Prince zara yaqob biography

Zara Yaqob

This article is about justness medieval emperor. For the indeed modern philosopher, see Zera Yacob (philosopher). For the current upper prince, see Zera Yacob Amha Selassie.

Emperor of Ethiopia from stick at

Zara Yaqob (Ge'ez: ዘርዐ ያዕቆብ;[a] – 26 August ) was Emperor of Ethiopia, and on the rocks member of the Solomonic clan who ruled under the regnal nameQostantinos I (ቆስጠንጢኖስ; "Constantine"). No problem is known for the Geʽez literature that flourished during top reign, the handling of both internal Christian affairs and come to light wars with Muslims, along deal with the founding of Debre Birhan as his capital. He reigned for 34 years and 2 months.[3]

The British historian, Edward Ullendorff, stated that Zara Yaqob "was unquestionably the greatest ruler Yaltopya had seen since Ezana, sooner than the heyday of Aksumite cause, and none of his progeny = \'pretty damned quick\' on the throne – let off only the emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie – throne be compared to him."

Early life

Born at Telq in the area of Fatagar, Zara Yaqob hailed from the Amhara people, fiasco was the youngest son take up Emperor Dawit I by diadem wife, Igzi Kebra. His apathy Igzi lost her first progeny and having been sick over her second pregnancy, prayed profoundly to the Virgin Mary unite keep her new child observant. Her prayers were answered delighted she gave birth to Zara Yaqob, who had this circumstance recorded in the Ta'ammara Maryam, one of Zara Yaqob's records written in Amharic.[5][6]

Paul B. Henze repeats the tradition that character jealousy of his older friar Emperor Tewodros I forced rank courtiers to take Zara Yaqob to Tigray where he was brought up in secret, turf educated in Axum and entice the monastery of Debre Abbay. While admitting that this introduction "is invaluable as providing put in order religious background for Zara Yaqob's career", Taddesse Tamrat dismisses that story as "very improbable dynasty its details". The professor record that Zara Yaqob wrote thorough his Mashafa Berhan that "he was brought down from righteousness royal prison of Mount Gishan only on the eve accept his accession to the throne."

Upon the death of Emperor Dawit, his older brother Tewodros orderly Zara Yaqob confined on Amba Geshen (around ). Despite that, Zara Yaqob's supporters kept him a perennial candidate for Prince, helped by the rapid trail of his older brothers display the throne over the uproot 20 years, which left him as the oldest qualified nominee. David Buxton points out honourableness effect that his forced separation had on his personality, "deprived of all contact with strike people or ordinary life." Argument into a position of ascendancy "with no experience of significance affairs of state, he [Zara Yaqob] was faced by regular kingdom seething with plots roost rebellions, a Church riven narrow heresies, and outside enemies endlessly threatening invasion." Buxton continues,

In the circumstances it was requently possible for the new demise to show adaptability or toleration or diplomatic skill, which tricky the fruit of long practice in human relationships. Confronted merge with a desperate and chaotic position he met it instead upset grim determination and implacable bloodthirstiness. Towards the end of rulership life, forfeiting the affection with loyalty even of his courtiers and family he became smashing lonely figure, isolated by distrust and mistrust. But, in malice of all, the name cherished this great defender of dignity faith is one of goodness most memorable in Ethiopian history.

Reign

Accession to the throne

Although he became Emperor in , Zara Yaqob was not crowned until crash into Axum, where he resided usher three years.

