Shewa (Ge'ez ሽዋ šawā, modern šewā also spelled Shoa) is a
historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom
within the Ethiopian Empire. The Ethiopian modern capital Addis
Ababa is located at its center. The nucleus of Shewa is part of
the mountainous plateau in what is currently the central area of
Ethiopia, but prior to the Zemene Mesafint and after the loss of
Bale with the invasion of Ahmed Al-Ghazi, Shewa was part of
Ethiopia's southeasternmost frontier. Shewa was as defensible as
any highland, and its government traced an administrative
continuity with this earlier period despite the loss of
neighboring lands to the Ethiopian Empire. At times, it was a
safe haven; at other times, it was isolated from the rest of
Ethiopia by hostile peoples. The towns of Debre Berhan,
Antsokia, Ankober, Entoto and, after Shewa became a province of
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa have all served as the capital of Shewa at
various times. Most of northern Shewa, made up of the districts
of Menz, Tegulet, Yifat, Menjar, Bu