The Battle of Chelenqo was an engagement fought on 6 January 1887 between the army of Shewa under Negus Menelik II and `Abd Allah II of Harar. The Harari forces were routed, and Negus Menelik afterwards occupied and annexed the city of Harar. January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... Harar, sometimes spelled Harrar or Harer, is a city in Ethiopia situated in the eastern extension of the Ethiopian highlands, about five hundred kilometers from Addis Ababa. ... Menelik II (August 17, 1844 - December 12, 1913), Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia was negus negust (emperor) of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ... `Abd Allah II ibn `Ali `Abd ash-Shakur , also known as Amir Hajji Abdullahi II ibn Ali Abdus Shakur, was the last Amir of Harrar from 1884 (or 1885, see down for explanation) to January 26, 1887, when the state was terminated, as a result of the failiuer... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... Negus is the Amharic word for king. The term negus negust means king of kings, or Emperor. ... Menelik II (August 17, 1844 - December 12, 1913), Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia was negus negust (emperor) of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ... `Abd Allah II ibn `Ali `Abd ash-Shakur , also known as Amir Hajji Abdullahi II ibn Ali Abdus Shakur, was the last Amir of Harrar from 1884 (or 1885, see down for explanation) to January 26, 1887, when the state was terminated, as a result of the failiuer... Harar, sometimes spelled Harrar or Harer, is a city in Ethiopia situated in the eastern extension of the Ethiopian highlands, about five hundred kilometers from Addis Ababa. ...

Negus Menelik, in response to Italian control of Eritrea and the port of Massawa, had begun to import firearms and munitions through the French-controlled ports of Djibouti. Emir `Abd Allah of Harar, a fantical Moslem, by 1886 blocked transport of these arms through his territories. Massawa in the 19th century Massawa or Mitsiwa (15° 36′ 33″ N 39° 26′ 43″ E) is a port on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ...

Menelik had desired control of the city of Harar for some time. The massacre of Italian explorers, alegedly at the emir's command, gave the Negus an excuse to march on Harar.

Although the army of Shewa was a veteran force with contemporary rifles, and numbered in the thousands, Negus Menelik sought to avoid war, and in January 1887, offered 'Abd Allah the same kind of autonomy that king Abba Jifar of Jimma enjoyed; the emir refused this offer. 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... Moti Abba Jifar II was king of the Gibe Kingdom of Jimma (reigned 1878 - 1932). ... The Kingdom of Jimma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. ...

Knowing that he was heavily outnumbered, and his troops had only obsolete matchlocks and a few canons, emir 'Abd Allah decided to attack on early in the morning of Ethiopian Christmas (January 9), expecting the Shewans to be unprepared and befuddled with food and alcohol. However, Negus Menelik had worried about a surprise attack, and kept his men at alert. The Matchlock was the first firearm to have a trigger mechanism for firing. ... Look up canon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The emir's men opened fire at 11:00 am. The Shewan soldiers quickly responded and routed the Harar infantry with few casualties. Menelik persued the retreating emir to Harar, whose ancient walls would not long resist his assault. Once again 'Abd Allah refused to surrender, then fled into the desert, leaving his uncle to negotiate the city's surrender. With the occupation, the independence of Harar came to an end.