Battle of Takusa

Battle of Takusa
Date12 April 1853; 171 years ago (1853-04-12)
Location
Takusa, Begemder Province, Ethiopian Empire
Result Victory of Kassa Hailu
Belligerents
Loyalists to Kassa Hailu Yejju, Tigray, Wollo, Gojjam
Commanders and leaders
Kassa Hailu Dejazmach Birru
Casualties and losses
Two Dejazmaches

The Battle of Takusa was a short military engagement fought on 12 April 1853 between the forces of Kassa Hailu, future Emperor of Ethiopia, and an alliance of several rival warlords. The forces of Kassa's enemies were led by Dejazmach Birru Aligaz and Samuel Birhanu, who was reinforced by troops sent to him by Wube Haile Maryam under the command of his son, Gwangul Wube.

According to Sven Rubenson, this battle is famous "as the battle in which he [Kassa] fought four dejazmaches and killed two, Dejazmach Birru Aligaz and Belew."[1] However, Harold G. Marcus states that Kassa defeated five Dejazmaches, and that Birru was not killed in this battle, but escaped and was captured in May 1854, to remain in captivity for the next 14 years.[2]

  1. ^ Rubenson, Sven (1966). King of Kings: Tewodros of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Selassie I University. p. 42.
  2. ^ Marcus, Harold G. (1995). The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844-1913. Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press. p. 15. ISBN 1-56902-010-8.