View source for Gondar

{{short description|City in Amhara Region, Ethiopia}}
{{distinguish|Gondar|text=[[Gondor]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Gondar
| native_name              = {{nativename|am|ጎንደር}}
| native_name_lang         = am
| other_name               = Gonder
| settlement_type          = City and [[Districts of Ethiopia|woreda]]
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
| border                          = infobox
| total_width                     = 295
| image_style                     = border:1;
| perrow                          = 1/2/2/1
| image1                          = Gonder from the Goha hotel.jpg
| image2                          = Mentewab's Castle.jpg
| image3                          = Chancellery of Yohannes I 03.jpg
| image4                          = Fasilides Bath 06 (cropped).jpg
| image5                          = Fasilides Palace 01.jpg
| image6                          = Church of Debra Berhan Selassie 01 (cropped).jpg
}}
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = From top, left to right: View of Gondar; [[Mentewab|Mentewab's Castle]]; Chancellery of [[Yohannes I]]; Fasilides Bath; [[Fasil Ghebbi|Enqualal Gemb]]; and [[Debre Berhan Selassie]] Church
| pushpin_map              = Ethiopia#Horn of Africa#Africa
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within Ethiopia##Location within the Horn of Africa##Location within Africa
| pushpin_relief           = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|12|36|27|N|37|27|33|E|region:ET-AM|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Ethiopia}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of Ethiopia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Amhara|Region}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of zones of Ethiopia|Zone]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[North Gondar Zone|North Gondar]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Districts of Ethiopia|Woreda]]
| subdivision_name3        = 
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1636
| founder                  = [[Fasilides]]
| area_total_km2           = 612 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 2,133
| population_total         = 207,044
| population_as_of         = 2007
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="CSA 2007" />
| population_density_km2   = auto
| area_code                = 
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| timezone                 = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset               = +3
| population_est           = 1,243,156
| pop_est_as_of            = 2021
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="2021Pop">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Population Projection Towns as of July 2021 |url=https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Population-of-Towns-as-of-July-2021.pdf |access-date=31 May 2022 |website=Ethiopian Statistics Agency}}</ref>
}}

'''Gondar''', also spelled '''Gonder''' ([[Amharic language|Amharic]]: ጎንደር, ''Gonder''{{efn|Based on the [[BGN/PCGN romanization]] of Amharic.}} or ''Gondär'';{{efn|Based on the [[EAE romanization]] of Amharic.}} formerly {{lang|gez|ጐንደር}}, ''Gʷandar'' or ''Gʷender''), is a city and [[Districts of Ethiopia|woreda]] in Ethiopia. Located in the [[North Gondar Zone]] of the [[Amhara Region]], Gondar is north of [[Lake Tana]] on the [[Lesser Angereb River]] and southwest of the [[Simien Mountains]]. {{As of|2021}}, Gondar has an estimated population of 443,156.<ref name="2021Pop" />

Gondar previously served as the capital of both the [[Ethiopian Empire]] and the subsequent [[Begemder|Begemder Province]]. The city holds the remains of several royal castles, including those in the [[Fasil Ghebbi]] [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] for which Gondar has been called the "[[Camelot]] of Africa".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101214215247/http://bjtoursandtrekking.com/tours/index.htm http://bjtoursandtrekking.com/tours/index.htm] Gondar World Heritage Site</ref>

== History ==
{{main|History of Gondar}}
=== Origins ===
[[File:Fasilides Palace 02.jpg|thumb|[[Fasil Ghebbi|Fasilides Castle]], founded by Emperor [[Fasilides of Ethiopia|Fasilides]]]]
The term Gondar was first mentioned during the reign of [[Amda Seyon I]] as the name of a regiment of soldiers stationed (likely in [[Wegera (woreda)|Wegera]]) to guard nearby trade routes and control a restive population. In 1636, Emperor [[Fasilides of Ethiopia|Fasilides]] selected Gondar as his ''[[katama]]'' (royal camp). Situated about 35 km due north of [[Lake Tana]] in the midst of [[Qemant people|Kémant]] country, Fasilides translocation from Danqaz to Gondar contributed to trading benefits as it was where caravans from Sudan and the Red Sea converged, despite Lent and rainy season prohibiting expeditions that made the emperor stay at the capital. Such incidents quickly enabled him to prolong his reign and construct many buildings for the purpose of giving capital and additional reforms.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Getahun |first=Solomon Addis |date=2012 |title=Urbanization and the Urban Space in Africa: The Case of Gondar, Ethiopia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44325777 |journal=Journal of Ethiopian Studies |volume=45 |pages=117–133 |jstor=44325777 |issn=0304-2243}}</ref><ref>Richard K.P. Pankhurst, ''History of Ethiopian Towns: From the Middle Ages to the Early Nineteenth Century'' (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1 p. 117.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Uhlig |first1=Siegbert |title=Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha |date=2003 |pages=838}}</ref>

