Wikipedia

Ughaz Roble I

Ughaz Roble I (Somali: Ugaas Rooble Ugaas Farax), Osmanya: 𐒚𐒌𐒔𐒖 𐒇𐒙𐒁𐒐𐒗, Arabic: أوغاس روبل), also known as Roblay, Robli, Robleh, and Robiley. Known by many as the Rain Prince[3] was the 14th Ughaz of the Issa Ughazate. The Issa are northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir clan family.[4][5][3]

Ughaz Roble I
𐒚𐒌𐒔𐒖 𐒇𐒙𐒁𐒐𐒗
أوغاس روبل
Ugaas[1]
Sultan[2]
Ugaas Rooble with his nephew, Jardon, in 1885 Jaldessa
Ughaz of the Issa
ReignLate 19th century
Bornc. 1820s
Burial
Jaldessa
FatherUghaz Farah
ReligionSunni Islam

Biography and reign

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Ughaz Roble rose to prominence within the Issa (clan) during the latter half of the 19th century, eventually assuming the esteemed title of Ugaas, a position of leadership and authority. Ughaz Roble, a revered leader among his people, wielded significant influence and authority that stemmed from his exceptional power. Through his leadership, the Ughaz possessed the remarkable ability to amass a formidable army of up to 40,000 men in times of conflict or war. Antonio cecchi Italian Explorer reported:

He has unlimited power; everyone is obsequious to him and do what he commands them without observations of any kind; and in case of war, from all the country obeys him, they say he can gather 40,000 men capable of carrying the spear".[6]

The king of Ethiopia Menelik II used to pay some sort of tribute to the Ughaz so his caravans and guests arrive safely[7] In the winter of 1876 he Ughaz was received and welcomed in Zeila in a very splendid way; the Pasha residents there celebrated him and went to receive him in Tocoscia. It is distinguished from the other leaders, because it is equipped with a garment, an umbrella and for the large amount of amulets, pockets and pouches. It was precisely by him that the tribute of fifty thalers and a piece of special cotton was imposed on the first expedition, which the Pasha paid instantly.[7]

Personal life

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An etching of Ughaz Roble Farah by Phillip Paulitschke

Jaldessa was the seat of Ughaz Roble, Jaldessa as It was the main palace of Ugaas Roble Farah, the Ugaas of the Issa clan[8] The Egyptians entered Jaldessa in 1875, and left a garrison that would later be the seat of Ugaas Robleh Farah[9] The Italian Explorer, Antonio Cecchi's description of Ughaz Roble is as following:

The current great chief is called Uadi-Dubli-Fara, also called Ugas-Robli; he is tall in person, with slender limbs like all his fellow country men; he has a fairly smart eye, a crushed nose and a face thrown by the vajuolo. He wears Turkish trousers, covers his shoulders with an ordinary canvas mantle and his head with a coarse tarbush, wrapped in a turban, in whose folds there is no shortage of papers and amulets. He has rather kind manners, and in the speeches he takes on an oratorical character, imposing himself with great effectiveness, and at the same time he jokes with his subjects and even with the boys who graze camels."[10]

 
Issa Somali stands guard outside the abode of Ugaas Robleh Farah in Jaldessa who is hosting a special guest

Meeting with Philipp Paulitschke

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Philipp Paulitschke, an Austrian explorer, travelled to and explored Egypt and Nubia in 1880 and between 1884 and 1885 with Dominik Kammel Edler von Hardegger (1844–1915) the Somali and Galla lands.[11] Paulitschke's description of Ughaz roble: "We were told that the Ugas wished to see us immediately, and before we knew it a giant man with a deep black complexion, an unusually thin, dull face, sleepy eyes, prominent cheekbones, dressed in a snow-white coat, was standing there. Marro, brandishing a small stick in his right hand, in front of the tent: His highness the Ugaas Roble Farah "The Rain Prince".[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Burton, Richard Francis (1924). First footsteps in East Africa. J. M. Dent & Sons.
  2. ^ Bompiani, Sofia Van Matre (1891). Italian explorers in Africa. The Religious Tract Society.
  3. ^ a b Burton, Richard Francis (1856). First footsteps in East Africa, or, An explanation of Harar. Harvard University. London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans.
  4. ^ Lewis, I. M. (2017-02-03). Peoples of the Horn of Africa (Somali, Afar and Saho): North Eastern Africa Part I. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-315-30817-3.
  5. ^ King, Preston T. (1986). An African Winter. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-052365-2.
  6. ^ Nuova Antologia di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti 1885-09-16: Vol 83 (in Italian). Internet Archive. Nuova Antologia. 1885-09-16.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ a b Società geografica italiana (1868). Bollettino della Società geografica italiana. University of Michigan. Roma : Società geografica italiana.
  8. ^ "Qalcad (Jaldessa)". Kaabe. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  9. ^ Nieuważny, Adam (2021-11-01). Civil status documents from Harar under Egyptian Administration 1875–1885. Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Warsaw. ISBN 978-83-954430-8-4.
  10. ^ Nuova Antologia di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti 1885-09-16: Vol 83 (in Italian). Internet Archive. Nuova Antologia. 1885-09-16.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ "Philipp Paulitschke". www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  12. ^ Paulitschke, Philipp Viktor; Hardegger, Dominik Kammel von (1888). Harar: Forschungsreise nach den Somâl und Gallaländern, Ost-Afrikas (in German). F. A. Brockhaus.
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