Interior East Africa (1804–1815 CE): Consolidation of Ras Wolde Selassie and Early European Contact

During the early years of the nineteenth century, Ras Wolde Selassie continued to consolidate his position as the dominant political force in Ethiopia. Making Chelekot his administrative center and maintaining his capital at Antalo in Enderta Province, Wolde Selassie undertook significant building projects that underscored his power and influence. Notably, he constructed palaces at Chelekot, Antalo, Felegdaro, and Mekelle, all within Enderta, reinforcing the region's central importance under his rule.

Wolde Selassie's influence extended significantly into imperial politics. He sheltered Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I during turbulent periods between 1799 and 1800 and hosted former Emperor Baeda Maryam in 1813. Although initially cooperative with Ras Aligaz, the Imperial Regent, Wolde Selassie increasingly challenged him for power, particularly after Ras Aligaz’s death in 1803. By this period, Ras Wolde Selassie had become Ethiopia's most formidable leader, surpassing other influential regional rulers such as Ras Gugsa of Gojam, Ras Aligaz of Yejju, and the Oromo chieftain Gojje. His dominion extended across vast provinces, where he personally addressed grievances, rebellions, disputes, and inheritances, further solidifying his authoritative rule.

Significantly, Ras Wolde Selassie was the first major Ethiopian leader of this period to establish close relations with Europeans. In 1805, he hosted British diplomats including George Annesley, Viscount Valentia, his secretary Henry Salt, and adventurer Nathaniel Pearce. Their visit culminated in a treaty of friendship between Ethiopia and Great Britain. Recognizing potential economic benefits, Wolde Selassie actively encouraged British commerce, although he pragmatically expressed concerns regarding Ethiopia's limited exportable commodities and the geopolitical constraints posed by Egyptian control of the vital Red Sea port of Massawa.

Despite these challenges, Ras Wolde Selassie's diplomatic initiatives laid important groundwork for future international relations. His contacts with Britain foreshadowed later interactions and negotiations by successors such as Dejazmatch Wube of Semien and Tigray and ultimately, Emperor Yohannes IV. Nathaniel Pearce’s detailed accounts from his prolonged stay (approximately 1808–1816) with Ras Wolde Selassie provide invaluable insights into daily Ethiopian life and political intricacies, offering a rare, detailed European perspective on this transformative era in Ethiopian history.

Wolde Selassie makes his seat of government in Chalacot, but maintains his capital at Antalo in Enderta Province.

He builds four palaces, at Chelekot, Antalo, Felegdaro and Mekelle, all in Enderta.

He plays a role in the politics of the Imperial Throne, in part by providing shelter to Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I in 1799 and 1800, and is visited by the former Emperor Baeda Maryam in 1813.

Although at first he had cooperated with Ras Aligaz, the Imperial Regent, after his power grew, Wolde Selassie had come to challenge Aligaz for that office prior to Aligaz's death in 1803.

Ras Wolde Selassie is known to have had wielded the most power during his reign, exceeding formidable rases such as Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Ras Gugsa of Gojam and the Oromo chieftain Gojje; and throughout his vast provinces and districts, all kinds of crimes, grievances, rebellions, disputes and inheritances are directly referred to him and most wars are carried out by himself in person.

According to Paul Henze, Ras Wolde Selassie is the first ruler of this period to have close contact with Europeans, hosting three British diplomats, George Annesley, Viscount Valentia, his secretary Henry Salt, and Nathaniel Pearce.

Salt's arrival in Abyssinia culminates in the signing of a treaty of friendship with Wolde Selassie representing Abyssinia and the former representing Great Britain in 1805.

Henry Salt also proposes inaugurating trade with Britain; Wolde Selassie is quick to see possible advantages in relations with Britain and promises to encourage such commerce with every means in his power.

Revealing himself a realist, and speaking, Salt says, with 'great sincerity', he nevertheless expresses the fear that his country

    might not be able to supply any quantity of valuable commodities sufficient to recompense our merchants for engaging in so precarious a trade; more especially as the Abyssinians were not much acquainted with commercial transactions...Could any plan, however, be arranged for obviating these difficulties...he would most readily concur in carrying it into effect.

Wolde Selassie also touches on a major obstacle that the Ethiopians had faced, the Egyptians have control over the port of Massawa which they have acquired from the Ottoman Empire and remind King George that with their "naval superiority in the red sea" Abyssinia might find it difficult to gain access to the port.

Wolde Sellasie's effort, however, will bear fruit in the long term when his successors Dejazmatch Wube of Semien and Tigray and Emperor Yohannes of Ethiopia follow up on the treaty that is struck between him and the kingdom of Britain.

Nathaniel Pearce lives with Ras Wolde from about 1808 and the warlord's death.

Pearce's diary of his stay is not only valuable for the history of this period, but also provides enormous detail about daily life in Ethiopia.

Nathaniel Pearce, deserting from the HMS Antelope in July 1804, seems to have made his way to Mocha, Yemen and become a Muslim, but had managed to reach, on December 31, 1804, the vessel that was conveying Viscount Valentia's trade mission to Abyssinia.

After he arrived at Massawa on the Red Sea coast, he accompanied, in the summer of next year, Henry Salt as an English servant on his mission to the court of Ras Wolde Selassie of Tigray.

Born in East Acton near London, Pearce had been educated at private schools, but, proving wild and incorrigible, had been apprenticed to a carpenter and joiner in Duke Street, Grosvenor Square.

He had soon run away to sea, and on his return had been apprenticed to a leather-seller, whom he left suddenly to enlist on the man-of-war HMS Alert.

In May 1794 he was taken prisoner by the French; but after many attempts succeeded in escaping, and served again in the navy.
 
Many adventures had followed.

Henry Salt had returned from Abyssinia to England on October 26, 1806.

His journey home had taken him through Egypt, where he had met the pasha Muhammad Ali.

Salt's paintings from the trip are used in Valentia's Voyages and Travels to India, published in 1809.

The originals of all the drawings are kept by Valentia, as also the copper plates after Salt's death.

The format and style of the plates is similar to Thomas and William Daniell's work, "Oriental Scenery" (1795-1808).

Salt returns to Ethiopia in 1809 on a government mission to explore trade and diplomatic links with the Tigrayan warlord Ras Wolde Selassie.

Upon arrival, he is unable to meet with the king due to unrest in the country so instead he goes to stay with his friend the ras of Tigré.

During this venture, Salt takes on the side mission of verifying and correcting the information about the region reported by the Scottish traveler, James Bruce many years earlier.