| Battle of Buro | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Ethiopian–Adal war | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Adal Sultanate |
 Ethiopian Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ahmed Gurey | Ras Baniyat | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 30 | 600+ (around 650) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | Heavy | ||||||
The Battle of Buro was fought in 1529 between a small Adal Sultanate force under Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi and an Abyssinian army under Azmach. The Adalite forces won a complete victory in spite of being outnumbered.[1]
Three months after the Adalite victory at Shimbra Kure Imam Ahmad embarked on a raiding expedition into Dawaro at the head of a force of 700.[2] During the expedition the Imam and a small troop of 30 Malassay were separated from the main force but managed to rout a larger Abyssinian force by catching them off guard near the Buro River. [2]: 95 The next morning after the Adalites set camp next to the river an Abyssinian force numbering 600 cavalry and a large amount of Infantry appeared on the horizon. [2]: 96
The Abyssinians began the battle by throwing stones at the Adalites but none hit their mark. The Abyssinians then attempted a frontal assault but where stopped after the commander of the infantry was slain by an Somali Adalite musketman. The Adalites then charged forward pushing back the Abyssinians with many fleeing. [2]: 98 Angered by the attempt desertation Ras Baniyat goaded on his troops by saying "Where are you fleeing to? What excuse will we give the king when he says, "Twenty of the Muslim cavalry put you to flight"". The fleeing troops double backed and continued fight for another hour until they were enventually routed for good. [2]: 99
Quite a few Azmachs were killed during the battle and numerous breastplates, swords, horses, and mules were captured. After a few more raids Imam Ahmad returned to Harar with the treasures he had acquired. [2]: 101