Adal Sultanate

Quick Facts: Who was Adal Sultanate?

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Adal Sultanate

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Medieval Sunni Muslim empire in the Horn of Africa, flourishing from 1415 to 1577.

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Origins & Early Life

The Adal Sultanate, also known as the Adal Empire or Barr Saʿad dīn, was a medieval Sunni Muslim empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din III on the Harar plateau in Adal after the fall of the Sultanate of Ifat. The kingdom flourished c. 1415 to 1577. At its height, the polity under Sultan Badlay controlled the territory stretching from Cape Guardafui in Somalia to the port city of Suakin in Sudan. The empire's frequent wars with its Christian rival, the Solomonic dynasty of Abyssinia, during the 15th and 16th centuries, led by important early figures such as Jamal ad-Din II, Badlay, and Mahfuz, would earn the sovereigns of Adal a reputation in the Islamic World as one of saints, and were as a result regularly supplied with arms, horses and other articles of war.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the 16th century under the leadership of Imam Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi and his successor Nur ibn Mujahid, Adal embarked on the Conquest of Abyssinia deploying muskets and cannons. The war would eventually draw in the Portuguese and Ottoman Empires. The Adalites maintained a strong relationship with the Ottomans in particular. The Adal Empire had a string of important ports and inland cities such as Harar, Zeila, Abasa, Amud, Awbare, Awbube, Berbera, Dakkar and many others, which flourished under its reign with courtyard houses, mosques, shrines, walled enclosures, cisterns and were integrated into the commercial network that tied the kingdoms and empires of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean together. Adal acquired its wealth through the trade of millet, cattle, fruits, slaves, gold, barley, ivory and other commodities.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The cities of the empire imported intricately coloured glass bracelets and celadon wares from the Ming Dynasty for palace and home decoration while its merchants used currencies such as dinars and dirhams during commercial transactions. The Adal Sultanate was alternatively known as the federation of Zeila and in 1577 moved its capital to Aussa. Adal is believed to be an abbreviation of Havilah. Eidal or Aw Abdal, was the Emir of Harar in the eleventh century which the lowlands outside the city of Harar is named. In the thirteenth century, the Arab writer al-Dimashqi refers to the city of Zeila, by its Somali name "Awdal" (Somali: "Awdal").

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1577: 1577 Milestone — The Adal Sultanate was alternatively known as the federation of Zeila and in 1577 moved its capital to Aussa.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Adal Sultanate

True or False: “The Adal Sultanate was founded immediately after the collapse of the Ifat Sultanate in 1415.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it flourished after the fall of Ifat, its founding by Sabr ad-Din III involved a return from exile to restore his father's throne.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Adal Sultanate