Sidamo culture except linguistics? Because that's not a valid argument for devs and to Omotic and Sidamic kingdoms lived in close vicinity and had more or less close cultural ties. They'd be ideal to keep together in one group and Oromo would fit nicely into that, since they also took a lot of influences from those kingdoms.

The more I think about it, I think three groups, Abyssinian, Omotic/Sidamic and Cushitic/Berbera. They'd more properly represent the political divide of the horn.

 

[AirikrStrife]

Historically there was no Damot in 1444 anymore. It was annexed under Amda Seyond during the earlier 14th century. Thats why I would suggest to switch it with the Wolayta Kingdom. Eventually I could also organize other petty kingdoms in southern Ethiopia, if the devs are still willing to enhance the region even further.

So to clarify things. The game has a kingdom called Damot which starts as a vassal to Ethiopia. You say that's ahistorical and the area should be owned directly by Ethiopia. Then you suggest it would be switched wit the Wolayta (whichif I'm not incredibly wrong is synonymous with Welayta). Now Welayta is a kingdom in the south of Ethiopia (Which also corresponds to an enlarged version of the moder Welayta zone in SNNP). So what exactly do you mean by switching Damot with Welayta? Should Welayta start owning the provinces of Asosa and Damot? Should Welayta move north and the southern parts be replaced by something else? Can you clearly state what you think should happen with the provinces Asosa and Damot, who owns them, and what culture would be reasonably represented

I'd personally like to see suggestions for new kingdoms in the south, it is unlikely that dev sactually carves out any new provinces, although I think that the three provinces of Kaffa, Welayta and Sidamo are that large that if they're reworked to the size of the other provinces in the gibe region there would be room for some new province.

Edit: Except for the kingdoms present in the "Gibe region" atm, that is Kaffa, Janjiro, Ennarea, Haddiya and Welayta I have a hard time affirming any structured kingdom in 1444.
Some kingdoms mentioned but I can't affirm are:
Sheka kingdom (no dates)
Dawro kingdom (only confirme in 19th century although seems to be older)
And the presence of Sidamo kingdom(s), Queen Furra, if she was real, could have ruled during the begining of the EUIV timeline.
Perhaps the Gamo people had a kingdom as well

 

[LinusLinothorax]

View attachment 224034

So to clarify things. The game has a kingdom called Damot which starts as a vassal to Ethiopia. You say that's ahistorical and the area should be owned directly by Ethiopia. Then you suggest it would be switched wit the Wolayta (whichif I'm not incredibly wrong is synonymous with Welayta). Now Welayta is a kingdom in the south of Ethiopia (Which also corresponds to an enlarged version of the moder Welayta zone in SNNP). So what exactly do you mean by switching Damot with Welayta? Should Welayta start owning the provinces of Asosa and Damot? Should Welayta move north and the southern parts be replaced by something else? Can you clearly state what you think should happen with the provinces Asosa and Damot, who owns them, and what culture would be reasonably represented

With "switch" I mean to make Wolayta playable instead of Damot, at least if Damot was indeed an Ethiopian province in 1444. The Encyclopedia Aethiopica says so, but we might get more details from this big boy:
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/file/index/docid/1011594/filename/2013-09_-_BOUANGA.pdf
Sadly it's in French though.

I'd personally like to see suggestions for new kingdoms in the south, it is unlikely that dev sactually carves out any new provinces, although I think that the three provinces of Kaffa, Welayta and Sidamo are that large that if they're reworked to the size of the other provinces in the gibe region there would be room for some new province.

Edit: Except for the kingdoms present in the "Gibe region" atm, that is Kaffa, Janjiro, Ennarea, Haddiya and Welayta I have a hard time affirming any structured kingdom in 1444.
Some kingdoms mentioned but I can't affirm are:
Sheka kingdom (no dates)
Dawro kingdom (only confirme in 19th century although seems to be older)
Garo kingdom (not established until 1567, but could be used to represent Sidama people proper in the earlier years)

There are also a few others, but it's hard researching them. Meanwhile, I could also take a look on the Sudan. Eventually I can reshape it a bit, reducing Alodia and adding a Juhayna-tag, representing the Arab nomads who flooded the area from the 14th century onwards. Eventually I could refine the Beja as well.

 

[AirikrStrife]

With "switch" I mean to make Wolayta playable instead of Damot, at least if Damot was indeed an Ethiopian province in 1444. The Encyclopedia Aethiopica says so, but we might get more details from this big boy:
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/file/index/docid/1011594/filename/2013-09_-_BOUANGA.pdf
Sadly it's in French though.

Ok, Wolayta is already playable so that takes care of that.

