Hintalo

Hintalo (), also called Antalo, was Administrative Center of Enderta’s historical wereda of Gabat Melash, is a small town located in the Debub Misraqawi (Southeastern) Zone of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It lies on a plateau with an elevation variously reported as 2050 to 2102 meters above sea level. It lies some 20 miles south of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. The urge to control this fortified mountainous place has provoked frequent engagements among various Tigrayan chiefs since the 17th century. Hintalo flourished as a town in the last quarter of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century.

== History == === Origins === Historically, Hintalo was the capital city of Enderta Province. Located on a high plateau beneath the south face of Amba Aradam, which made the town a natural fortress. With the advent of ras Wolde Selassie of Enderta to power as Governor of all Tigray, Hintalo became the political center of Tigray. Earlier, it was the residence and a safe hideout of his father dejazmach Kafle Iyasus, who once rose up to challenge the authority of ras Mikael Sehul of Tigray. Furthermore, one of the most insecure Gondarine "shadow emperors", atse Tekle Giyorgis once took asylum in the same area. It was from Hintalo that ras Wolde Selassie received annual taxes, reviewed troops and declared administrative re-organizations. His ambition to overthrow the Yejju dynasty induced him to undertake the necessary preparation from Hintalo.