=== 17th century ===
[[File:Gondar 01.jpg|thumb|17th century library and chancellery in Gondar]]
Within the capital, [[Fasilides]] ordered the construction of the imposing edifice known as the [[Fasil Ghebbi]] or Fasilides Castle. Further, he established five other churches, including Mädòane Aläm and Fit Abbo. The pleasure-pool with stone pavilion beside the Qaha river known as the "Bath of Fasilides". In 1648, a [[Yemenis|Yemeni]] ambassador, Hassan ibn Ahmad al-Haymi, who visited the palace described it as a great house of stone and lime and "one of marvelous of buildings, worthy of admiration, and the most beautiful of outstanding wonders." The head stonemason was an [[Indian people|Indian]] named Abdal Kerim who had previously worked on the palace of Emperor [[Susenyos I]] in Danqaz. In the newly built castle Al-Haymi saw beds from [[Constantinople]], mattresses from India glittering with gold, sofas inlaid with pieces of jewelry and gems. His eye was also struck by the attire of the courtiers: gowns of silk brocade embroidered with gold, silk gowns, golden girdles "set with marvelous stones and precious gems", swords from [[Sennar Sultanate|Sennar]] inlaid with the choicest pure gold.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ḥaymī |first1=al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-VtAAAAMAAJ |title=A Yemenite Embassy to Ethiopia, 1647-1649: Al-Ḥaymī's Sīrat Al-Ḥabas̲h̲a, Newly Introduced, Translated, and Annotated |last2=Donzel |first2=E. J. van |date=1986 |publisher=F. Steiner |isbn=978-3-515-04205-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Pankhurst |first1=Richard |title=An introduction to the economic history of Ethiopia, from early times to 1800 |date=1961 |publisher=Lalibela House |pages=125}}</ref>

By the time of Fasilides' death in 1667, Gondar was so well established that his successor [[Yohannes I]] (1667-82) made no attempt to seek out a new capital for himself like the former monarchs. On the contrary, he spent much more time in Gondar then his father had done. Though, he left every year on expeditions before returning to his capital, but spent half the year inside the city. In 1669-70, the Emperor ordered Muslims and Jews to separate from Christians and form their own sectors in Gondar. By 1676, this decree resulted in Muslims settling in the lower town near the Qaha, in a quarter called Eslam Bet or Eslamge. The [[Beta Israel]] were assigned four quarters, including Abarra and Kayla Meda, near the Qaha. Key areas in the city included the royal enclosure (Makkabäbiya or [[Fasil Ghebbi|Fail Gémb]]), Addebabay (a public square and market), Abun Bet (home of the abun), Eccäge Bet (residence of the -éccäge and a refuge), Qañn Bet (noble quarters), and Déngay (inhabited by Christian merchants). Yohannes died in July 1682, he "lived for ten days in a great new building" constructed that very year. According to the chronicles, this edifice, which was ornamented in ivory, was built by an Ethiopian architect named Walda Giyorgis who was described as "able, intelligent, and of good renown."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |year=1982 |title=History Of Ethiopian Towns |page=125 |isbn=9783515032049 }}</ref>

Yohannes's successor, [[Iyasu I]] (1682-1706), seems to have been very conscious to maintain the good will of the citizens of Gondar and it was reported that he never closed the doors of his palace, even at night, to give his subjects the impression that he trusted them. Iyasu's reign, like that of his father and grandfather, witnessed considerable building in the city. The Emperor was responsible for the erection of a new castle, and several other churches. The castle of Iyasu, which was reportedly erected by Walda Giyorgis, was described as "more beautiful then the house of Solomon." When Iyasu saw it he is said to have been "full of joy and happiness". During the reign of Iyasu I, the city's population was estimated to have exceeded 60,000.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |year=1982 |title=History Of Ethiopian Towns |page=128 |isbn=9783515032049 }}</ref>

=== 18th century ===
Gondar prospered until the reign of [[Tekle Giyorgis I|Tekle Giyorgis]] (r. 1779–1784), appropriately nicknamed Fäsame Mängest ("the End of Government"). This period was characterized by glorious personalities of Emperors such as [[Iyasu I]], [[Bakaffa]], [[Mentewab]], and [[Dawit III]]. All castles and churches were highly centralized for royal nobilities. The French [[Charles Poncet de Brétigny|Charles Poncet]], who has served as physician of Iyasu, offers wrote extensively about the town at the end of seventeenth century. His journey was important for it gave the outside world some information about the country during the period of its isolation, when the great city of Gondar was built. Poncet was the first European observer to describe the city, the existence of which was doubted in European circles where it was generally thought that Ethiopia still possessed no fixed capital.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Zewde |first=Bahru |date=1988 |title=Gondär In the Early Twentieth Century: A Preliminary Investigation of a 1930/31 Census |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41965962 |journal=Journal of Ethiopian Studies |volume=21 |pages=57–81 |jstor=41965962 |issn=0304-2243}}</ref> His third palace, Iyasu Palace also known as "Saddle on Horseback" resembles a saddle—to highlight the emperor's horsemanship. As a veteran of eleven battles and tax collector, Iyasu decorated his castle with ivory, mirrors, cedar, and a ceiling covered in gold leaf and precious stones.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |title=Discover The Rich History Of Gondar A.K.A. The Camelot Of Africa |url=https://www.travelandleisureindia.in/places/the-story-of-gondar-ethiopia-aka-the-camelot-of-africa/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Travel + Leisure India |language=en-US}}</ref>