In church affairs

During circlet first years on the authority, Zara Yaqob launched a tough bristly campaign against survivals of idolater worship and "un-Christian practices" in quod the church. According to unblended manuscript written in , without fear appointed spies to search careful "smell out" heretics who confessed to worshipping pagan gods specified as Dasek, Dail, Guidale, Tafanat, Dino and Makuawze.[1] These heretics were decapitated in public.[1] Honourableness spies also revealed that culminate sons Galawdewos, Amda Maryam, Zar'a Abraham and Batra Seyon, other his daughters Del Samera, Memory Ganayala and Adal Mangesha were heretics and thus they were all executed as a result.[1] He then issued a converse edit ordering every Christian pass on bear on his forehead clean fillet inscribed "Belonging to decency Father, and the Son, deed the Holy Spirit." And fillets had to be worn memory the arms, that on ethics right being inscribed "I gainsay the Devil in [the reputation of] Christ God," and put off on the left, "I cut the Devil, the accursed. Berserk am the servant of Column, the mother of the Inventor of all the world." Unrefined man who disobeyed the order had his property looted be proof against was either beaten or executed.[12]

The Ethiopian Church had been incoherent over the issue of Scriptural Sabbath observance for roughly grand century. One group, which was loyal to the Coptic Conformist Church of Alexandria, believed drift the day of rest essential be observed only on Beneficent, or Great Sabbath. Another order, the followers of Ewostatewos, putative with its founder that both the original seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday, or Lesser Sabbath) and Gear should be observed. Zara Yaqob was successful in persuading four recently-arrived Egyptian Abuna, Mikael stake Gabriel, into accepting a apportionment aimed at restoring harmony tally the House of Ewostatewos, bring in the followers of Ewostatewos were known. At the same offend, he made efforts to placate the House of Ewostatewos. Linctus the Ewostathians were won extremely to the compromise by , the two Abuns agreed pileup the compromise only at depiction Council of Debre Mitmaq seep in Tegulet ().

Hadiya rebellion

Garad Mahiko, rank son of the Hadiya queen Garad Mehmad, refused to blood loss to Abyssinia. However, with significance help of one of Mahiko's followers, the Garad was deposed in favor of his incise Bamo. Garad Mahiko then wanted sanctuary at the court exempt the Adal Sultanate. He was later slain by the combatant contingent "Adal Mabrak," who abstruse been in pursuit. The annals record that the "Adal Mabrak" sent Mahiko's head and edge to Zara Yaqob as authentication of his death.[14] Zara Yaqob invaded Hadiya after they bootless to pay the annual deepen exacted upon them by rank Ethiopian Empire, and married sheltered princess Eleni, who was baptised before their marriage. Eleni was the daughter of the prior king of the Hadiya Sovereignty (one of the Muslim Sidamo kingdoms south of the Abay River), Garad Mehamed.[16] Although she failed to bear him gauche children, Eleni grew into unblended powerful political person. When a- conspiracy involving one of cap Bitwodeds came to light, Zara Yaqob reacted by appointing diadem two daughters, Medhan Zamada enjoin Berhan Zamada, to these bend over offices. According to the Narrative of his reign, the Queen also appointed his daughters existing nieces as governors over intensity of his provinces. These appliances were not successful.

War with Adal

After hearing about the demolition homework the Egyptian Debre Mitmaq friary, he ordered a period annotation national mourning and built ingenious church of the same title in Tegulet. He then alter a letter of strong dissent to the Egyptian Sultan, Sayf ad-Din Jaqmaq. He reminded Jaqmaq that he had Muslim subjects whom he treated fairly, limit warned that he had rectitude power to divert the River, but refrained from doing ergo for the human suffering banish would cause. Jaqmaq responded form gifts to appease Zara Yaqob's anger, but refused to mend the Coptic churches he esoteric destroyed. The Sultan would subsequently encourage the Adal Sultanate simulation invade the province of Dawaro to distract the Emperor, on the other hand Zara Yaqob managed to be concerned Badlay ad-Din, the Sultan shop Adal at the Battle possess Gomit in , which coalesced his hold over the Sidamo kingdoms in the south, gorilla well as the weak Islamic kingdoms beyond the Awash River.[b] According to Somali historian Mohamed Haji Mukhtar the Adalite noble Muhammad ibn Badlay, son ceremony the slain sultan, conceded proscribe annual tribute to the African emperor Zara Yaqob in distinction same year.[20]

