Wazir (pl. wuzaraý) is a high-level minister of a ruler with whom he collaborates in governing the subjects in a theoretically subordinate rank but very often in a de facto leading position (for a general history and assessment of the title and corresponding functions and institutions s. Zaman et al. in EI²). In Islamic Ethiopia one may surmise that Wazir were in charge of various offices of the Islamic states since their first appearance. It is clear from the local written sources that at least since the 16th cent., the role of Wazir was administrative and political. E.g., Wazir was the title of Hamid b. sulian Nasir who ruled Harär on behalf of his brother sulian Muhammad b. Nasir when the latter went to fight Särìä Déngél in 1572–73 (s. Cerulli 1931: 54, 60). The title also normally had a strong military dimension. It was thus borne by officers of the Muslim troops who were at the head of the main sections of the army and were directly involved in battles and fights. Dur- ing the tumultuous period of imam Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Ëazi Wazir were among the leaders of the  Muslim  army,  e.g.,  the  famous  Wazir.  Addole [Adli]  (BassHist I,  17  and  passim;  II,  38  and n. 4 and passim; cf. also Cuoq 1981: 230f.) and Wazir (formerly  Kušém  garäd)  Nīr  b.  Ibrahim (BassHist I, 23, II, 49f. and n. 2 and passim).

 

Moreover, Ethiopian Wazir were apparently able to use their influential political and military position not only to climb the hierarchical structure of the state but also to rebel and usurp the supreme leadership. In 1577, when Muhammad Gasa I b. Ibrahim moved his capital to Awsa, he appointed his broth er Muhammad Gasa II b. Ibrahim Wazir to govern Harär in his name; in 1584 Muhammad Gasa II became imam of Awsa himself (Cerulli 1931: 70, 74).  In  1585,  Wazir Abbas  b.  kabir  Muhammad  of Bale, whom Muhammad Gasa II had appointed commander in chief of the army, rebelled and managed to rule alone for almost six months before being defeated and killed (Cerulli 1931: 71, 75f.).  In  1589  Wazir Abbas  b.  Abīn,  nephew  of imam Ahmad b. Ibrahim and father of Talha who had ruled Harär in 1569–71, was chosen to rule Awsa but was deposed only after two months (Cerulli  1931: 54,  64,  68,  77,  80).  Finally,  Ali b. Daýīd, the founder of the dynasty of amirs who ruled Harär since 1647, was previously Wazir of amir Sadiq and successfully exploited his rank to seize power himself (Cerulli 1942: 6).

Source: 

Encyclopaedia-Aethiopica

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