Na'od(Ge'ez:ናዖድ) wasEmperor of Ethiopiafrom 1494 to 31 July 1507, and a member of theSolomonic dynasty.His regnal name wasAnbasa Bazar.[2]His reign was marked by internal tension between territories with the assistance of Queen Eleni. He began construct an extravagant church in Amhara province, calledMekane Selassie.The church was completed by his successorDawit IIin 1530.
| Na'od ዓፄ ናዖድ | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |
| Reign | 26 October 1494 – 31 July 1507 |
| Predecessor | Amda Seyon II |
| Successor | Dawit II |
| Issue | Lebna Dengel Victor[1] Jacob[1] Claudius[1] Minas[1] |
| Dynasty | House of Solomon |
| Father | Baeda Maryam I |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox |
Reign
editNa'od was the second son ofBaeda Maryam Iand his second wife Kalyupe (also called "Calliope" ), and was born atGabarge.[3]
LikeEskenderbefore him, he relied on the counsel of the Queen MotherEleni.Despite her help, his reign was marked by internal dissension.
Na'od was very talented in Amharic and Ge'ez poetry. He was also a notable author who wrote a number of religious books.[4]
Na'od began construction on a lavish church in theAmhara province,which was decorated with gold leaf and known asMekane Selassie.However, he died before it was completed, and he was buried in a tomb inside the church. His son EmperorLebna Dengelcompleted the construction in 1530.[5]Francisco Álvaresrecords seeing the church as it was being constructed, and mentions that he was kept from entering it by the local clergy.[6]However, not long after its completion,ImamAhmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi(also known as Ahmad Gurey/Gragn) penetrated the Amhara province, and on 3 November 1531, pillaged the structure and set it afire.[7]
Emperor Na'od was killed byImam Mafuzof theAdal Sultanatein battle.[8][9]
Military career
editThe defence of the Empire was very strong during the reign of Na'od as he scored many victories over the Muslims.[10]
G.W.B Huntingford claims that Na'od was killed near Jejeno (possibly Mekane Selassie) whilecampaigningagainst Muslim forces.[9]
Taddesse Tamrat states that Na'od died on his way to repulse a Muslim raid in the eastern provinces.[11]
Family
editNa'od had five sons:[1]
- Lebna Dengel– Succeeded Na'od asEmperor of Ethiopia
- Victor – Half-brother of Lebna Dengel, was slain in battle
- Jacob – Predeceased Na'od
- Claudius
- Minas
Notes
edit- ^abcdeBudge, E. A. Wallis (1928).A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1).London: Methuen & Co. pp. 325–326.
- ^Stewart, John (2006).African States and Rulers(third ed.). London: McFarland & Company Inc. p. 93.
- ^James Bruce,Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile(1805 edition), vol. 3, p. 148
- ^Taddesse Tamrat,State and Church in Ethiopia,(Oxford: University Press, 1972), pp. 560-570ISBN0198216718
- ^Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Qader,Futuh al-Habasa: The Conquest of Ethiopia,translated by Paul Lester Stenhouse with annotations by Richard Pankhurst (Hollywood: Tsehai, 2003), pp. 231f
- ^C.F. Beckingham andG.W.B. Huntingford,The Prester John of the Indies(Cambridge: Hakluyt Society, 1961), pp. 360f, 582
- ^Sihab ad-Din,Futuh,pp. 245ff
- ^Burton, Richard(1856).First Footsteps in East Africa.p. 179.
- ^abHuntingford, G.W.B.The historical geography of Ethiopia from the first century AD to 1704.Oxford University Press. p. 105.
- ^Futuh Al-Habasha,pp. 164-168
- ^Taddesse Tamrat,State and Church in Ethiopia,pp. 58, 581