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Däbbäb Arýaya (Ge'ez: ዳባብ አርያ; died 24 September 1891) was an Ethiopian fitawrari and the second son of Ras Arýaya Íéllase Dímsu, making him a cousin of Emperor Yohannes IV. He is primarily known for his bitter rivalry with his brother-in-law Ras Alula Éngéda, his collaboration with the Egyptians and later the Italians, and his decisive role in the fall of Mereb Melash to Italy in 1889.

Däbbäb Arýaya held the rank of Fitawrari, a title he considered beneath his abilities and lineage. The Encyclopaedia Aethiopica describes him as having "an insatiable appetite for political success and an extremely turbulent nature."^[1] His sister Amläsu married Ras Alula Éngéda, the powerful governor of Mereb Melash appointed by Emperor Yohannes IV, a union that brought Däbbäb into direct conflict with the man he resented most.

Däbbäb's frustration stemmed from Emperor Yohannes IV's consistent favouring of Ras Alula, a man of peasant origin from Tembien who had no hereditary claim to govern the Eritrean highlands, over the established Tigrayan noble families. Däbbäb became a šäfta (outlaw) operating in the area between Massawa and Asmara, robbing Alula's caravans and disrupting trade between the two cities. During 1882–88 he fought against Alula several times whilst being armed by first the Egyptians and later the Italians.^[2]

After the Egyptian–Ethiopian War and the signing of the Hewett Treaty in 1884, Däbbäb increasingly aligned himself with Italian interests. In February 1888, following the Italian military buildup on the Eritrean coast after the Battle of Dogali, Däbbäb seized his opportunity. He persuaded Emperor Yohannes IV that Italian aggression in Mereb Melash was the direct result of Ras Alula's over-ambition. Yohannes, unable to assault the entrenched Italian positions, forced Alula to leave Asmara and accompany him southward to face the Mahdists at the Battle of Gallabat.^[3]

With Mereb Melash left undefended, Däbbäb entered Asmara in February 1889 and killed Alula's deputy, däggazmač Òaylä Íéllase. He then opened the gates of Asmara to the Italians. In August 1889, Italian forces helped themselves to the deserted city and proceeded uninterrupted to the Mareb river, occupying their new colony of Eritrea without firing a single shot. The colony was formally proclaimed on 1 January 1890.^[4]

Following the death of Emperor Yohannes IV at the Battle of Gallabat in March 1889, Däbbäb once again rebelled, this time against Menelik's chosen successor in Tigray, Mängäša Yohannés. Armed, financed and supplied with ammunition by Italy, he confronted Mängäša and Alula who had fortified Mäqälä. Rather than attacking, Däbbäb attempted to negotiate a truce while secretly planning to imprison both men. His plan was discovered, and he was incarcerated at Amba Sälama.

He was soon released, but rebelled again. On 24 September 1891 he fought Ras Alula at the battle of Abba Gärima, where he was defeated and killed.^[5]

The Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, authored by historian Zewde Gabre-Sellassie, identifies Däbbäb Arýaya as the single most important internal factor in the Italian occupation of Eritrea. By manipulating Yohannes IV into recalling Alula and then opening Asmara to Italian forces, he enabled Italy to occupy an entire colony without military resistance, fundamentally reshaping the Horn of Africa.

• Uhlig, Siegbert (2005). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: Volume 2: D-Ha. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 4.
• Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: Volume 1: A-C. Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 212–213.