Wedem Arad was negus (1299 - 1314) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. He was the brother of Yagbe'u Seyon, and seized power from his nephews. Negus is the Amharic word for king. The term negus negust means king of kings, or Emperor. ... Events Osman I declares the independence of the Ottoman Principality The County of Holland is annexed by the County of Hainaut April 1, 1299 Kings Towne on the River Hull granted city status by Royal Charter of King Edward I of England. ... Events June 24 - Battle of Bannockburn. ... The Solomonid dynasty is the traditional royal house of Ethiopia, claming descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who is said to have given birth to the traditional first king Menelik I after her Biblically-described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem. ...

Only one military action is recorded for this ruler. In the first year of his reign, one Sheikh Abu-Abdallah had gathered a large following, and proclaimed a jihad against Wedem Arad's realm. Wedem Arad sent a number of agents into Abu-Abdallah's camp, who were able to persuade most of his followers to defect; without sufficient manpower, Abu-Abdallah was forced to agree to a treaty with Wdem Arad, in return for providing "them with all their needs until they are completely satisfied". Taddesse Tamrat suggests that this involved giving them land to settle on, and notes that on the edge of the territory of Shewa there is a locality known as "Abdalla", which might be that settlement.¹ Jihad (ǧihād جهاد) is an Arabic word which comes from the Arabic root word jahada, which means exerting utmost effort or to strive. The word connotes a wide range of meanings, from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith, to holy war. ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ...

References

1. Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p.131.