Belay Zeleke
Belay Zeleke was an Ethiopian military commander who led the Arbegnoch resistance movement in Gojjam against the Fascist Italians during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941. He emerged as a brigand leader after his five-year struggle against Italian rule in Ethiopia.
Early life
Born to an Amhara family whose Amhara ancestry has been affirmed by his living descendants., Belay Zeleke was born in 1912 in Bechena, Gojjam. His father, Kassa Zeleke Lakew, was a native of Lamcan in Gojjam and his mother, Weyzero Taytu Asna, was a native of Amhara Sayint in Wollo, Amhara Region. Belay's father was a loyal and close servant of Lij Iyasu, who bestowed him the title of Basha, and is said to have had a considerable number of troops under his command. After the fall of Lij Iyasu, Basha Zeleke first moved to his wife’s residence, in Caqqäta, and later to Lamchan in Gojjam, and there submitted to Ras Hailu Tekle HaymanotAfter a while, Zeleke killed a man and refused to submit peacefully to Fitawrari Embiyala, the governor of Bichena. The Fitawrari marched to Lamcan to arrest Zeleke. In the skirmish that followed, Zeleke was killed in Kanto Maryam, and at Bokena his body was hung on a tree for a day in order to intimidate the local people. This event had a huge impact on the young Bälay and his entire family and relatives. Belay with his brother, Ejegu, and his mother left Lamcham for Caqqäta. It was there that Belay mastered his father’s rifle and began his career as a Shifta, cherishing the idea of avenging the blood of his father.
Second Italo-Ethiopian War
When Belay learned that Italians had invaded Ethiopia he decided to fight. Within a few days he found a convoy of the Italian army proceeding from Debre Marqos to Bichena, where he ambushed and killed most of them and took their weapons. He was successful in most of his further fighting with the Italians in Gojjam, Wollo and Shewa. As his war activities intensified and his followers increased, many began to address him as Leul Belay and Atse Begulbetu. Belay bestowed upon his followers the traditional titles, such as Qenyazmach, Dejazmach, Fitawrari, and Ras. When his brother, Dejazmach Ejigu, asked him "what title is left for you, as you have given all to your followers?", he replied: "I need no title as my mother had already called me Belay".Belay and his followers, who numbered some 50 at that time, got an opportunity to fight for a good cause and legitimize their rebellion. They tried to mobilize and recruit the local people, both peacefully and forcefully. They ambushed the Italians and attacked them in their fortifications, capturing numerous firearms. Italian attempts to subdue Belay Zeleke through persuasion failed. In summer 1937 his maternal uncle from Amhara Saynt, across the Abay, joined him, bringing other family members. Belay soon emerged as a prominent patriot leader; between 1937 and 1939 most of the districts in Eastern Gojjam were gradually brought under his; he was communicating with patriots in other regions, particularly with Ras Abebe Aregai in Shewa. It has been documented that Belay and the other patriots fought victoriously in over 23 important battles between 1937 and 1941 at various locations including: Abera, Shebel Berenta, Bichena, Caqqata, Debre Werk, Dejen, Dances, Dibisa, Dema, Delanta, Gonga, Gubaya, Garso, Ennabese, Lamcham, Mekane Selam, Melka, Somma, Tiq, Waseda, Wassage and Yage. Belay bestowed traditional titles and military ranks to the patriots and established his own administration.
In April 1941, the British forces led by General Wingate liberated Debre Marqos from Italian occupation led by Italian Commander Maraventano. By 5 April, the Italians fled to Shoa, the Debre Marqos fell under the control of Ras Hailu Tekle Haymanot who then requested Belay to come to Debra Marqos by offering him his daughter for marriage. Ras Hailu then insisted on meeting Haile Selassie and had a confrontation with the British forces. When Belay arrived in Debre Marqos, General Wingate ordered that he remain outside of the city at gunpoint and Haile Selassie eventually met him.