Entering politics by necessity, Ilen Embet (circa 1801-1851) reigns over the highlands region of Asmara (in Eritrea), leads her men into battle and fights herself.
An intelligent woman
Very little is known about the existence of Ilen Embet, who was born around 1801 in the border area between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The name of his father is disputed; some sources call him "Ayte Hagos", others "Ayte Fisseha, son of Ayte Seltan", others use the two alternately.
Although they do not agree on the name of her father, the sources do agree that Ilen is a woman of great intelligence, a persuasive speaker and a skillful and courageous politician.
Ayte Salomon
Ilen Embet is married to Ayte Salomon, eldest son of the kantiba (mayor) Zar'ay of Hazzega, who rules the highlands region of Asmara. They will have a daughter, Temertsa, and two sons, Woldemichael and Mar'ed. In fragile health, Solomon is unpopular with his family; his own father prefers a grandson, Gabray Habtetsayon. Tradition dictates that Zar'ay passed on his office to his son, but this favoritism created tension and intrigue until after Solomon's death.
Solomon rose to power in the 1820s. For some reason historical sources do not explain, he soon after attacked the neighboring and rival region of Tse'azzaga. Defeated, he is forced to flee and takes refuge in his mother's native region. The conflict flares up between the two neighbors; to avenge her husband's defeat, Ilen rounds up the remaining men and plays her connections, but she in turn is defeated on two fronts.
Ilen builds alliances, especially with the ruler of Tigray (northern Ethiopia), Shum-Agame Subagadis. After subduing the highlands of Eritrea, he appointed her governor of the Asmara region. Subagadis died in 1831, and the skilful Ilen forged new alliances in the person of Dejjazmatch Wubé, who reigned over the northern provinces.
End of reign
Ilen Embet is reputed to have a hard tooth and treat her enemies harshly. She is considered excessively vindictive, which terrifies her enemies and causes her enmity. Gabray, in particular, his stepfather's favorite grandson, refuses to submit to his law and lives as a rebel in the region's forests. Conflicts and intrigues are frequent.
Ayte Salomon died around 1837. By the late 1840s, probably tired of plots and machinations, Ilen felt it was time for her to relinquish power to her eldest son Woldemichael. She retired to the Church of Saint Mary of Hazzega, where she became a nun.
A violent end
It was in his religious retreat that a former enemy, the kantiba Woldegaber from Dimbezan, visits him. Husband of Ilen's daughter, he had mistreated her and then rejected her; and he would have denied having received, and refused to return, goods entrusted by Solomon. Ilen had defeated him in battle a few years earlier.
After his visit, Woldegaber is murdered and his relatives accuse Ilen. She flees and finds refuge in a nearby region, but her protectors fear an attack from her enemies. They extradite him, along with two of his grandchildren, who will end up tortured to death. Ilen Embet died in 1851.