EARLY LIFE OF ABRAHAM

Abraham Petrovich Hannibal (the Russian way) or some call Ibrahim Petrovich Gannibal is somewhat of an enigma. There is not much information on him in today's literature, but where there is mention of Pushkin and Peter the Great, Abraham's name is also brought up. His true life starts with his birth in 1698. He was born in what was described as “the Eritrean highland, north of the Mareb River in a town called Logon.” Abraham was the son of a wealthy local prince of the Eritrean land. His father had many wives and nineteen children.

The history of Eritrea gives reason for the abduction of Abraham. During the 16th century the country of Eritrea became a noticeable target for invasion. Outside nations wanted to spread their colonies over the land of Eritrea. The interest started when Portugal visited Abyssinia. A Portuguese-Abyssinian alliance was made militarily and politically. Since Portugal had become part of Ethiopian affairs, the Turks wanted also a piece of the foreign lands. The Turks soon took and ruled over most of the areas around Eritrea. The Turks made an alliance with the Na’ibs of Sudan. They both wanted to dominate the costal areas, which contained Eritrea. During one of their missions to obtain the costal areas, the land of Abraham’s father was invaded. When the Turks invaded his lands, a battle broke out. The Turks won the battle and kidnapped Abraham from his father. One of Abraham’s sister tried saving him, but drowned in the attempt. After being captured, he was taken to Constantinople. He was turned into a serf of the Sultan of Constantinople.

Abraham was kept prisoner in Constantinople for about a year. Peter the Great, the czar of Russia at that time, began looking for “clever little African slaves.” When the Sultan heard of Peters request, he soon traded Abraham.