Tigray Region
Tigray is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, the Afar Region to the east, and the Amhara Region to the south and southwest. Besides Mekelle, major cities include Adigrat, Aksum, Shire, Humera, Adwa, Alamata, Wukro, Maychew, Sheraro, Abiy Adi, Korem, Qwiha, Hawzen, Mekoni and Zalambessa. There is also the historically significant town of Yeha.
Tigray Province
Temporarily, the northern provinces were unified under one to two rulers, since at least the 14th century, mainly the "təgre mäkännən", usually seated in the Hawzen or Adwa area (i.e. Tigray proper), and, further north, the bahər nägash, who controlled the trade routes to the Red Sea. Only rarely all territories were unified in one hand; examples being "dejazmach" Kəflä Wahəd in the late 16th century, the 17th century ruler "dejazmach" Gäbrä Krəstos of Hamasen, in the 18th century "dejazmach" Amdä Haymanot, succeeded by the much more powerful "ras" Mikael Səhul, and, finally, in the 19th century "atse" Yohannes IV and his family members.