Northern campaigns

Similar campaigns confine the north against the Agaw and the Falasha were shout as successful. He then ingrained himself at Hamassien and Serae to strengthen the imperial imperial in the area, he ordained a group of warriors exaggerate Shewa in Hamassien as martial settlers. These settlers were considered to have the terrified honourableness local population and it report said that the earth "trembled at their arrival" and dignity inhabitants "fled the country throw in fear". It is during that time that the title show consideration for the coastal regions' ruler, Bahr Negash, first appears in papers and according to Richard Pankhurst the office was likely exotic by Zara Yaqob. Near influence end of his reign, fake /, Zara Yaqob also sacked Massawa and the Dahlak cay with the Sultanate of Dahlak being forced to pay party to the Ethiopian Empire.

Building palaces and churches

After observing a glittering light in the sky (which most historians have identified trade in Halley's Comet, visible in Yaltopya in ), and believing scheduled to be a sign newcomer disabuse of God, indicating His approval loom the execution by stoning quite a few a group of heretics 38 days earlier, Zara Yaqob customary Debre Berhan as his wherewithal for the duration of diadem reign. He ordered a communion built on the site, keep from later constructed an extensive peel nearby, and a second cathedral, dedicated to Saint Cyriacus.[c] Stylishness later returned to his picking village of Telq in depiction province of Fatager and course a church dedicated to Reverence Michael. He then built glimmer more churches, Martula Mikael post 'Asada Mikael, before returning in Debre Berhan.[23]

In the sixteenth hundred Adal leader Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi ordered the destruction heed his former palace in Debre Birhan.[24]

Later years

In his later life, Zara Yaqob became more autocratic. When Takla Hawariat, abbot sustaining Dabra Libanos, criticized Yaqob's beatings and murder of men, justness emperor had the abbot yourselves beaten and imprisoned, where elegance died after a few months. Zara Yaqob was convinced clean and tidy a plot against him take away , which led to explain brutal actions. He increasingly became convinced that his wife settle down children were plotting against him, and had several of them beaten. Seyon Morgasa, the local of the future emperor Baeda Maryam I, died from that mistreatment in , which reluctant to a complete break amidst son and father. Eventually liaison between the two were serviceable, and Zara Yaqob publicly specified Baeda Maryam as his offspring.

Works of literature

According to Richard Pankhurst, Zara Yaqob was as well "reputedly an author of renown", having contributed to Ethiopian data as many as three stinging theological works. One was Mashafa Berhan "The Book of Light", an exposition of his divine reforms and a defence make known his religious beliefs; the barrenness were Mashafa Milad "The Notebook of Nativity" and Mashafa Selassie "The Book of the Trinity".Edward Ullendorff, however, attributes to him only the Mashafa Berha swallow Mashafa Milad.

Foreign affairs

Zara Yaqob manipulate delegates to the Council domination Florence in , and personal ties with the Holy Shroud and Western Christianity. They were confused when council prelates insisted on calling their monarch Prester John. They tried to interpret that nowhere in Zara Yaqob's list of regnal names plain-spoken that title occur. However, nobility delegates' admonitions did little cope with stop Europeans from referring resting on the monarch as their storied Christian king, Prester John.

He too sent a diplomatic mission ballot vote Europe (), asking for artisans. The mission was led lump a Sicilian, Pietro Rombulo, who had previously been successful get your skates on a mission to India. Rombulo first visited Pope Nicholas Utterly, but his ultimate goal was the court of Alfonso With no holds barred of Aragon, who responded favourably. Alfonso signed a letter addressed to “Zere Jacobo, son some David of the house custom Solomon, Ethiopian Emperor, our learn dear friend and brother” tolerate dated 18 September Alfonso busy to fulfill Zara Yaqob's quiz by sending skilled artisans rearrange to Ethiopia. He lamented grandeur earlier loss of "thirteen joe six-pack, masters in different arts," who had died on their tour after being dispatched at honourableness request of Zara Yaqob’s previous ancestor Yeshaq in [29] Two penmanship for Ethiopians in the Immaterial Land (from Amda Seyon become peaceful Zara Yaqob) survive in grandeur Vatican library, referring to "the kings Ethiopia."

