Sultanate of Bale

The Sultanate of Bale was a Somali Muslim Sultanate founded in the Bale Mountains of the southern Ethiopian Highlands and Horn of Africa. It corresponds roughly to the modern Bale Zone of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia.

Background
Bale was first mentioned during the rule of the Zagwe dynasty, and was described as a "mysterious province" that bordered the Islamic sultanates and provinces of Dawaro and Sharkha in the north, Adal in the east and Hadiya in the west. There was no hereditary dynasty that ruled Bale, but Islam was present in the province, as shown by the mention of "Alī", who was the ruler of Bale. Considered an isolated land, Bale was nevertheless known for its production of cotton, although its southern location limited its ability to trade.

Establishment
The Bale Sultanate was founded in the 13th century by Sheikh Hussein of the Murusade sub clan of karanle,  who was born in the Hawiye capital of Merca and served as one of the commercial and Islamic centers on the Indian Ocean. He is credited for introducing Islam to the Sidamo people living in Ethiopia at the time. Despite the Sultanate being founded by a Somali saint and ruled by his descendants, the kingdom was mostly inhabited by the Sidama. Ajuran merchants began settling in the region, thus linking the two kingdoms economically as Bale had trade with neighbouring Ethiopian kingdoms and would serve as the gateway for the neighbouring Sultanates including the Ajuran Sultanate.

Along with other sultanates, including Dawaro, Arababni, Hadiya, Shirka, and Dara, Bale became part of the so-called confederation of Zeila.

Location
It bordered the sultanates of Dawaro and Makhzumi Dynasty in the north, Hadiya in the west, and Adal in the east and its core areas were located around the Shebelle River. However, the geopolitical borders of the sultanate are unclear - it is usually placed around the Wabe Shebelle river, although the Bale Sultanate also had territorial presence in some border areas north of the river. Another river that shaped the sultanate's borders was the Wabe River. Overall, borders of the Bale Sultanate corresponded to the modern districts of Goba, Sinana-Dinsho, Agarfa, Gasera and Goro.

Demographics
The sultanate consisted of both Semitic and Cushitic speakers, and also had a presence of the Hadiya-Sidama cluster of speakers that was also present in Hadiya. Both Hadiya and Bale were dominated by Oromo clans, and Futūḥ al-Ḥabasha speaks of "sharifs and the Arabs who lived in Bale", which points to the Arab background of Bale and its population. However, there were Christian clans in Bale as well, such as Sabro, Fankal, Koiye, Daiyu and Fasil. While rulers of the sultanate of Bale were Muslims, the population of Bale consisted of adherents of indigenous religions as well as Christians, in addition to Muslims.

Economy
During medieval times Bale was known for its production of cotton, while salt brought from El Kere was an important trading item.

Military encounters
In 1332, the Sultanate of Bale was conquered by the Christian king of the Ethiopian Empire, Amde Seyon. The subsequent rule of Christian Ethiopia led to conflict between the local Muslim Oromo clans and Christian inhabitants. Ethiopian rule of Bale also provided an outpost to carry out attacks on neighbouring states, such as Ifat and Adal. Adal was able to conquer Bale for a brief period in the early 15th century, but Bale was retaken by Christian Ethiopia under the emperor Zara Yaqob.

Fall of Bale
As a result of the wars of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi between 1529 and 1549, and the subsequent Oromo migration from the 1540s, native Muslims lost their foothold in Bale. Bale remained under the direct rule of Christian rulers, although neighbouring Muslim states continued to organize raids and military expeditions into the area - Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi was able to conquer Bale from Ethiopia, but was killed in battle in 1543. After restoring Ethiopian rule in 1549, Christian rulers maintained their rule of the province, despite the Oromo expansion that took place later in the 16th century.