After the death of Iyasu I death in 1706, Gondar became to decline because of most emperors preferred to enjoy luxurious life rather than spending in politics. [[Tigray Region|Tigray]] acquired major importance after the establishment of a permanent capital at Gondar due its vicinity to the sea coast. As the traveler [[James Bruce]] noted, it was located where "every body must go in their way from Gondar to the [[Red Sea]]", the person who controlled this province could levy profitable tolls on the caravans which passed through.<ref>Pankhurst, ''Ethiopian Towns'', vol. 1 p. 194.</ref> This development led to the ascension of major Tigrayan warlord Ras [[Mikael Sehul]]. However, the power was presided to Mentewab and the Amhara lords, where several members belonged to her family. They defended that the Empress should enthroned as Regent for her grandson as she had been for her son a decade and half earlier.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |date=1979 |title=An Eighteenth Century Ethiopian Dynastic Marriage Contract between Empress Mentewwab of Gondar and Ras Mika'el Sehul of Tegre |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/615570 |journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=457–466 |doi=10.1017/S0041977X00135748 |jstor=615570 |s2cid=154802525 |issn=0041-977X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Mentewab brought her brother Ras Wolde Leul to Gondar and made him Ras Bitwaded. After the death of [[Iyasu II]] on 27 June 1755, Ras Mikael Sehul, who was on the way with guns, carpets, gold, silver and other tribute from Tigre, learnt the news two days later, when they arrived at Sembera Zagan in Wagara. Without any delay, he proceeded to the capital and arriving the next day, he saw Iyasu II's son [[Iyoas I]], who was a child at the time of his reign.<ref name=":2" />

On 7 September 1755, an agreement between the Empress and Mikael involving the marriage of his son Dejazmach Wolde Hawaryat to Mentewab's daughter Woizero Atlas can be seen as the path to supreme power to Gondar. Unbeknownst to him, Mentewab believed that Mikael could cooperate with her and merge their dynastic alliance without awareness of his power and wealth.  Their ceremony was described to be conducted by "great pomp" befitting with daughter of king and queen and "great enjoy" reigned in the House of Tigre ruler. According to chronicle, the marriage took place in Gondar, some three months after the death of Iyasu II and ascension of Iyoas.<ref name=":2" />

The [[Oromo people|Oromo]] influence in Gondar rapidly began to increase in the 18th century. The last Gondarine Emperor to exercise full control was [[Iyasu II]], during his reign multiple revolts broke out and it became apparent that the country was on the eve of political chaos. He was succeeded by Iyoas I, who effectively became an Oromo puppet. The city was now guarded by 3,000 Oromo troops and had essentially been taken over by the Oromos. In the face of overwhelming opposition towards the Oromo newcomers, Iyoas was forced to appeal to the powerful warlord Mikael Sehul. Ras Mikael thus became master of Gondar.<ref>Richard K.P. Pankhurst, ''History of Ethiopian Towns: From the Middle Ages to the Early Nineteenth Century'' (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1 p. 117.</ref> In May 1767, Ras Mikael Sehul killed Iyoas and crowned 70 years old [[Yohannes II]] as, the Empire thus entered a period of supreme difficulty when its authority declined during the [[Zemene Mesafint]]. Upon his arrival in 1770, Wolda Hawariat claimed that Gondar had an epidemic of smallpox, where the chief comes to he capital with "ill of fever".<ref name=":2" />

=== 19th century ===
[[File:El viajero ilustrado, 1878 602144 (3810562277).jpg|thumb|19th century illustration of Gondar]]
During the early 19th century, the city of Gondar in Ethiopia experienced several periods of unrest and violence, particularly during the reign of Emperor [[Gigar]] (1821–1830). According to historical accounts, soldiers entered the city, camped in the market, and plundered the area, including a district known as Déngay. Despite attempts by the Emperor and the Ečagē (chief of customs) to control the situation, their authority was ignored, and the city was looted. The Protestant missionary [[Samuel Gobat]], who lived in Gondar in 1830, provides detailed accounts of the instability during this period. He described frequent civil disturbances that caused widespread fear, with residents fleeing to churches and other safe havens. Gobat reported that soldiers, under the command of Dejazmach [[Wube Haile Maryam]], ruler of [[Semien province|Semien]], were involved in looting the city's market, and that many citizens expected the city to be plundered at any moment.<ref>Richard K.P. Pankhurst, ''History of Ethiopian Towns: From the Middle Ages to the Early Nineteenth Century'' (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1 p. 262.</ref>

