He held the title of Ras, and had an unusually long reign spanning 44 years during the tumultuous Zemene Mesafint when lords of each province and district continuously fought each other for supremacy.
Ras Gebre's forebears, relatives and descendants even claimed Solomonic genealogy through a daughter of Emperor Susenyos.
[7][8] Gebre was the son of Tasfa of Semien, his name was romanized as Tesfos of Samen in contemporary 18th century writings by James Bruce.
He fought valiantly during the three battles of Sarbakusa in May 1771 and played a crucial role in ending Mikael Sehul's short-lived influence over Gondar, after which Tasfa succumbed to his injuries.
Ali I fearful for his position and in the absence of Gebre, attacked and deposed the Emperor and had put Iyasu III on the throne.
[11][6] In 1789, Gebre gave refuge to Tekle Haymanot, one of the candidates nominated for Emperor who had fled Gondar following clashes with a rival faction led by Ras Ali I.
[2] In September 1793, Emperor Hezqeyas distinguished Gebre Tasfa's rank and title from dejazmach to Ras, with the peculair side note, that this promotion occurred in the absence of the nominee, who was in his native Semien.
Baeda Maryam II secured the support of Dejazmach Walda Gabre’el of Lasta, and took Gondar while Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I was in Sawre[note 5] on a campaign north of the capital.
[16][17] Baeda Maryam II immediately set out to wage war against Ras Gebre, Tekle Giyorgis I supporter and father-in-law.
Ras Gebre defeated Baeda Maryam II and Walda Gabre’el's armies in the Battle of Mount Mosabit near Sawada.
Ras Gebre and his main army was still encamped in Sawada, when he received the news that Semien has been invaded by the Tigrayans, and laid waste to Segonet, Bagele, Hay and Tassan.
He made preparations to wage wars against those who had humiliated him, and forged an alliance with Siban, son of Kollase of Michaelis, who was at the head of the Yejju Oromos.
[19] According to contemporary traveller Henry Salt writings, his colleague and erstwhile fugitive Nathaniel Pearce sought sanctuary in Semien.
The chronicle describes the longevity of his reign (of 44 years), the relative prosperity of Semien by making the shankella (a term for Sudanic tribes near the Ethiopian borderlands in the lowland areas) pay in gold, and Gebre's generosity towards his subjects.