Zara Yaqob

Zara Yaqob
ዓፄ ዘርዐ ያዕቆብ
Negusa Nagast
Emperor of Ethiopia
Reign1434 – 26 August 1468
Coronation1436
PredecessorAmda Iyasus
SuccessorBaeda Maryam I
Born1399
Telq, Fatagar, Ethiopian Empire
Died26 August 1468(1468-08-26) (aged 68–69)
Debre Berhan, Ethiopian Empire
Spouse
Issue
Regnal name
Kwestantinos I
DynastyHouse of Solomon
FatherDawit I
Mother'Egzi'e Kebra[3]
ReligionEthiopian Orthodox Church

Zara Yaqob (Ge'ez: ዘርዐ ያዕቆብ;[a] 1399 – 26 August 1468) was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty who ruled under the regnal name Qostantinos I (ቆስጠንጢኖስ; "Constantine"). He is known for the Geʽez 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.[3]

The British historian, Edward Ullendorff, stated that Zara Yaqob "was unquestionably the greatest ruler Ethiopia had seen since Ezana, during 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."[4]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen. p. 305.
  2. ^ Budge 1928, p. 307.
  3. ^ a b Budge 1928, p. 304.
  4. ^ Ullendorff 1960, p. 69.


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