In 1831, tensions escalated when the relatives of [[Ali II of Yejju|Ali II]], the ruler of [[Begemder]], caused further unrest in Gondar, prompting the Emperor and Ečagē to withdraw from the capital. A few years later, in 1832–1833, Ali's soldiers continued their plundering campaign, raiding homes and seizing supplies, which exacerbated the city's already fragile state. The situation became so dire that civilians were forced to hide their goods in churches for protection. These disturbances had a devastating impact on the economy and cultural life of Gondar. Merchants were unable to bring goods into the city due to the constant threat of theft, and intellectual activities suffered, as scholars lamented the collapse of educational institutions. In 1833, when Emperor [[Sahle Dengel]] attempted to reduce the power of the church by curbing its land holdings, priests and citizens protested, further destabilizing the region.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6XMBAwAAQBAJ&dq=tewodros+ii+siege+of+power&pg=PA301 |title=Middle East and Africa: International Dictionary of Historic Places |last2=Watson |first2=Noelle |last3=Schellinger |first3=Paul |date=2014-03-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-25986-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Stuart |last=Munro-Hay |authorlink=Stuart Munro-Hay |title=Ethiopia: The Unknown Land |publisher=I.B. Tauris |year=2002 |isbn=1860647448 |page=69}}</ref>

In 1854, [[Tewodros II|Kassa Hailu]] took control of the town and called upon its nobles, citizens and clergy to accept his candidacy to the throne. The city assembly proclaimed him King of Kings, many cattle were slaughtered for the occasion and the Emperor gave alms generously to the poor. Tewodros, found it necessary to fight against local rulers and their followers in other areas, and was not attracted to Gondar which moreover seemed to him a symbol of Ethiopia's decadence. In 1864, Tewodros ordered the Muslim inhabitants of the city to convert to Christianity or leave, forcing many of them to flee the country. Relations between Tewodros and Gondar continued to deteriorate because of their suspected complicity in rebellion and the bitter disputes the Emperor had with the clergy. By the end of 1864, Tewodros declared Gondar to be a "town of priests who do not love me" and ordered the city to be violently sacked. His soldiers robbed the priests, burned down their residences, and plundered the monasteries in the former capital.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ajayi |first=J. F. Ade |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mw1n9-3ZvcQC&dq=in+1866%2C+tewodros+left+gondar&pg=PA397 |title=Africa in the Nineteenth Century Until the 1880s |date=1989-01-01 |publisher=UNESCO |isbn=978-92-3-101712-4 |page=397 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |year=1982 |title=History of Ethiopian towns from the mid 19th century to 1935 |page=46 }}</ref>

Emperor [[Yohannes IV]] spent the first part of his reign in [[Debre Tabor]] as Tewodros had done before him. The disappearance of the Emperor and his court led to a large demographic reduction in the city, Gondar's population, well over 60,000 in the 18th century, was said by some observers to have dwindled to only 8,000 in the 1870s. In the late 1880s, Gondar suffered serious blows as a result of fighting with the [[Mahdist State|Mahdist]] Sudanese. The Ethiopian historian Blatengeta Heruy Wald Selassie, relates that the Mahdists entered the city in January 1888 "and burnt all the churches. Those who were brave were slaughtered on the spot, while the cowardly fled. The remainder, women and children were made prisoners and taken into slavery." In June of the following year the Mahdists again marched into Gondar and, "massacred the great and the humble, the men and women whom they found." As a result, Gondar towards the end of the century was thus little more than a ghost town abandoned in ruins.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Prunier |first1=Gérard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYmMCwAAQBAJ&dq=gondar+yohannes+iv&pg=PA492 |title=Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia |last2=Ficquet |first2=Éloi |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-261-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |year=1982 |title=History of Ethiopian towns from the mid 19th century to 1935 |page=55 }}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
In early 1900s, peace and stability resulted in some revival in Gondar's fortunes. Gondar was favorably situated between [[Sudan]] to the west, [[Addis Ababa]] to the south, and [[Eritrea]] to the north and hence enjoyed a sizeable amount of commerce. This commerce primarily involved a variety of goods from the surrounding regions. These included salt from the Afar lowlands, brought to Gondar via [[Sekota]]; agricultural products from the [[Amhara people|Amhara]] and [[Agaw people|Agaw]] areas; livestock such as cattle, mules, and goats from [[Begemder]]; honey and wax from [[Semien province|Semien]] and [[Wegera (woreda)|Wegera]]; cotton from [[Welkait|Walqayt]]; ivory and gold from [[Benishangul-Gumuz Region|Bani Shangul]]; coffee and civet from [[Kaffa Province|Kaffa]]; and various locally made handicrafts. There were Italian representatives residing in Gondar; a merchant named Caremelli imported Italian cotton goods and distributed them in Gondar, and an Italian medical doctor gave free medical service to patients in Gondar.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Ahmad |first=Abdussamad H. |date=1996 |title=Trade and Islam in the Towns of Bägemdir 1900-1935 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44259280 |journal=Journal of Ethiopian Studies |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=5–21 |jstor=44259280 |issn=0304-2243}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pankhurst |first=Richard |year=1982 |title=History of Ethiopian towns from the mid 19th century to 1935 |page=344 }}</ref>