There are also a few others, but it's hard researching them. Meanwhile, I could also take a look on the Sudan. Eventually I can reshape it a bit, reducing Alodia and adding a Juhayna-tag, representing the Arab nomads who flooded the area from the 14th century onwards. Eventually I could refine the Beja as well.

I don't think they'll break down Sudan much more, they won't flood it with OPM so Dongola is there to represent Abdallabs and other muslim/arab tribes. What I would like to see is an inclusion of Funj at the start of the game as to make them playable. I've done some posts about this and have been designing a new mod about the whole of Sudan (not only the modern country but the whole historical region). I'd like to see Funj present in Fazughli, Al Qadarif and Sennar. basically like this map, altough I don't really trust the map whatsoever: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oromo_people#/media/File:Map_of_Ethiopia_circa_1420.png would take care of breaking up Alodia a bit.

The addition of a Tunjur kingdom encompassing the lands between lake chad and the nile would be another great addition.

 

[LinusLinothorax]

If I find adjustments for Ethiopia I will post them here, for Sudan I will use your thread in your signature.

 

[AirikrStrife]

I probably make an Ethiopia thread very soon again. Cause this one was originally about Semien which we kinda hijacked now Thanks though!

 

[Aelia]

Speaking of being on topic, I finally read the pdf you linked and I have to say I'm not entirely convinced what the best way to represent the situation will be.
You say there wasn't a centralized entity because Jews were supporting different causes, sometimes conflicting each other, ie some backing the Ethiopian Empire and some desiring to carve up land from Ethiopia for themselves, but that doesn't mean having Beta Israel annexed by Ethiopia is a better representation -
Page 11 "This material [documented info], which is of relevance not only for their history, but also for a general understanding of the process of etnic and religious interaction in Solomonic Ethiopia, reveals that in the middle of the fifteenth century the ayhud [referring to the Jews] were only temporarily subdued, at best superficially converted, and minimally integrated into the Christian kingdom."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Lezhë

Coming back to the very appropriate comparison to Albania, the League of Lezhë is essentially an independence war of different Albanian chieftains ( Among Serbs and support from Venetians) against the former suzerain, the Ottoman Sultan. For Gjerj Kastrioti "Skanderbeg" in particular this is very clear and obvious to see: seeing how his father had swore fealty, paid tribute and gave away his sons to the Sultan (after initially resisting). Skanderbeg later defected from the Ottoman side during a battle in the Crusade of Varna, in 1443.
Now this comparison fits perfectly because Albania too:
1. Was decentralized, even more so than Beta Israel as it was ruled by several chieftains rather than a single King.
2. Had Albanians not who stayed loyal to the Sultan, not defecting. Same with the Beta Israel.
Now, if we apply the same standard that paradox applied, making Albania Independent and not at war with Ottoman Empire in 1444, Beta Israel, which as talked about earlier, much more viable kingdom considering how its initial success in not only warding off the forces of the Empire but also reincorporating previously lost land (as linked before), should definitely be independent too.
However, seeing the complexity of the situation, one could also argue it was a disloyal vassal warring against its suzerain at any chance it got ( easy to emulate by making Beta Israel have high LD, with Historical Enemy perhaps or otherwise) "For half a century, conflicts at court and provinces occupied the Solomnic king and sapped the strength of their kingdom. in 1484, less than a decade after their defeat by Marqos [referring the place near which the Jews lost an important battle] the ayhud were once again capable of going to war, and they probably enjoyed considerable autonomy during the troubled reign of the emperors" who ruled between 1478-1508.

So, again I propose two solutions:
1. Beta Israel is independent with cores on its lost lands.
2. Beta Israel is an unruly vassal to the Ethiopian Empire.

These, I feel make the most sense given the historical context and how Paradox dealt with a similar situation in Albania, but I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on how the situation should be implemented to the game @LinusLinothorax rather than more talk about the historical background, but if I have any historical inaccuracies please do point out
so we can discuss them and sort this out.

 

[AirikrStrife]

Fo a small MOD I'm currently preparing for an Ethiopia suggestion, I created a quite different starting set up for the region. I choose to have Semien independent, though there was no actual state, there was a rebellion and for flavor sake I feel that allowing players to play as the rebels is worth something as that would allow ppl the extremely hard challenge to play Semien with an achievment llike" Beta Exodus", conquer, core and convert Jerusalem.

Also from this thread I started Ethiopia with Medri Bari as a vassal, but at war with, Semien (attacker, defected province CB) Hadiya (defender, vassal breaking free) and Adal (attacker, defected province Dawaro CB. The mod is mostly done but I'm still game testing it a bit.

 

[JKiller96]

I'd personally like to see a COMPLETE overhaul of the entire Sudan-Ethiopian-Somalia region, drawn with more sources and more balance.

