Ethiopian Amharic shield

[Changdao]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Another highly prestigious military figure below the Dejazmach was the so-called Fitawrari, who was also required to have a sturdy round shield decorated with metal (perhaps no longer with silver?; but the decoration on his shield was reportedly considered a necessity).

A Fitawrari was the "commander of the advance guard", and this title functioned sort of in parallel with the others. A Fitawrari commanded a group of picked men from all the contingents of the army called werari that was deployed half a day's march before the main force as a scouting force and also intending to draw out the enemy to a disadvantageous position. Then in battle they had a place of honour, and in big armies could even have their own subwings containing ras and dejazmacht. Neguse Nagast often gave this position in their own armies to the highest ranking and/or most trusted Ras or Dejazmach

A Fitawrari could be concurrently a Dejazmach or Ras, but title-holders of dejazmach degree were allowed to appoint a Fitawrari at will. So the actual rank of a Fitawrari would change a lot between regional, royal or imperial armies.