During the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]], the East African Fast Column (Colonna Celere dell'Africa Orientale) of General [[Achille Starace]], composed of some 3,000 troops on more than 400 vehicles, entered Ethiopia from [[Omhajer]], and after a difficult 380 km march, occupied Gondar without a fight on 1 April 1936. Within two years, 2,000 Europeans moved into the city. Local inhabitants were segregated into districts west and south of the castle enclosure, Italians settling in northern and north-eastern areas. New commercial and government buildings were erected north-east of the castles and a retail district, known henceforth as the "piazza", was laid out adjacent to the castle compound, all in 1930s "modernist" architecture. A central artery linked the Italian quarters, piazza, Ethiopian merchant quarter, and Saturday market. Another new road ran west of the Fasil "bath" and on to Azezo, where a landing-strip provided an air service with [[Asmara]]. Other new roads connected the city with Gojjam and with Eritrea, the latter a paved, all-season roadway. Colonial authorities, seeking to curry favor with local Muslims, built a mosque (for the first time with minaret) beside the Saturday market, authorized the appointment of a gadi for matters involving the Sara and permitted Muslims to settle outside Addis Alem.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rifkind |first=David |date=2011 |title=Gondar: Architecture and Urbanism for Italy's Fascist Empire |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/jsah.2011.70.4.492 |journal=Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians |volume=70 |issue=4 |pages=492–511 |doi=10.1525/jsah.2011.70.4.492 |jstor=10.1525/jsah.2011.70.4.492 |issn=0037-9808|url-access=subscription }}</ref> On 13–17 November 1941, the British and Italian military [[Battle of Gondar|fought in Gondar]] during the [[East African campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] of [[World War II]], marking the withdrawal of Italian force from [[Italian East Africa]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sobski |first=Marek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5nobzgEACAAJ&q=battle+of+gondar |title=East Africa 1940-1941 (land Campaign): The Italian Army Defends The Empire In The Horn Of Africa |date=2020-12-10 |publisher=Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US |isbn=979-8-5778-6912-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last1=Clay |first1=Jason W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FDGJ7Jy6FwIC&dq=gondar+in+1930&pg=PA19 |title=Politics and the Ethiopian Famine: 1984 - 1985 |last2=Holcomb |first2=Bonnie K. |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=978-1-4128-3128-4 |page=19 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1944, attempt to introduce land taxes following the Italian evacuation of the area met with military opposition in Gondar and Tigray.<ref name=":5" /> By 1950s, the population of Gondar has been fallen to 13,000, with few churches remaining. Still, Gondar was important religious center, becoming poor town with few modern amenities. Gondar traded cotton, saddles, shoes, ornaments, and cloth with other regions of the Blue Nile, but otherwise cut off the world.<ref name=":3" /> In 1970s, Gondar and Welega were hit by severe drought while the hardest year was in 1983–86.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Webb |first1=Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YujWY3vkccC&dq=gondar+in+1970&pg=PA24 |title=Famine in Ethiopia: Policy Implications of Coping Failure at National and Household Levels |last2=Braun |first2=Joachim Von |last3=Yohannes |first3=Yisehac |date=1992 |publisher=Intl Food Policy Res Inst |isbn=978-0-89629-095-2 |page=24 |language=en}}</ref>

