The capital of the Muslim sultanate of Shewa in its chronicle, with the towns of Kalgur and Hadbaya as its other centres.
Huntingford identifies Welela with a mountain about 24 km north of Debre Birhan, which Muslims called mar'ade and which later became a seat of Amda Seyon; others place the sultanate's centre in northern Hararghe. Ali, son of Umar Walasma, burns Walalah in 1277. No remains have been identified, and the drawn position follows Huntingford.
Who holds it
- Title
- Sultan of Shewa
- Since
- Not pinned
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
The sultan's capital.
How things stand that morning
The sultan's capital on 1 January 1200; its ruler not named.
Council
Not recorded
Communities
Not recorded
Fairs and markets
Not recorded
Militia
Not recorded
Walls and castle
Not recorded
Trade and crafts
Not recorded
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: One chronicle and a modern identification.
Primary sources for Sultanate of Shewa
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Glory of the Kings, Yeshaq of Aksum (compiler) (1314 to 1322 in Ge'ez; the colophon claims an Arabic version of 1225). Nothing on events, but the ideology that unmade the Zagwe: the story that Ethiopia's rightful kings descend from Solomon and Menelik, compiled a century after 1200 to justify Yekuno Amlak's seizure of the throne in 1270 and to brand the Zagwe as usurpers. Read online
Sources and studies
- Wikipedia, 'Sultanate of Showa' (Huntingford on Welela; Finneran)
- African History Extra, 'A Muslim kingdom in the Ethiopian highlands'
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.