Mahamud Ibrahim

He was the son of Ibrahim Adeer and father of Yusuf Mahamud. His rule marked the start of the strengthing of the Geledi. It was said when he was born a strong storm hit the shores of East Africa indicating his arrival to earth would spark a great change to the kingdom. One day Sultan Ibrahim Adeer was visiting Baidoa and decided to take his son with him where they were greeted by the local people and stayed in the palace with nobles that ruled the city. The governor of Baidoa told Sultan Ibrahim he had a dream that his son would become a fine ruler. After leaving the city gates and returning to the capital Afgooye they decided to stop at some fruit-growing villages.[2]

Sultan Ibrahim and his son came out of the carriage and were greeted by local villagers. The army division supervised to protect the royal House of Gobroon guarded the king and prince during their travel. They were all fed by the villagers with lots of rice, meat, desserts, fruit, and drinks. Once they were full and done eating they had noticed Mahamud the son of Sultan Ibrahim had wandered off somewhere. They panicked and went outside to search for him and shouting his name but he was not in the village so they searched in the forests and bushes. News had spread to Sultan Ibrahim Adeer his son had been lost and was furious his men didn't do the job they were assigned to do.[3]

However, one of the top guards of Sultan Ibrahim had found his son but he was hiding behind the tree as he witnessed a lion walking towards Mahamud but Mahamud didn't flinch one bit and looked directly into the lion's eyes showing zero fear despite being only 7 years old at that time. The lion slowly came near him and decided to walk past him. The guard's heart was pounding and he regretted leaving his weapons behind in the village but was completely surprised the lion didn't feast on the boy and believed it was a miracle from God. After telling Sultan Ibrahim what had happened he couldn't believe it and remembered the words of the governor of Baidoa. He was convinced his son was the chosen one.[4]

The next year passed by and his father decided to send Mahamud to Barawa for Islamic education and was later sent to Luuq for his military training at the age of 14 where he would study the art of warfare and become a fine warrior. He learned the 9 principles of war. He studied the objective, offensive, mass, the economy of force, maneuver, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity. He also studied non-military subjects such as politics and economics. After graduating from Luuq he would return to the capital and see his family. They were truly amazed at how a little boy would turn out to be a strong and wise man.[5]

His rule marked the start of the strengthing of the Geledi with the education he received and visions he dreamed about would finally come to finalize. However, before he stepped into power. His father Sultan Ibrahim Adeer died of natural cause and his kingdom began to fragment and clans stopped paying allegiance to the Gobroon dynasty. The son of Sultan Ibrahim promised himself to continue his father's legacy and keep the kingdom alive. He began to militarize his kingdom and after training his new recruits in Luuq. He had mastered more than 50 thousand professional soldiers under his command. He forced all clans in the region to accept his authority and to pay tribute. He made his army collect taxes and use the wealth for construction where he built new roads to connect cities and making trade caravan easier, forts were built in the newly established provinces increasing his military presence everywhere around the kingdom. His soldiers were well trained, well equipped, and well paid which is the reason why he had such a massive loyal force behind him. He introduced the pension system where old people and retired soldiers would receive financial support from the kingdom but retired soldiers were offered much more than just a pension. They would be given land where they could farm and raise their livestock as a gift for their service.[6]

It is clear he ruled his kingdom with an iron grip and putting fear into clans who dare oppose his supremacy. The major cities that governed provinces had big walls surrounding their city and gates would be connected with roads and next to the gates, there would be a fort where the military is positioned. The Geledi invested heavily in military and defense because they believed to gain respect was through strength. Sultan Mahamud began militarizing the coastal provinces and established a strong navy to protect its shores from any threat and also to combat piracy in the Indian ocean that disturbed maritime trade. His coastal provinces were so militarized it began controlling the East African arms trade.[7]

The Oromos with a large cavalry force invaded and sacked a town known as Bu'ale which was part of the Geledi Sultanate. Sultan Muhamed was furious when he heard the Oromos manage to loot and occupy Bu'ale and he gathered his 20 thousand best warriors to liberate Bu'ale. Despite his forces being heavily outnumbered by three to one. The Oromo warriors were not as professionally trained and disciplined and did not possess modern weapons as the Geledi army. Sultan Muhamed managed to circle the town and liberate Bu'ale with ease. The Oromos lost 2/3 of their warriors and were known to the Oromos as the day of mass slaughter. 1/3 of Oromo cavalry escaped and the Geledi army chased them all the way to central Kenya. The ones that surrounded were enslaved and used as labour and the city of Bu'ale quickly recovered from the attack.[8]

The Sharjah pirates were notorious Arab pirates headquartered in the United Arab Emirates that operated in the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. The ruler Saqr bin Rashid Al Qasimi decided to expand his piracy operation to the East African coast as many wealthy ships went past by. One day he sent 8 big ships carrying 1500 men and word had been sent to Sultan Mahamud that Geledi ships were being attacked by the Sharjah pirates just near the Geledi coast. Sultan Mahamud sent a punitive expedition where he managed to capture eight ships, retract the stolen goods and arrested all 1500 Arab pirates, and sent them to a special prison in Luuq.[9]

Sultan Mahamud sent a letter to Saqr bin Rashid Al Qasimi requesting demands or his brother who led the expedition and the rest of his men will be slaughtered. Saqr bin Rashid Al Qasimi agreed to pay tribute, pay the damage, and signed a treaty deal swearing to the lord that the Sharjah pirates will not operate on the East Africa coast. Sultan Mahamud commanded his military officials to release the prisoners in Luuq and send them to Merca where they will return to their ships and go on their way home.[10]

Sultan Mahamud was resting on his rich bed in the royal palace where the Gobroon dynasty resided. Sultan Mahamud was smiling that he accomplished his dreams but believed the kingdom had a long way to go and entrusted his son Yusuf Mahamud to fix the rest. Sultan Mahamud would eventually die peacefully in his bed and would bequeath the throne to his own son. Sultan Yusuf would end up focusing on the Geledi economy and was at its golden age under his reign. [11]