In February 1989, the [[Soviet Union]] refused to ship more arms to Ethiopia, which resulted in a series of defeats and made the government evacuate from Tigray Province. The [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (TPLF) then assembled the [[Amhara Democratic Party|Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement]] (EPDM) which formed the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]] (EPRDF) and their force advanced to Gondar and Wollo Province. Shortly, They cut Addis Ababa–Gondar road and put Gojjam at risk. On 23 February 1991, the EPRDF launched military offensive codenamed "Operation Tewodros" against government in Gondar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=3. Ethiopia (1942-present) |url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/sub-saharan-africa-region/ethiopia-1942-present/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=uca.edu |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 1991, Gondar was occupied by EPRDF forces concurrently with Wollo, Tigray and Gojjam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethiopia - Socialist Ethiopia (1974–91) {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ethiopia/Socialist-Ethiopia-1974-91 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
As a result of the [[War in Amhara]] that began in 2023, Gondar has seen a surge in violent crimes, including robbery, kidnapping, and murder.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=4 September 2024 |title=Gonder City authorities implicate security forces' involvement in surging crimes of kidnapping for ransom, murder; pledge to crack down |url=https://addisstandard.com/gonder-city-authorities-implicate-security-forces-involvement-in-surging-crimes-of-kidnapping-for-ransom-murder-pledge-to-crack-down/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=[[Addis Standard]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 17 September, Fano launched a large-scale offensive against Gondar, one of the largest cities in the Amhara region. After heavy fighting, Fano claimed to have killed over 100 [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|ENDF]] soldiers and captured 40. The clashes resulted in the deaths of at least nine people and injuries to more than 30 others.<ref name=":0" /> After two days of intense fighting, Fano eventually withdrew from Gondar, as of October 2024 the city remains under Ethiopian government control.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethiopia's Amhara rebels beat hasty retreat from fighting |url=https://apanews.net/ethiopias-amhara-rebels-beat-a-retreat-from-fighting/}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 September 2024 |title=Nine dead in renewed fighting in Ethiopia's Amhara region |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/nine-dead-in-renewed-fighting-in-ethiopia-s-amhara-region/7788651.html |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 September 2024 |title=በጎንደር እና በአካባቢው ግጭቶች ሲካሄዱ መሰንበታቸውን ነዋሪዎች ተናገሩ |url=https://www.bbc.com/amharic/articles/cj4dv94j97go |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=BBC News አማርኛ |language=am}}</ref>

==Cityscape==
[[File:Gondar Fasiladas Bath Timket.jpg|thumb|Crowds gather at the Fasilides' Bath in Gondar to celebrate ''[[Timkat]]'' – the [[Epiphany (Christian)|Epiphany]] for the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].]]
Gondar traditionally was divided into several neighborhoods or quarters. These quarters are: Addis Alem, where the Muslim inhabitants dwelt; Kayla Mayda, where the adherents of [[Beta Israel]] lived; Abun Bet, centered on the residence of the [[Abuna]], or nominal head of the [[Ethiopian Church]]; and Qagn Bet, home to the nobility.<ref name=getamun>{{Cite book|first=Solomon|last=Getamun|title=History of the City of Gondar|publisher=Africa World Press|date=2005|isbn=1569021953}}</ref>{{Rp|16ff}} Gondar is also a noted center of ecclesiastical learning of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and known for having 44 churches – for many years more than any other settlement in Ethiopia. Gondar and its surrounding countryside constitute the homeland of most [[Beta Israel|Ethiopian Jews]].

The modern city of Gondar is popular as a tourist destination for its many picturesque ruins in [[Fasil Ghebbi]] (the Royal Enclosure), from which the emperors once reigned. The most famous buildings in the city lie in the Royal Enclosure, which include [[Fasilides]]' castle, [[Iyasu I|Iyasu]]'s palace, [[Dawit III|Dawit]]'s Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Empress [[Mentewab]]'s castle, a [[Chancery (medieval office)|chancellery]], library and three churches. Near the city lie [[Fasilides' Bath]], home to an annual ceremony where it is blessed and then opened for bathing; the [[Qusquam]] complex, built by Empress Mentewab; the eighteenth century [[Ras Mikael Sehul's Palace]] and the [[Debre Berhan Selassie Church]].

Downtown Gondar shows the influence of the Italian occupation of the late 1930s. The main piazza features shops, a cinema, and other public buildings in a simplified Italian [[Art Deco|Moderne]] style still distinctively of the period despite later changes and, frequently, neglect. Villas and flats in the nearby quarter that once housed occupation officials and colonists are also of interest.

== Education ==
The town is home to the [[University of Gondar]], which includes Ethiopia's main faculty of medicine. [https://thsc.edu.et/ Teda Health Science College] is also located at this town.

