1. Zara Yaqob was successful in persuading two recently-arrived Egyptian Abuna, Mikael and Gabriel, into accepting a compromise aimed at restoring harmony with the House of Ewostatewos, as the followers of Ewostatewos were known.
15 Facts About Zara Yaqob
1. 2.
Zara Yaqob was later slain by the military contingent "Adal Mabrak," who had been in pursuit.
3.
Zara Yaqob invaded Hadiya after they failed to pay the annual tribute exacted upon them by the Ethiopian Empire, and married its princess Eleni, who was baptized before their marriage.
4.
Zara Yaqob then sent a letter of strong protest to the Egyptian Sultan, Sayf ad-Din Jaqmaq.
5.
Zara Yaqob reminded Jaqmaq that he had Muslim subjects whom he treated fairly, and warned that he had the power to divert the Nile, but refrained from doing so for the human suffering it would cause.
6.
The Sultan would then encourage the Adal Sultanate to invade the province of Dawaro to distract the Emperor, but Zara Yaqob managed to defeat Badlay ad-Din, the Sultan of Adal at the Battle of Gomit in 1445, which consolidated his hold over the Sidamo kingdoms in the south, as well as the weak Muslim kingdoms beyond the Awash River.
7.
Zara Yaqob then established himself at Hamassien and Serae to strengthen the imperial presence in the area, he settled a group of warriors from Shewa in Hamassien as military settlers.
8.
Zara Yaqob ordered a church built on the site, and later constructed an extensive palace nearby, and a second church, dedicated to Saint Cyriacus.
9.
Zara Yaqob later returned to his native village of Telq in the province of Fatager and built a church dedicated to Saint Michael.
10.
Zara Yaqob then built two more churches, Martula Mikael and 'Asada Mikael, before returning to Debre Berhan.
11.
Zara Yaqob was convinced of a plot against him in 1453, which led to more brutal actions.
12.
Zara Yaqob increasingly became convinced that his wife and children were plotting against him, and had several of them beaten.
13.
Zara Yaqob sent delegates to the Council of Florence in 1441, and established ties with the Holy See and Western Christianity.
14.
Zara Yaqob sent a diplomatic mission to Europe, asking for artisans.
15.
Zara Yaqob lamented the earlier loss of "thirteen men, masters in different arts," who had died on their journey after being dispatched at the request of Zara Yaqob's predecessor Yeshaq in 1427.