Birru Goshu


Dejazmach Birru Goshu of Gojjam was a significant Ethiopian noble who held considerable sway over the political landscape of Ethiopia during the latter period of the Zemene Mesafint, a time of intense regional competition among ruling dynasties. According to the British diplomat Walter Plowden, Birru Goshu was "the most remarkable man in Abyssinia" before the rise of Tewodros II.

Appearance and personality

Walter Plowden who was a guest at Birru's court in the 1840s described him thus:
The French traveler Arnaud d'Abbadie also gives a long description of the character of Birru Goshu:

Career

The illegitimate son of Ras Goshu Zewde, governor of Gojjam, Birru gained recognition for his independence and ambition as a leader in the Tana region. His early political strategy included an alliance with his father and an influential partnership with Ras Ali Alula of the prominent Yejju family, which was strengthened by his marriage to Ali's sister.
As conflicts escalated, Birru eventually turned against his father, defeating him in battle. In 1842, he allied with Wube Haile Maryam of Tigray in an attempt to unseat Ras Ali, at the Battle of Debra Tabor though this effort proved unsuccessful. Despite this failure, Birru managed to retain control over Gojjam, effectively resisting Ras Ali's authority throughout the 1840s. During this period, Birru also pursued diplomatic connections with Europe, fostering relationships with Belgian consul Blondeel van Ceulebrock and the French d'Abbadie brothers, who visited Gojjam. In a preserved letter addressed to the Superior of the Sacra Congregation de Propaganda Fide, he notably styled himself as “the King of Gojjam” and requested an artisan's assistance.
The rise of Kassa Hailu of Qwara, the future Emperor Tewodros II, marked the end of Birru's political career. Defeated by Kassa at the Battle of Amba Jebelli in March 1854, Birru was captured and spent nearly fifteen years imprisoned in the fortress of Maqdala. Although released in 1868, he had lost his political influence and withdrew from public life. Later, he was detained in an amba west of Chelga, and in 1869, Tekle Giyorgis II—Tewodros II's successor—sentenced him to death by hanging.