Kassa Hailu, son of a lesser noble from Qwara, a district on the border with Sudan, is a major figure in Gondar in the mid-nineteenth century.

Beginning about 1840, Kassa alternates between life as a brigand and life as a soldier of fortune for various nobles, including Ras Ali, a Christian of Oromo origin who dominates the court in Gondar.

Kassa becomes sufficiently effective as an army commander to be offered the governorship of a minor province.

He also marries Ali's daughter, Tawabech.

Nonetheless, Kassa eventually rebels against Ali, occupies Gondar in 1847, and compels Ali to recognize him as chief of the western frontier area.

In 1848 he attacks the Egyptians in Sudan; however, he suffers a crushing defeat, which teaches him to respect modern firepower.