==Demographics==
{{See also|Languages of Ethiopia}}
{{Historical populations|1984|80,886|1994|112,249|2007|207,044|2015|323,900|align=right|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gondar population statistics |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/Ethiopia.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924030324/http://citypopulation.de/Ethiopia.html |archive-date=24 September 2018 |access-date=6 October 2019}}</ref>}}
Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the [[Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)|Central Statistical Agency]] of Ethiopia (CSA), the woreda had a total population of 207,044, an increase of 84.45% from the 1994 census, of whom 98,120 were male and 108,924 female. A total of 53,725 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 3.85 persons to a household, and 50,818 housing units. The majority of the inhabitants practiced [[Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity]], with 84.15% reporting that as their religion, while 11.77% of the population said they were [[Islam|Muslim]].<ref name="CSA 2007">[http://www.csa.gov.et/census-report/complete-report/census-2007?download=191:statistical-amhara Census 2007 Tables: Amhara Region], Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.</ref>
{{Pie chart
 | thumb = right
 | caption= Ethnic groups of Gondar in 1994<ref name="csa.gov.et">[http://www.csa.gov.et/census-report/complete-report/census-1994?download=202:amhara-region ''1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region'', Vol. 1, part 1], Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13, 2.17, Annex II.2 (Retrieved 29 May 2022)</ref>
 | other   = yes
 | label1 = [[Amhara people|Amhara]]
 | value1 = 88.91 | color1 = Yellow
 | label2  = [[Tigrayans|Tigrayan]]
 | value2 = 6.74 | color2 = Green
 | label3 =  [[Qemant people|Qemant]]
 | value3 = 2.37 | color3=Purple
}}
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 112,249 in 22,932 households, of whom 51,366 were male and 60,883 female. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Gondar were the [[Amhara people|Amhara]] (88.91%), [[Tigrayans]] (6.74%), and [[Qemant]] (2.37%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.98% of the population. [[Amharic language|Amharic]] was spoken as a first language by 94.57% of the population and [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]] was spoken as a first language by 4.67% of the population; the remaining 0.76% spoke all other primary languages reported. 83.31% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 15.83% of the population said they were Muslim.<ref name="csa.gov.et">[http://www.csa.gov.et/census-report/complete-report/census-1994?download=202:amhara-region ''1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region'', Vol. 1, part 1], Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13, 2.17, Annex II.2 (Retrieved 29 May 2022)</ref>

==Transport==
Air transport is served by [[Gondar Airport]] ([[ICAO]] code HAGN, [[IATA]] GDQ), also known as Atse Tewodros Airport, after the [[Emperor of Ethiopia]] ([[Atse]]) [[Tewodros II of Ethiopia|Tewodros]]. It is {{convert|18|km|0|abbr=in}} south of the city.<ref name="EAE">{{Cite web |title=Gondar Atse Tewodros Airport |url=http://www.ethiopianairports.com/GonderAirport.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203112208/http://www.ethiopianairports.com/GonderAirport.aspx |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=27 June 2014 |publisher=Ethiopian Airports Enterprise}}</ref> Travel within Gondar is mostly done by mini-buses and 3-wheeler motorcycles (accommodating 3–4 passengers).

Intercity bus service is provided by the [[forward travellers sacco]] and Sky Bus Transport System, as well as independently owned buses that depart from the town bus station.

