Born: 1801 (circa), Eritrea
Died: 1851
Country most active: Eritrea
Also known as: NA
Embet Ilen was a distinguished figure of high birth and political prominence during the Zemene Mesafint period in what is now Eritrea. Renowned as the epitome of female emancipation in nineteenth-century Marab-Millash (highland Eritrea), she left an indelible mark on the historical landscape of the region.
Born around 1801, Embet Ilen married Ayte Selomon, the eldest son of Kantiba Zar’ay, the ruler of Hazzega. In the mid-1820s, Selomon assumed office and launched an ill-fated assault on Tse’azzega. Following his swift defeat and subsequent retreat to Gura’e, Ilen, undeterred, made two unsuccessful attempts to avenge her husband’s loss.
However, her fortunes changed when she formed an alliance with Shum-Agame Subagadis, who appointed Ilen as the governor of Hamasen. Tragically, Subagadis passed away in 1831, but Ilen managed to secure her position by aligning herself with Wube Haile Maryam.
By the late 1840s, Ilen relinquished her regency, passing the torch to her son, Woldemichael Solomon. Despite this seemingly peaceful transition of power, her life took a tumultuous turn when she was accused of the murder of her old adversary, Kantiba Woldegaber. Faced with this perilous situation, Ilen struggled to find a secure haven in exile, marking a poignant end to her influential and eventful life.