Ras Mikael Ali

Head of the Mammedoch clan of Wollo, and originally known as Ras Ali of Wollo, he claimed decent from the Prophet Mohammed. He was baptised a Christian following the edict of Emperor Yohannes IV in 1871 ordering all the Muslims of Wollo to convert to the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia or lose their land holdings. The Emperor stood as Ras Ali's Godfather, and he was renamed Ras Mikael. At Adowa he led the feared oromo cavalry which broke the back of the ascaris and their masters