Key dates in his life
1749/50: Born in an unknown location; his parents are also unknown.
- According to Isenberg (1841) and d’Abbadie (1881), Abraham originated from Gojjam.
Late 1760s/early 1770s: He serves a “vazir” in Gondar, and in his train he visits the fountains of the Blue Nile (Jones, 1784).
- Provincial governors and office holders during the reigns of Emperors Iyoas I (r. 1755‒69), Yohannes II (r. 1769), and Tekle Haymanot II (r. 1769‒77) included [1] ras bitwodad Wolde Leul of Qwara († 1767) · [2] ras (later ras bitwodad) Mika’el Sehul of Tigray († 1779) · [3] the Oromo dejazmach Fasil “Waragna” of Damot (r. 1767-75), who controlled the fountains of the Blue Nile · [4] dejazmach Wand Bewossen of Lasta/Begemder († 1777) · [5] dejazmach (later ras bitwodad) Goshu Wondago of Gojjam/Amhara (r. 1762‒ c. 1784).
- Abraham’s master may have been Goshu of Amhara, whose main residence was in Gondar. At 19 or 20, as an excellent student, Abraham may have completed his education at Zema Bet and possibly begun training in the Qene Bet. However, he was not yet able to take on a prominent role in Goshu’s service (as a beginning scribe?).
Febr. 1770 ‒ Dec. 1771: James Bruce stays in the Gondar area. Abraham assists him as an interpreter/translator for some time in 1771.
- This suggests that Abraham already had above-average knowledge of Arabic as a teenager.
C. 1777 ff.: Abraham leaves Ethiopia, visits Cairo and Jerusalem, trades in Syria [i.e., Palmyra?], and proceeds through Armenia and Persia to India, where he stayed for about three years.
- It is unclear why Abraham left Ethiopia around 1777. Then, ras Hailu Yosedeq of Gojjam and dejazmach Haylu Eshete of Begemder marched on Gondar with their armies, leading to the abdication of Emperor Tekle Haymanot II and the establishment of Qebat christology under Emperor Solomon II (r. 1777‒79).
Early 1784: Conversation with Sir William Jones in Kalkota concerning Gondar and the sources of the Blue Nile.
Before 1787 (?): Abraham leaves Kalkota. He proceeds [by ship?] through Mocha to Abyssinia.
- Burckhardt (1818) reports that Abraham studied in India under an Englishman for three years. It is unknown whether Abraham traveled to Ethiopia by the most direct route or made extended stopovers for trade, etc.
Before 1790: He leaves Abyssinia and travels to Cairo.
- Burckhardt (1818) states that Abraham traveled for forty years. Given that Abraham died at the age of 68 and left Ethiopia at the age of 27, the duration of his final stay in Ethiopia was only about a year.
1790s/ early 1800s: Years of unknown whereabouts (only in Egypt?) and activities (mainly trading?)
1807 (at the latest): Asselin de Cherville meets Abraham (who is in a very difficult situation) and has him work for him for the next 10 years. Particularly noteworthy is Abraham’s translation of the Bible from Arabic into Amharic, which Asselin guides as an advisor (at least until 1816, when he moves to Alexandria).
1817: After the completion of the Bible translation, Abraham travels to Jerusalem.
Early 1818: He dies after returning to Cairo
- According to Burckhardt, 1818, more likely still in Jerusalem.
Cross references
» Main sources on Abraham’s life
» On Abraham and Asselin’s translation work [work in progress]
» Manuscripts related to Abba Abraham [update ?]
» Bibliography with links