We looked in our last article, dear Reader, at the Royal Chronicle of Emperor Zara Yaqob of Ethiopia (1434-1468), who was one of the country's most important and, as we saw, fearful rulers of the country. We continue today by examining what his chronicle has to say about state-building, the erection of churches, the crushing of rebellions, the establishing of religious orthodoxy - and the founding of a new capital - Debra Birhan.
After describing the monarch’s coronation at Aksum (which we saw last week) the chronicler records that Zara Yaqob also founded churches and regulated religious affairs in other provinces, and continues:
“Arriving in the land of Sahay in Amhara, he went up a high and
beautiful mountain, the site of which he found pleasing; at the top of this mountain and facing east he found a wall which had been raised by his father, King Dawit, with the intention of erecting a shrine. His father, however, had not had the time to complete the work, in the same way that the ancient King David, who planned to build a temple to the Lord, could not accomplish his task, which was completed by his son Solomon. Our King Zara Yaqob fulfilled his father’s intention by building a shrine to God on the west of the mountain. Everyone, rich and poor alike and even the chiefs, were ordered to carry the stones with the result that this edifice was speedily erected. They embellished this locality, which underwent a great transformation; two churches were built there, one called Makana Gol and the other Debre Negwadgwad. The King attached to them a certain number of priests and canons to whom he gave grants of land. He also founded a monastery and placed in it monks from Debre Libanos, whom he endowed in a similar manner”.
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Later, in 1441, the seventh year of his reign, the Zara Yaqob visited Tegulet where he celebrated the festival of Timkat, or the Epiphany. Describing this event the chronicle observes:
“While he was there he received a message from the patriarch, Abba Yohannes, informing him that the Muslims [of Egypt]had destroyed the monastery of Metmaq in Egypt. They had done this because they were enraged that our Lady Mary had appeared in that locality and because a large number of Muslims who had witnessed this miracle had been converted to the faith of the Christians.
“When he received this message, our King Zara Yaqob burst into tears, and was profoundly stricken, as were all his court and the pilgrims who had formerly made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Nevertheless, to console himself and to restore his courage and that of his people, he said to them: ‘Do not weep, O Christian people; do not be sad that the monastery of Metmaq in Egypt has been destroyed. We will build a church here to our Holy Virgin Mary and will call it Debre Metmaq.’
“Our King at once commanded the construction of a church at that place and gragnted it land in the district of Tagulat.... In accordance with his declaration and oath he called it Debre Metmaq”.
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While still in the area of Debre Metmaq, Zara Yaqob learnt of a rebellion to the east: a certain Arwe Badlay of Dawaro was embarking on a war against him.
The Emperor at once marched forth with a small force to crush his enemies. The chronicle says:
‘When our King Zara Yaqob came upon Arwe Badlay and his
innumerable army, he was dismayed by it; he invoked God, girded
his loins with the power of the Holy Spirit, and got ready to do battle with his small force. The Aqabe Sa’at, Amda Seyon, made the following remark to him: ‘Are you not too eager, O my master, to do battle without waiting for your army to come to your aid? You have only weak forces here; you are not prepared and have not put on your armour nor placed your army in battle array.’
“Our King took up the conversation and replied, ‘Know you not the words of the prophet David, “There is no King saved by the multitude of an host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety.” (Psalm XXXIII, 16-17)? As for myself, I have put my confidence in the Lord. He will come to my aid in His mercy.’”
Zara Yaqob thereupon ordered his men to raise the royal umbrellas, blow the trumpets and beat the drums; at the same time he commanded the standard-bearers to begin the advance on the enemy. “Everyone,”. we are told, Arwe Badlay in particular was ‘’perplexed and seized with fear” as he had been led to believe that the attacking force was commanded not by the Emperor but by a minor chief. Arwe Badlay ... said to his people, ‘’Did you not tell me that it was not the King who was marching against us but his chief Hasaba Wasan, while it is in fact the King himself who is at the head of his troops’
“While they were thus discussing, our King Zara Yaqob cut his way through the army of the unbelievers, routing one of its wings and coming face to face with Arwe Badlay. A soldier then threw a dart in the latter’s face which Arwe Badlay broke with his hand; he then threw himself at the King in order to seize him, but his rashness was his undoing. God made him fall by the King’s hand. The King plunged his lance into his neck and cut his throat. All those who were around the King rejoiced at this but he himself gave praise to the Trinity”.
Arwe Badlay’s army, according to the chronicle, then took flight, and that of Zara Yaqob “pursued them killing them with their swords and lances or hurling them down precipices. The number of those killed was formidable; not a soldier survived out of the army of the enemy.
War, dear Reader, is an unpleasant thing. *** Zara Yaqob then returned to his capital in Shoa; and the chronicle continues;
“Not long afterwards a wonderful light appeared in the sky. A light was seen in the sky and remained visible in all the land for several days. This caused our King to take a fancy to this locality, which he named Debre Birhan [i.e. Place of Light’]. He built there a magnificent church which he dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ.... The light appeared for a second time when the Mass was being said, and for a third time during the night when the choristers were singing in the church the hymn, ‘God reigns.’’’
What was all that?, you may ask, dear Reader,
It was the appearance of what scientists know as Halley’s Comet which was seen in the year 1453!
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Throughout this period Zara Yaqob continued to occupy himself with affairs of state. As the chronicle notes:
‘During his stay at Debre Birhan, our King arranged all the institutions of his kingdom: it was then that men were put to death and that others were condemned to exile for crimes against God or His anointed; it was then too that those who carried out the will of God and obeyed the King were rewarded and heaped with honours”
The fortunate ones.
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