Darge Sahle Selassie (circa 1825–1830[note 1] – 23 March 1900), Horse name Abba Gersa, was a 19th-century Ethiopian nobleman , provincial governor, general and a trusted councillor of his nephew Emperor Menelik II.

[4] Darge was born and brought up in Ankober, and just like his half brothers received ecclesiastical education in his childhood in one of the monastic schools in northeastern Shewa, and may have shaped his interest in theological discussions and reading the scriptures later in life.

They marched into Amhara areas and destroyed a number of sites among which was Sala-Dengay[note 3] Darge and Sayfu started their military campaign against the Oromos in Selale governate.

[2] During Emperor Tewodros II advances to reconquer Shewa into the Ethiopian Empire in 1855, the demoralized and ailing king Haile Melekot entrusted his brother Darge to safeguard Menelik (then called Sahle Maryam) in the event of a restoration of the kingdom.

In a gracious and conciliatory gesture Tewodros II visited Haile Melekot's funeral which left Darge with an impression; and after learning that the Emperor had shown clemency towards Shewan soldiers and officials who submitted, and that he had announced publicly that he would treat Menelik as a son.

[5][6] Darge and his nephew Menelik II were the chief Shewan prisoners taken with the Emperor to Gondar, and later to the mountain citadel at Magdala (the modern Amba Mariam).

[citation needed] Darge was part of the Shewan party that helped Menelik escape from Magdala in order to return to Shewa and reclaim his throne, but he himself remained behind.

[8] The conquest was infamous for its slaughter of the Arsi Oromo who lived there, leading Baxter to describe him as "the Butcher Cumberland of the Arussi Highlands... whose name is still reviled there.

As a result, Darge was universally respected by all the various feudal princelings and claimants in Ethiopia, and was held in very high regard by Emperor Yohannes in particular.