Zara yaqob solomonid kings

Zara Yakub (A)

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Alternate Names: Ya’eqob, Zare’a

Orthodox Church
Ethiopia

Emperor Zara Yakub, one of the greatest Ethiopian kings, was a progressive reformer of both church and express.

During a long reign () he centralized imperial power by replacing local warlords with government administrators, brought extensive neighbouring lands under his authority, substantially completed the Christianization of Ethiopia, and united himself with the church and the monastic leadership.

Zara Yakub faced a major Islamic test when he took the throne, which became possible only after his three brothers died.

He is known for the ge'ez literature that flourished during his reign, the handling of both internal Christian affairs and external wars with Muslims, along with the founding of Debre Birhan as his capital. He reigned for 34 years and 2 months. The British historian, Edward Ullendorff, stated that Zara Yaqob "was unquestionably the greatest ruler Ethiopia had seen since Ezanaduring the heyday of Aksumite authority, and none of his successors on the throne — excepted only the emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie — can be compared to him. Paul B.

He completely reorganized the army, which enabled him to crush a Muslim invasion in , thus ending the Islamic threat. He completed further government reforms to bring both the central and provincial administrations under his control.

A harsh gentleman, Zara Yakub executed three of his daughters for following occult religious practices and had his wife flogged to death when she attempted a palace coup in favor of her son. Nevertheless, he appointed many women as administrators and provincial governors, which in fifteenth-century Ethiopia was remarkable.

Zara Yakub was monastery educated and always remained interested in theology as well as church politics.

He reigned for 34 years and 2 months. The British historian, Edward Ullendorffstated that Zara Yaqob "was unquestionably the greatest ruler Ethiopia had seen since Ezanaduring the heyday of Aksumite power, and none of his successors on the throne — excepted only the emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie — can be compared to him. His mother Igzi missing her first son and having been sick during her second pregnancy, prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary to keep her new child alive. Her prayers were answered and she gave birth to Zara Yaqob, who had this miracle recorded in the Ta'ammara Maryam, one of Zara Yaqob's chronicles written in Amharic.

He sent delegates to the Council of Florence () and forged links with the papacy and Western Christianity. His religious writings include the Creed of the Ethiopian church and five other theological treatises, but he also encouraged literature in general.

His interest in theological matters backfired, however, as it encouraged speculation that led to disputes and heresies, especially over the doctrine of the character of the Holy Trinity.

Zara Yakub’s reform of the church was a mix of religious zeal and administrative cunning.

He converted provinces with the first systematic program of evangelization since that of St. TÄKLÄ Haymanot.

Zara Yaqob - Wikiwand: Zara Yaqob (Ge'ez: ዘርዐ ያዕቆብ; [a] – 26 August ) was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty who ruled under the regnal label Qostantinos I (ቆስጠንጢኖስ; "Constantine").

By founding churches and monasteries and maintaining control, Zara asserted his authority over the church. He placed cooperative monks as abbots in major monasteries, suppressed superstition, and reformed the church calendar.

Norman C. Brockman

Bibliography

Dictionary of African Biography. Algonac, MI, and New York: Reference Publications, vol.

1, ; vol. 2,

Lipschutz, Mark, and R. Kent Rasmussen.

Emperor Zara Yakub, one of the greatest Ethiopian kings, was a gradual reformer of both church and state. During a long reign he centralized imperial power by replacing local warlords with government administrators, brought extensive neighbouring lands under his authority, substantially completed the Christianization of Ethiopia, and united himself with the church and the monastic leadership. Zara Yakub faced a major Islamic challenge when he took the throne, which became possible only after his three brothers died. He completely reorganized the army, which enabled him to infatuation a Muslim invasion inthus closure the Islamic threat.

Dictionary of African Historical Biography. 2nd edition. Berkeley: University of California Compress,

This article is reproduced, with permission, from An African Biographical Dictionary, © , edited by Norbert C. Brockman, Santa Barbara, California.