Atlas of Battles

battle, early modern

Battle of Baçente

Battle of Baçente was a battle fought in 1542 at Tigray Province, in what is now Ethiopia. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Tigray Province. It was part of the Ethiopian–Adal War, which ran from 1529 to 1543. The recorded result: Portuguese victory. Recorded strength: 400 Portuguese musketeers against “1,500” archers and "buckler men".

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Fought1542
WhereTigray Province, Ethiopia14.000N, 39.000E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomePortuguese victory
BelligerentsPortuguese EmpireagainstAdal Sultanate
Part ofEthiopian–Adal War1529 to 1543

Where it sits in the Ethiopian–Adal War

Battle of Badeqe, 1528Battle of Shimbra Kure, 1529Battle of Antukyah, 1531Battle of Amba Sel, 1531Battle of Massawa, 1541Battle of Sahart, 1541Battle of Baçente, 1542Battle of Jarte, 1542Battle of the Hill of the Jews, 1542Battle of Wayna Daga, 154315281543Battle of Baçente, 1542
10 placed engagements of the Ethiopian–Adal War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1542 (year precision)
PlaceTigray Province, Ethiopia
14.000N, 39.000E
KindBattle, early modern
Strength400 Portuguese musketeers“1,500” archers and "buckler men"
Casualties and losses8 killed, "several" woundedHeavy casualties, "reportedly all killed"; Nine horses and multiple mules
Commanders
  • Cristóvão da Gama
Battle of BaçenteBattle of BaçenteBattle of AdwaBattle of Mek'eleBattle of Amba AradamBattle of HalaiBattle of Amba AlagiBattle of Mek'eleBattle of Amba AradamBattle of HalaiBattle of Amba AlagiMendeferaAdigratAksum100 km14.000N, 39.000E
Placed at Tigray Province; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1542

Battle of Baçente is one of 1,470 engagements of the 16th century in the atlas and one of 62 in present-day Ethiopia.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q279250, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Baçente, revision 1370433688, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.