==Climate==
The climate of Gondar is mild, temperate to warm, with an average temperature of 20&nbsp;°C year round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_633310_kt.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331144332/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_633310_kt.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2019 |access-date=6 October 2019}}</ref> [[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system]] classifies its climate as [[subtropical highland climate|subtropical highland]] (Cwb).<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{Cite web |title=Gonder – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/1183/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117131534/http://en.climate-data.org/location/1183/ |archive-date=17 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-17 |publisher=Climate-Data.org}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Gondar
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 31.0
|Feb record high C = 33.4
|Mar record high C = 33.5
|Apr record high C = 34.1
|May record high C = 33.4
|Jun record high C = 34.8
|Jul record high C = 26.6
|Aug record high C = 31.0
|Sep record high C = 29.9
|Oct record high C = 29.6
|Nov record high C = 29.7
|Dec record high C = 30.2
|year record high C = 34.8
|Jan high C = 28.4
|Feb high C = 29.2
|Mar high C = 29.3
|Apr high C = 27.9
|May high C = 26.6
|Jun high C = 25.2
|Jul high C = 23.6
|Aug high C = 24.1
|Sep high C = 25.0
|Oct high C = 26.2
|Nov high C = 27.5
|Dec high C = 27.9
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 19.8
|Feb mean C = 21.5
|Mar mean C = 22.7
|Apr mean C = 22.7
|May mean C = 21.7
|Jun mean C = 19.7
|Jul mean C = 17.8
|Aug mean C = 17.9
|Sep mean C = 18.7
|Oct mean C = 19.2
|Nov mean C = 19.3
|Dec mean C = 19.4
|year mean C = 20.0
|Jan low C = 10.4
|Feb low C = 11.6
|Mar low C = 12.5
|Apr low C = 13.6
|May low C = 13.8
|Jun low C = 13.9
|Jul low C = 14.0
|Aug low C = 13.9
|Sep low C = 13.1
|Oct low C = 11.8
|Nov low C = 9.4
|Dec low C = 9.2
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 3.0
|Feb record low C = 5.2
|Mar record low C = 6.2
|Apr record low C = 9.2
|May record low C = 5.5
|Jun record low C = 6.0
|Jul record low C = 8.4
|Aug record low C = 8.0
|Sep record low C = 7.0
|Oct record low C = 6.0
|Nov record low C = 4.5
|Dec record low C = 1.6
|year record low C = 1.6
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 2
|Feb rain mm = 2
|Mar rain mm = 13
|Apr rain mm = 32
|May rain mm = 72
|Jun rain mm = 160
|Jul rain mm = 293
|Aug rain mm = 275
|Sep rain mm = 112
|Oct rain mm = 60
|Nov rain mm = 12
|Dec rain mm = 4
|year rain mm = 
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 2
|Apr rain days = 5
|May rain days = 12
|Jun rain days = 13
|Jul rain days = 20
|Aug rain days = 21
|Sep rain days = 19
|Oct rain days = 15
|Nov rain days = 3
|Dec rain days = 0
|year rain days = 
|Jan humidity = 44
|Feb humidity = 40
|Mar humidity = 39
|Apr humidity = 39
|May humidity = 52
|Jun humidity = 69
|Jul humidity = 79
|Aug humidity = 79
|Sep humidity = 72
|Oct humidity = 65
|Nov humidity = 56
|Dec humidity = 48
|year humidity = 57
|Jan sun = 291.4
|Feb sun = 243.0
|Mar sun = 229.4
|Apr sun = 249.0
|May sun = 238.7
|Jun sun = 183.0
|Jul sun = 114.7
|Aug sun = 139.5
|Sep sun = 204.0
|Oct sun = 229.4
|Nov sun = 240.0
|Dec sun = 279.0
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 9.4
|Febd sun = 8.6
|Mard sun = 7.4
|Aprd sun = 8.3
|Mayd sun = 7.7
|Jund sun = 6.1
|Juld sun = 3.7
|Augd sun = 4.5
|Sepd sun = 6.8
|Octd sun = 7.4
|Novd sun = 8.0
|Decd sun = 9.0
|yeard sun = 7.2
| source 1 = National Meteorology Agency (average high and low)<ref name=NMA>{{cite web
| url = http://ethiomet.gov.et/climates/climate_of_city/2703/Gondar
| title = Climate of City: Gondar
| publisher= National Meteorology Agency
| access-date = 19 June 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[World Meteorological Organisation]] (rainfall 1981–2010)<ref name="WMO">{{Cite web |title=World Weather Information Service – Gondar |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/060/c01921.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023020441/http://worldweather.wmo.int/060/c01921.htm |archive-date=23 October 2013 |access-date=31 March 2019 |publisher=World Meteorological Organisation |df=dmy-all}}</ref>[[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (mean temperatures 1954–1990, humidity 1957–1982, and sun 1937–1990)<ref name="DWD">{{Cite web |title=Klimatafel von Gondar (Gonder), Provinz Gondar / Äthiopien |url=https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_633310_kt.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331144332/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_633310_kt.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2019 |access-date=31 March 2019 |website=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de}}</ref> Meteo Climat (extremes 1924–present)<ref name="meteoclimat">{{Cite web |title=Station Gondar |url=http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1838 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224122006/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1838 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |access-date=31 March 2019 |publisher=Météo Climat |language=fr}}</ref>
}}

==Sister cities==
As designated by [[Sister Cities International]], Gondar is a [[Town twinning|sister city]] with:

* {{flagicon|United States}} [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]], [[Oregon]], [[United States]]
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Florence]], [[Italy]]
* {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Rishon LeZion]], [[Israel]]

== Notable people ==

*[[Abby Lakew]]
*[[Aster Aweke]]: singer
*[[Eténèsh Wassié]]: singer and [[Azmari]]
*[[Haile Gerima]]
*[[Yityish Titi Aynaw]]: Miss Israel 2013
*[[Fasil Demoz]]: singer
*[[Liliana Mele]]: actress
*[[Fano Mesafint: Fano Dereje: Fano Demeke: Fano Agaye: Fano Selomon: Fano Arega: Fano Mesay]]: freedom fighters
*[[Tamagn Beyene]]: humanitarian and freedom fighter

== See also ==
{{portal|Africa}}
* [[List of Gondarine churches]]
* [[Gultosh]] – a deserted village near Gondar
* [[Azezo]] – a nearby village south of Gondar

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Gondar}}
{{commons}}
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Gondar |volume=11 |short=x}}
* [http://www.ethiopiantreasures.toucansurf.com/pages/gonder.htm Ethiopian Treasures – Fasilados Castle, Felasha Village – Gonder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181635/http://www.ethiopiantreasures.toucansurf.com/pages/gonder.htm |date=3 March 2016 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090304023551/http://www.impetusinmundum.de/documentation/Album.html?Bildliste=590517cf-5a0518f4&Region=Gonder Pictures from Gonder]

{{Cities of Ethiopia}}
{{Districts of the Amhara Region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gondar| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Amhara Region]]
[[Category:Former national capitals]]
[[Category:Historic Jewish communities in Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1630s]]
[[Category:17th-century establishments in Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Ethiopia]]