Battle of the Hill of the Jews

The Battle of the Hill of the Jews (named by Miguel de Castanhoso for a community of Beta Israel who lived there[1]) was a battle fought in Ethiopia in August 1542 between the Portuguese forces of Cristóvão da Gama and the Adal Muslim followers of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi. The Portuguese suffered their first defeat and did not win the battle, captured from their side were, many horses that they could have used to exploit their victory in the previous battle of Jarte.

Battle of the Hill of the Jews
Part of the Ethiopian–Adal war and Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts (1538–57)
Date August, 1542 Location Hill of the Jews, Ethiopia Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire	Adal Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Cristóvão da Gama	Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The benefits of this victory were short-lived, for within the month da Gama was slain in Wofla even before his soldiers escorting the captured animals could reach the Portuguese encampment at Lake Ashenge.

The location of this battle is not known. Whiteway has argued that this place is identical with Amba Geshen, located far to the south of the Portuguese camp.[2] More recently, however, C.F. Beckingham has argued that the battle took place in the eastern Semien Mountains near the left bank of the Tekezé River.[3]