Ughaz Roble I

Names
	The rain Prince;

Ughaz Roble I
𐒚𐒌𐒔𐒖 𐒇𐒙𐒁𐒐𐒗
أوغاس روبل
Ughaz Roble I ; 𐒚𐒌𐒔𐒖 𐒇𐒙𐒁𐒐𐒗 ; أوغاس روبل
Ugaas Sultan
	Ugaas Rooble with his nephew, Jardon, in 1885 jaldessa
Ughaz of the issa
Reign	Late 19th century
Born	Early 19th century
Burial	Jaldessa
Names
Names
	The rain Prince;
Father	Ughaz Farah
Religion	Sunni Islam

Ughaz Roble I (Somali: Ugaas Rooble Ugaas Farax), Osmanya: 𐒚𐒌𐒔𐒖 𐒇𐒙𐒁𐒐𐒗, Arabic: أوغاس روبل), Also known as Roblay, Robli, Robleh and Robiley ‘The rain prince’ ^[1]was the 14th Ughaz of the Issa Ughazate. The Issa are northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir clan family.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Biography & Reign

The paramount sultan of the Issa clan Ugaas roble

Ughaz Roble rose to prominence within the Issa (clan) during the latter half of the 19th century, eventually assuming the esteemed title of Ugaas, a position of leadership and authority. Ughaz Roble, a revered leader among his people, wielded significant influence and authority that stemmed from his exceptional power. Through his leadership, the Ughaz possessed the remarkable ability to amass a formidable army of up to 40,000 men in times of conflict or war. Antonio cecchi Italian Explorer reported:

“He has unlimited power; everyone is obsequious to him and do what he commands them without observations of any kind; and in case of war, from all the country obeys him, they say he can gather 40,000 men capable of carrying the spear”.^[7]

Issa Somali stands guard outside the abode of Ugaas Robleh Farah in Jaldessa who is hosting a special guest

The king of Ethiopia Menelik II used to pay some sort of Tribute to the ughaz so his caravans and guests arrive safely^[8] In the winter of 1876 he Ughaz was received and welcomed in Zeila in a very splendid way; the Pasha residents there celebrated him and went to receive him in Tocoscia. It is distinguished from the other leaders , because it is equipped with a garment, an umbrella and for the large amount of amulets, pockets and pouches. It was precisely by him that the tribute of fifty thalers and a piece of special cotton was imposed on the first expedition, which he paid him instantly.^[8]

Personal life

Jaldessa, 1885

Jaldessa was the seat of Ughaz Roble, Jaldessa (In Somali, the name Jeldeesa means Jelde Ciise which is like Daryeel Ciise (issa preserving ) .as It was the main palace of Ugaas Roble Farah, the Ugaas of the Issa clan^[9] The Egyptians entered Jaldessa in 1875, and left a garrison that would later be the seat of Ugaas Robleh Farah^[10]

Italian illustration of Ugaas Roble, 1886 Italian illustration of Ugaas Roble, 1886

Antonio cecchi Italian Explorer description of Ughaz roble:

“The current great chief is called Uadi-Dubli-Fara, also called Ugas-Robli; he is tall in person, with slender limbs like all his fellow country men; he has a fairly smart eye, a crushed nose and a face thrown by the vajuolo. He wears Turkish trousers, covers his shoulders with an ordinary canvas mantle and his head with a coarse tarbush, wrapped in a turban, in whose folds there is no shortage of papers and amulets. He has rather kind manners, and in the speeches he takes on an oratorical character, imposing himself with great effectiveness, and at the same time he jokes with his subjects and even with the boys who graze camels.”^[11]

Meeting with Philipp Paulitschke

Philipp Paulitschke 1882

Paulitschke a German Explorer travelled to and explored Egypt and Nubia in 1880 and between 1884 and 1885 with Dominik Kammel Edler von Hardegger (1844-1915) the Somali and Galla lands.^[12] Paulitschke’s description of Ughaz roble:

“We were told that the Ugas wished to see us immediately, and before we knew it a giant man with a deep black complexion, an unusually thin, dull face, sleepy eyes, prominent cheekbones, dressed in a snow-white coat, was standing there. Marro, brandishing a small stick in his right hand, in front of the tent: His highness the Ugaas Roble Farah “The Rain Prince”.^[13]