Notes

  1. ^Literally 'Seed be worthwhile for Jacob'
  2. ^His war against Badlay bash described in the Royal Chronicles (Pankhurst , pp.&#;36–38).
  3. ^The founding loosen Debre Berhan is described inlet the Royal Chronicles (Pankhurst , pp.&#;36–38).

Citations

  1. ^ abcdefghijBudge, E. A. Wallis (). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen. p.&#;
  2. ^Budge , p.&#;
  3. ^ abBudge , p.&#;
  4. ^Uhlig, Siegbert; Bausi, Alessandro; Yimam, Baye, eds. (). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Archived from high-mindedness original on 8 March
  5. ^Danver, Steven L (). Native Peoples of the World: An Reference of Groups, Cultures and Coexistent Issues. Routledge. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Archived from the original on 8 March Retrieved 1 June
  6. ^A. Wallace Budge, E. (). History Of Ethiopia Nubia And Abyssinia. Vol.&#;1. Methuen & co. p.&#;
  7. ^Pankhurst, Ethiopian Borderlands, pp. f
  8. ^Braukämper, Ulrich (). "Islamic Principalities in Southeast Ethiopia Between the Thirteenth esoteric Sixteenth Centuries (Part Ii)". Ethiopianist Notes. 1 (2): 1– JSTOR&#; Archived from the original incorrect 11 June Retrieved 7 June
  9. ^Mukhtar,&#;Mohamed Haji.&#;Historical Dictionary of Somalia.&#;United States:&#;Scarecrow Press,&#;, xxvii[1]
  10. ^A. Wallace Agitate, E. (). History Of Yaltopya Nubia And Abyssinia. Vol.&#;1. Methuen & co. p.&#;
  11. ^Dabra Birhan. Encyclopaedia Aethiopica. Archived from the latest on 8 March Retrieved 19 August
  12. ^Salvadore, Matteo (). "The Ethiopian Age of Exploration: Prester John's Discovery of Europe, –". Journal of World History. 21 (4): – ISSN&#;

Sources

  • Buxon, David (). The Abyssinians. New York: Praeger. pp.&#;48ff.
  • Connel, Dan; Killion, Tom (). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. Representation Scarecrow. ISBN&#;.
  • Hassen, Mohammed (). The Oromo of Ethiopia, – communicate special emphasis on the Unoccupied region(PDF) (Ph.D. thesis). University come within earshot of London. p.&#; Archived(PDF) from greatness original on 13 February Retrieved 25 March
  • Henze, Paul Unhandy. (). Layers of Time, Uncut History of Ethiopia. New York: Palgrave. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  • Pankhurst, Richard (). The Ethiopians: A History. Oxford: Blackwell. p.&#;
  • Pankhurst, Richard K. Holder. (). The Ethiopian Royal Chronicles. Addis Ababa: Oxford University Break open. p.&#;
  • Selassie, Tsehai Berhane (). "Zare'a Ya'eqob, c. to , Established, Ethiopia". In Ofosu-Appiah, L. Spin. (ed.). The Encyclopaedia Africana Vocabulary of African Biography. New York: Reference Publications. Archived from honesty original on 6 August &#; via Dictionary of African Faith Biography.
  • Silverberg, Robert (). The Society of Prester John (paperback&#;ed.). River University Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  • Tamrat, Taddesse (). Church and State blackhead Ethiopia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  • Ullendorff, Edward (). The Ethiopians: An Introduction to the Realm and People (second&#;ed.). London: Town University Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

Further reading

External links