Also known as the "War of the Dark Spears", the Great Somaliothia War was a conflict between 7 ancient tribes, 3 from Ethiopia and 4 from Somalia. The tale is spoken through folklore, paintings, writings and record books. Some archaeological evidence has been recovered from sites in the area, which heavily suggests the war is not legend, but legitimate.
The conflict occurred near the "Ethiopian Point", or "Horn". The war consisted of 50-100battles/attacks between the 7 tribes, ranging from the shores of northern Somalia, to the mountains of Ethiopia. According to local folklore and writings, the war lasted anywhere from 12-16 years (Somalian time). Records suggest around 800 men died in the conflict, around 500 Somalians, 200 Ethiopians and about 100 Chinese Pirates.
Nicknamed "War of the Dark Spears" due to the black mud that was coated on the Ethiopian weapons, which were mainly spears.
An article written by British historian/archeologist, Charles Lindenkruhe in 1953 states that "The carbon dating of the ruins found here suggest the remains of the shelters were about 800 years old"
Background
editThe crumbling infrastructure and virtually non-existent governing of the Zagwe dynasty led to a region ruled by chieftains and warlords. 7 "tribes" were involved in total, most being concentrated in the same general area.
The Great Somaliothia War began mainly due to a secret, forbidden marriage between the son of the Somalian chieftain "Roaring Beast" and the daughter of the Ethiopian warlord Umbushi which ended through adultery. The future chieftain was caught by his visiting "wife" while having sexual relations with one of the female pirates from southern China. The woman had her heart broken, and when she returned to her village, she told her father what had occured. Warlord Umbushi's anger, and the basic distrust of the Somalians, is what led to conflict.