Battle of Wofla: Portuguese Scattered by Ottoman-Allied Forces
Christovão da Gama, son of Vasco da Gama, led 400 Portuguese musketeers into Ethiopia in 1541 to help the Christian kingdom fight an Adal Sultanate invasion backed by Ottoman forces. The Portuguese won several battles. Then Christovão was wounded, captured, and executed by the Adal commander Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi. His head was displayed. The Portuguese survivors regrouped with the Ethiopian army and eventually defeated and killed Ahmad ibn Ibrahim the following year. Christovão da Gama got the wrong end of the campaign that his side ultimately won.
August 28, 1542
484 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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