 

[Aelia]

Fo a small MOD I'm currently preparing for an Ethiopia suggestion, I created a quite different starting set up for the region. I choose to have Semien independent, though there was no actual state, there was a rebellion and for flavor sake I feel that allowing players to play as the rebels is worth something as that would allow ppl the extremely hard challenge to play Semien with an achievment llike" Beta Exodus", conquer, core and convert Jerusalem.

Also from this thread I started Ethiopia with Medri Bari as a vassal, but at war with, Semien (attacker, defected province CB) Hadiya (defender, vassal breaking free) and Adal (attacker, defected province Dawaro CB. The mod is mostly done but I'm still game testing it a bit.

Yeah, that achievement was basically what I had in mind when creating this thread =) If we are calling it Beta Exodus already the obvious reference here is to Operation Moses

 

[AirikrStrife]

I'd personally like to see a COMPLETE overhaul of the entire Sudan-Ethiopian-Somalia region, drawn with more sources and more balance.

I doubt we see this, really there is not that much more to do at this moment than spamming the area with OPM kingdoms.

From my modding in Africa there has been two major issues that has impaired my progress

1. Lack of sources.
2. The map projection that makes Africa much much smaller than it is in real life. Modern day Ethiopia is over a million square kilometers big which is like sweden, norway, denmark and finland together or something like that.

 

[AirikrStrife]

2. The map projection that makes Africa much much smaller than it is in real life. Modern day Ethiopia is over a million square kilometers big which is like sweden, norway, denmark and finland together or something like that.

Good example is the Dahlak Archipelago, of which the largest island is about 750 km2 IRW, but I opted out off making it it's own province because it is almost invisible on the map. Island of Bornholm (Denmark), 500 km2 IRW

 

[AirikrStrife]

If I find adjustments for Ethiopia I will post them here, for Sudan I will use your thread in your signature.

What are your take on an independent Afar state and a Dobe'a kingdom? Looking more closely at that it seems they were independent aswell

 

[LinusLinothorax]

Speaking of being on topic, I finally read the pdf you linked and I have to say I'm not entirely convinced what the best way to represent the situation will be.
You say there wasn't a centralized entity because Jews were supporting different causes, sometimes conflicting each other, ie some backing the Ethiopian Empire and some desiring to carve up land from Ethiopia for themselves, but that doesn't mean having Beta Israel annexed by Ethiopia is a better representation.
Page 11 "This material [documented info], which is of relevance not only for their history, but also for a general understanding of the process of etnic and religious interaction in Solomonic Ethiopia, reveals that in the middle of the fifteenth century the ayhud [referring to the Jews] were only temporarily subdued, at best superficially converted, and minimally integrated into the Christian kingdom."

The earliest mention of a Jewish kingdom dates only to the year 1528:
"(...) And Falasa is a strong kingdom of Jews who are valiant..... and it is situated on high mountains and peaks and no one can ascend there to make war."
- p. 66

Before this kingdom, so during the 14th and 15th century, the 'ayhud', how the Jews were called back then, "are not depicted as having a unified political system. Nor is religion portrayed as the crucial organizing principle uponw which their society was based. The various rulers of the 'ayhud' mentioned in the texts are not viewed as powerul kings ruling over a distinctly defined religious group but as regional gouverneurs whose subjects included both 'ayhud' and Christians" (p. 63).

To summarize: Before the rise of Semien in the 16th century the Beta Israel were nothing else than disconnected local communities supplying rebellious gouverneurs.

What are your take on an independent Afar state and a Dobe'a kingdom? Looking more closely at that it seems they were independent aswell

Dobe'a? is that supposed to be one of these Medieval Beja kingdoms? For Afar I am not that sure. I would definetly have to go back to library to see if they aready got anything interesting in 1444.

1. Lack of sources.
2. The map projection that makes Africa much much smaller than it is in real life. Modern day Ethiopia is over a million square kilometers big which is like sweden, norway, denmark and finland together or something like that.

And the fact that all African nations, and indeed all RotW nations, play like exact copies of the European tags (European tech-trees). Also the fact that there is still no proper attrition system and no minority religion / culture system ruinded EU 4 for me back in the day.

 

[AirikrStrife]

Dobe'a? is that supposed to be one of these Medieval Beja kingdoms? For Afar I am not that sure. I would definetly have to go back to library to see if they aready got anything interesting in 1444.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobe'a

For the Afar I noticed that all maps I've seen about Ethiopia Adal wars around this time the Afar triangle are either left blank, or there is a Afar/Danakil kingdom taking that place. Either than that I've not seen any concluding evidence, mentions of Afar kings who were allied with Ethiopia is hard to use as evidence for anything since it could mean either independent Afar kingdoms or Afar subject kings to the Ethiopians.