Ancient Somalia: Ajuuraan State

[Coeus]

The Ajuuraan State or Ajuuraan Sultanatewas a Somali Muslim empire that ruled over large parts of East Africa in the Middle Ages. Through a strong centralized administration and an aggressive military stance towards invaders, the Ajuuraan empire successfully resisted an Oromo invasion from the west and a Portuguese incursion from the east during the Gaal Madow and the Ajuuraan-Portuguese wars. Trading routes dating from the ancient and early medieval periods of Somali maritime enterprise were strengthened or re-established, and foreign trade and commerce in the coastal provinces flourished with ships sailing to and coming from a myriad of kingdoms and empires in East Asia, South Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa and East Africa.

The empire left an extensive architectural legacy, being the major medieval Somali power engaged in castle and fortress building, with many of the hundreds of ruined fortifications dotting the landscapes of Somalia today attributed to Ajuuraan engineers. During the Ajuuraan period many regions and peoples in East Africa converted to Islam because of the theocratic nature of the government. The royal family, the House of Gareen, expanded its territories and established its hegemonic rule through a skillful combination of warfare, trade linkages and alliances. As an Hydraulic empire, the Ajuuraan State monopolized the water resources of the Shabelle and Jubba rivers. Through hydraulic engineering, it also constructed many of the limestone wells and cisterns of the state that are still operative and in use today. The rulers developed new systems for agriculture and taxation, which continued to be used in parts of the Horn of Africa as late as the 19th century. The tyrannical rule of the later Ajuuraan rulers caused multiple rebellions to break out in the empire, and at the end of the 17th century, the Ajuuraan state disintegrated into several successor kingdoms and states, the most prominent being the Gobroon Dynasty.

Instead of using the traditional Somali titles for rulers like Boqor or Sultan, the Gareen rulers held the title of Imam. In the Ajuuraan state, these leaders were the highest authority and counted multiple Sultans, Emirs and Kings as clients or vassals. The Gareen rulers had seasonal palaces in Mareeg, Qaallafo, Merca and Hobyo, which they would periodically visit to practice primae noctis. Other important cities in the empire were Mogadishu and Barawa.

1. Imam, Supreme leader/Emperor of the State.
2. Emir, commander of the armed forces and navy.
3. Na'ibs, Governors.
4. Wazirs, tax and revenue collectors.
5. Qadis, Chief Judges.
6. Islam, State religion.
7. Sharia, State law.

[Coeus]

This system reminds me of modern day Iran