Person

Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi

c. 1506–1543 · 16th century · Also known as Ahmad ibn Ibrahim, Imam Ahmad, Ahmad Gragn, Ahmad Gran

Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, known as Ahmad Gragn, was the imam and military leader of the Adal Sultanate who led a jihad against the Ethiopian Empire from 1527 to 1543. Using firearms and Ottoman support, he conquered much of the Ethiopian highlands. He ruled through nominal Walashma sultans, and his death in battle in 1543 against an Ethiopian and Portuguese force ended Adal's ascendancy.

Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi
Image: Ugaas Raage · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 2 profiles

Adal SultanateSocioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, DeclineEthiopian EmpireMilitary, Decline

Mentioned in 5 state histories

Hadiya SultanateFatagar SultanateSultanate of DawaroSultanate of BaleImamate of Aussa

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ahmad-ibn-ibrahim-al-ghazi
MLA
“Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ahmad-ibn-ibrahim-al-ghazi. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ahmad-ibn-ibrahim-al-ghazi.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ahmad-ibn-ibrahim-al-ghazi (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