Adal Sultanate: Map & History
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.
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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.
Modern Countries Once Part of Adal Sultanate
At its mapped extent, Adal Sultanate covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Adal Sultanate's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Adal Sultanate in Depth
History
Adal (also Awdal, Adl, or Adel) was situated east of the province of Ifat and was a general term for a region of lowlands inhabited by Muslims. It was used ambiguously in the medieval era to indicate the Muslim inhabited low land portion east of the Ethiopian Empire. Including north of the Awash River towards Lake Abbe as well as the territory between Shewa and Zeila on the coast of Somaliland. According to Ewald Wagner, Adal region was historically the area stretching from Zeila to Harar.
In 1288, the region of Adal was conquered by the Ifat Sultanate. Despite being incorporated into the Ifat Sultanate, Adal managed to maintain a source of independence under Walashma rule, alongside the provinces of Gidaya, Dawaro, Sawans, Bali, and Fatagar.
Military
The Military of Adal was divided into several sections such as the infantry consisting of swordsmen, archers and lancers that were commanded by various generals and lieutenants. These forces were complemented by a cavalry force and eventually, later in the empire's history, by matchlock-technology and cannons during the Conquest of Abyssinia. The various divisions were symbolised with a distinct flag.
And the Malasāy troop, who are people of raids and ğihād, worthy men of confidence, who could be trusted during the fighting, of the army chiefs who not only do not flee from the battlefield but who protect the retreat of his family.
The second wing consisted entirely of Somalis, commanded by the Imam's brother-in-law Matan.
Economy
One of the empire's most wealthy provinces was Ifat it was well watered, by the large river Awash. Additionally, besides the surviving Awash River, at least five other rivers in the area between Harar and Shawa plateau existed. The general area was well cultivated, densely populated with numerous villages adjoining each other. Agricultural produce included three main cereals, wheat, sorghum and teff, as well as beans, aubergines, melons, cucumbers, marrows, cauliflowers and mustard. Many different types of fruit were grown, among them bananas, lemons, limes, pomegranates, apricots, peaces, citrons mulberries and grapes. Other plants included sycamore tree, sugar cane, from which kandi, or sugar was extracted and inedible wild figs.
The province also grew the stimulant plant Khat.
Legacy
The Adal Sultanate left behind many structures, artefacts and remains from its heyday. Numerous such historical edifices and items are found in the northwestern Awdal province of Somaliland, as well as other parts of the Horn region where the polity held sway.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Adal Sultanate (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Adal Sultanate: Key Facts
| Capital | Zeila |
|---|---|
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1415 |
| Dissolved | 1577 |
Facts from Wikidata Q2365048 (CC0).
Adal Sultanate Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Adal Sultanate appears, with the other states of the time.
Adal Sultanate Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 488,420 km² in 1536 CE.
Adal Sultanate: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Adal Sultanate exist?
The Adal Sultanate is dated to 1415 CE – 1546 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Adal Sultanate?
The capital of the Adal Sultanate was Dakkar (1415–1520), Harar (1520–1577), Aussa (1577).
How large was the Adal Sultanate at its peak?
At its peak in 1536 the Adal Sultanate covered about 488,420 km².
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