Belay zeleke biography of williams
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Belay with his brother, Ejegu, and his mother left Lamcham for Caqqäta. There are no physical signs of Italian invasion in the province of Gojam largely because of Belay Zeleke's resistance.
One can assume that as his numbers grew they would have been dependent on robbing from government officials, either by hijacking or raiding.
What is known is that Belay grew to become a formidable leader and a warrior with a knack for militaristic and strategic planning.
Belay Fights the Italians
In 1935, Benito Mussolini, in charge of the Italian government decided to invade Ethiopia to make up for the humiliating defeat Italy suffered in the Battle of Adwa.
Like many other die hard patriots at the time, love of country and land surpassed any other differences of opinions and/or disagreements with the government or between ethnicities.
Belay Zeleke upon hearing that the Italians had invaded Ethiopia, took up arms against them almost immediately.
His first attack came in the form of an ambush he engineered against a convoy of the Italian army moving from Debre Markos to Bichena.
He and his men made away with all their weapons upon defeating the Italian soldiers guarding the convoy.
With this victory proving their prowess in battle, they proceeded to wage a prolonged battle against anything and everything Italian within the areas of Gojjam, Shewa, and Wollo.
It is well known that he once even captured a general in the Italian army and had him persecuted in a mock criminal tribunal with the resulting guilty verdict being execution by hanging.
Belay's victories began to increase his fame and prestige leading him to be loved and helped by the local populace.
The number of men following Belay also increased considerably and they were a constant threat to the Italians who grew to fear him.
His spirited audacity and daring in battle inspired thousands of Ethiopians to take up arms against the occupying Italians.
With his stature as a formidable military leader growing his men began to address him as Leul Belay or Prince Belay and Atse Begulbetu or Emperor by his own strength.
Belay handed down titles to those of his men he believed were deserving due to their valor and/or tactics in battle.
After three weeks of heavy fighting, some of his combatants were killed, some wounded, others weakened, and some defected; finally, Belay was arrested, taken to Addis Abäba and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Later it was reported that on the way to Goggam after he attempted to escape from custody with other prisoners, he was brought to court again and was sentenced to death.
The delegation promised to pardon Belay if he bowed down to the crown again, which he did obligingly.
Unfortunately, he was immediately taken to a tribunal and sentenced to death, which was approved by the crown but later reduced to life imprisonment.
Death of Belay the Patriot
As a once exceptional military leader and outlaw who lived free outdoors and moved about a sizable region in full control; prison must have been a hell for him.
After a few years of incarceration, Belay Zeleke, along with his beloved brother Ejigu Zeleke, and several other warriors he fought with attempted a daring prison escape from their jail in the Grand Palace.
Unfortunately, they were re captured not too long after their escape and brought to trial.
Some members of the nobility who protested the actions taken on the patriot and Ras Hailu of Gojam who was a well known nemesis of the emperor helped Belay Zeleke to escape during which time a police officer was killed. Most Ethiopians admire him as a king.
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He was appointed the governor of Bićäna, his home province, with the title of Dejazmach; he was supposed to keep Gojjam’s nobility in check.Belays father was a loyal and close servant of Lij Eyasu, who bestowed him the title of Basha, and is said to have had a considerable number of troops under his command. He was apprehended later and was executed by hanging with his brother Ejigu and 17 others who were his followers on January 12, 1945.
His father, Kassa Zeleke Lakew, was a native of Lämcän in Gojjam and his mother, Weyzero Taytu Asna, was a native of Sayint in Amhara. It has been documented that Belay and the other patriots fought in over 23 important battles between 1937 and 1941 at various locations including: Abera, Shebel Berenta, Bichena, Caqqäta, Debre Werk, Dejen, Dances, Dibisa, Dema, Delanta, Gonga, Gubaya, Garso, Ennabese, Lamcham, Mekane Selam, Melka, Somma, Tiq, Waseda, Waššage and Yage.
The Fitawrari marched to Lämcän 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. He was 35 when he died; by four wives, he had three daughters (Yerome, Yasawerq and Yashembet) and four sons (Admasu, Gossu, Bahru and Melaku).
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. The emperor confirmed the death penalty, and Bälay was publicly hanged, together with two of his brothers, on 13 January 1945 in Addis Abäba.
It is evident that Belay Zeleke never let the Italian troops camp anywhere in Gojjam let alone leave a legacy of any sort.
Upon the Emperor Haile Selassie’s victorious return to Ethiopia in 1941, Belay Zeleke was put in charge of a small region in Gojam where he had assumed a higher rank to be able to play a much bigger role in reconstructing and administering the region.
He declined the position in protest and started living life as an outlaw.
Troops from Gojjam, Wello and Shewa were sent to Bechena to arrest him. At a very young age under mysterious circumstances, Belay killed his uncle and fled to a life of fugitive with little or no contact with his immediate family for about 15 years during which time he developed traits that would help him achieve a name for himself in Ethiopian history as one of the greatest heroes who defended their country..
In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia.
Titles used by the Imperial throne, such as Keynazmach (right hand), Dejazmach, Fitawrari (first in battle), and Ras.
It is also said that when his brother Dejazmach Ejigu asked him with all the titles given out, what was left for him, Belay replied that the name his mother gave him was enough (Belay means "to be above others").
With all his victories, Belay slowly ousted the Italians from many parts of the region and took control himself to the delight of the people, who respected and admired his heroism.
By 1941, Debre Markos finally fell to the hands of the British forces led by General Wingate and the Italians led by Commander Maraventano being attacked from all sides fled to Shoa.
Debre Markos was consequently taken over by Negus Tekle Haymanot and he summoned Belay to offer him his daughters hand in marriage.
Hero Becomes Outlaw Once Again
Due to patriots such as Belay Zeleke, and their admirable efforts Ethiopia was once again a nation taking pride in her independence.
Emperor Haile Selassie I taking notice of his efforts appointed him Dejazmach and made him the governor of Bichena, his father's native town.
During the war, Belay led a formidable army and had control of a vast region, and many believed giving him only the small town of Bichena as an affront from the crown.
Yet in still, Belay took to the position but was inevitably not prepared for the intrigues and back stabbing that has long held sway in the governance of the Ethiopian monarchy.
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As Belay attempted to appoint officials for his government, by using men he fought with, trusted and believed in, he was betrayed by the nobility in the area.
They reported back to the crown that Belay was planning to take over the government and revolt against the monarchy.
He was summoned to Addis Ababa by Emperor Haile Selassie I, but Belay upon hearing of the intrigue decided it would be wiser to not to leave his stronghold in Somma Terrara or mountain.
The Emperor infuriated by the apparent disrespect subsequently sent soldiers to arrest him but after many attempts and heavy casualties, failed.
Emperor Haile Selassie I known for his brilliance and cunning sent a high ranking party to negotiate his surrender.
This time the death sentence was not to be avoided and a dark chapter in Ethiopian history took place.
On January 12, 1945, the brave, the loved, the admired, the patriot, Belay Zeleke alongside his loyal till the end brother, Ejigu and other of his men were killed by hanging in Teklehaymanot Adebabya in Addis Ababa. His execution was bitterly received by many Ethiopians.
Belay and his followers, who numbered some 50 at that time, got an opportunity to fight for a good cause and legitimize their rebellion. Italian attempts to subdue Belay Zeleke through persuasion failed.