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Ethiopia in the 14th and 15th Century

The Christian Solomonic Dynasty ruled in the highlands of modern day Ethiopia and Eritrea. To the east and south were the Muslim kingdoms of Ifat and Adal.

The Solomonic Empire

By the 14th century Solomonic Kings had been ruling for thirty years, having taken over from the previous Zagwe Dynasty in 1270. The Solomonic Kings claimed their heritage to the union of the Biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and to the Axumite kings. The primary literature documenting this newly restored line is the Kebra Nagast. This heritage linked the crown and the church, which both saw growth during this period. The Solomonic Empire was an outpost of Christianity, neighbored by Muslim nations which it frequently fought with. Solomonic kings of this era did not maintain a capital, but rather moved the court from place to place. The primary ruling of day to day life was determined by local leaders.

List of Emperors of the Solomonic Dynasty in the 14th and 15th Century

• Wedem Arad (1299-1314)
• Amda Seyon I (1314-1344)
• Newaya Krestos (1344-1372)
• Newaya Maryam (1372-1382)
• Dawit I (1382-1413)
• Tewodros I (1413-1414)
• Yeshaq I (1414-1429)
• Andreyas (1429-1430)
• Takla Maryam (1430-1433)
• Sarwe Iyasus (1433-1433)
• Amda Iyasus (1433-1434)
• Zara Yacob (1434-1468)
• Baeda Maryam I (1468-1478)
• Eskender (1478-1494)
• Amda Sayon II (1494-1494)
• Na'od (1494-1508)

Amda Seyon

Amda Seyon who reigned from 1314 to 1344. His reign began a with tension between church and crown, as he seduced his father's concubine and two sisters. This action cause a monk, Honorius, to openly rebuke him. In retaliation to the rebuke, Amda punished and banished many of the local monks. Throughout the his reign Amda conducted many wars against Ethiopia's Muslim neighbors, primarily the kningdoms of Ifat and Adal. His conquests put pressure on Egypt to send a new abun, which for many years had been denied to the Ethiopian Church. His conquests also brought in many new territories, which rebelled on many different occasions.

Zara Yacob

Zara Yacob, who reigned from 1434 to 1468, was a reformer of the Church, an organizer of the government and a warrior. His education before ascending to the throne was that of a Eritrean monastery. During his reign he did much to propagate the Church throughout his territories, including bringing in two co-abuns and placing laws about religious matter, with strict consequences. His coronation was held in Axum, reminiscent of the Axumite kings and his heritage. Zara Yacob intended to unite his kingdom with Christianity, as a main line of defense against it's Muslim and pagan neighbors. During his reign he sent a delegation to Europe to reunite the Ethiopian Church with it's Roman counterpart, as well as to develop diplomatic connections. During his reign a number of religious text were written and translated, including the Berhan. Zara Yacob also reorganized the government, reallocating land and fixing the tribute. During this time there was continued warring with the Muslim kingdoms.

Christianity in Solomonid Ethiopia

Solomonid rule was based on a biblical heritage and as such the kings and the country maintained Christianity as the state religion. The branch of Christianity that was followed during the 14th and 15th century was primarily Coptic Christianity, with the abuna's, or bishops, coming from Egypt. In the 14th century there was a break-off from the traditional Coptic Church in the form of Sabbatarians, who believed that they had purified their Christianity. These people would later be known as the Beta Israel, following a distinct pre-Talmudic faith.