WI - Ottoman Ethiopia?

In 1557, the Ottomans launched an invasion into the Kingdom of Medri Bahri (modern-day Eritrea) where they managed to gain territory in Eritrea through Bahr Negus Yeshaq's promises to cede them land if they assisted him against Ethiopian Emperor Menas. If they had instead utilized tactics of divide and conquer in their initial invasion, could they have been more successful in conquering and annexing Ethiopia? What would Ethiopia look like under Ottoman rule? What would she look like in the modern era?
 
The First conquests will be in the North of Ethiopia. The South is Oromo occupied, West is somwhat free and East is Somali ruled. The Ottoman ruled part is as good as autonomous. Ruled by local, possibly muslim, rulers rather than direct rule.

The Ottomans have no capacity to fully subdue Ethiopia before the 19th century because the region is large and too populous. Even in the 19th century it is going to be a challenge.
 
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The First conquests will be in the North of Ethiopia. The South is Oromo occupied, West is somwhat free and East is Somali ruled. The Ottoman ruled part is as good as autonomous. Ruled by local, possibly muslim, rulers rather than direct rule.

The Ottomans have no capacity to fully subdue Ethiopia before the 19th century because the region is large and too populous. Even in the 19th century it is going to be a challenge.
I can see the Ottomans imposing a protectorate over northern-central Ethiopia as well as the Afar-populated lands to the east. Is there a possibility that the Habesh Eyalet comes to be ruled by Christians?

When can the Ottomans successfully conquer Ethiopia?
 
I can see the Ottomans imposing a protectorate over northern-central Ethiopia as well as the Afar-populated lands to the east. Is there a possibility that the Habesh Eyalet comes to be ruled by Christians?

When can the Ottomans successfully conquer Ethiopia?

It can. It depends on how willing Christians are to cooperate with the Ottomans. Considering that they are going to be autonomous, Christian rulers may remain as rulers.

In the mid 19th century. From 1820s onward. Between 1820 and 1850 is the most ideal period. But as I said,n subduing Ethiopia is hard, way too hard.
 
It can. It depends on how willing Christians are to cooperate with the Ottomans. Considering that they are going to be autonomous, Christian rulers may remain as rulers.
Depending on how Ethiopian resistance to the Ottomans goes and how successful the Ottomans are at gradually amassing influence/power in the region are, it could go many ways.
 
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That's right. Anyway, the twentieth century seems like a likelier era for what I think the OP seeks to achieve than would a campaign of over-extension in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries.

That said, it's an interesting question what happens to the written language in an Islamic Ethiopia. Do the Ethiopic languages retain Ge'ez in the same way Dhivehi has retained its own script, or do they do what Persian and so many other languages in the Islamic world have done and adopt an Arabic-based writing system?
 
That's right. Anyway, the twentieth century seems like a likelier era for what I think the OP seeks to achieve than would a campaign of over-extension in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries.

That said, it's an interesting question what happens to the written language in an Islamic Ethiopia. Do the Ethiopic languages retain Ge'ez in the same way Dhivehi has retained its own script, or do they do what Persian and so many other languages in the Islamic world have done and adopt an Arabic-based writing system?
Except Iyasu (nor any Ethiopian Emperor before him in the 20th Century) are never going to accept Ottoman rule over Ethiopia, even he wasn't that stupid. If we're talking about an Ethiopia that is nominally under control of the Ottomans through an Egyptian annexation of Ethiopia, that can definitely happen - it's easiest in the 1840s, during the Zemene Mesafint where Kassa Hailu's skirmish with Egyptian forces on the Sudanese frontier might spark an Egyptian desire to take control of Ethiopia.

It could.
 
A question about Ethiopia becoming apart of the Ottoman Empire, even only nominally - could we see the Egyptians manage to acquire the Habesh Eyalet in the 20th Century?
 
Possibly a tax- and manpower source for the Pasha's of Egypt. It will likely be neglected in development unless development has direct positive effect on Egypt. Also a good base starting slave trade to the deep interior of Africa.
Perhaps this Egyptian Ethiopia can develop on her own initiative? I can see it happening with the right Emperor, someone like Menelik.
 
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