Yostos of Ethiopia

Yostos of Ethiopia

Yostos or Justus (Ge'ez ዮስቶስ, throne name Tsehay Sagad Ge'ez ፀሓይ ሰገድ, "to whom the sun bows") was "IPA|nəgusä nägäst" (14 October, 1711 - 19 February, 1716) of Ethiopia.

According to Richard Pankhurst, on the death of Tewoflos, the chief nobles of Ethiopia feared that the cycle of vengeance that had characterized the reigns of Tewoflos and Tekle Haymanot before him would continue if a member of the Solomonic dynasty were picked for the throne, so they selected one of their own to be "IPA|nəgusä nägäst". However Yostos encountered many challenges to his authority, and was forced to remain in the capital of Gondar for his entire reign, leaving the city only to hunt. After a few years, the political situation stabilized enough for him to construct two new churches in Gondar, Ledata ("Birth of the Virgin Mary") in 1713, and Abba Antons ("Father Anthony") in 1715. [Richard P.K. Pankhurst, "History of Ethiopian Towns" (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), pp. 144f.]

Yostos grew ill in January 1716, and according to the Royal Chronicles withdrew from public life. The Scottish traveller James Bruce provides more information: while supervising the work on the Abba Antons church Yostos "was taken suddenly ill, and, suspecting some unwholesomeness or witchcraft in his palace, ordered his tent to be pitched without the town until his apartments should be smoked with gunpowder." However, the fumigation accidentally burned down part of the palace, which was seen as a "very bad omen". [James Bruce, "Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile" (1805 edition), vol. 4 p. 52.] Yostos, still ill, took up residence in another part of the Royal Enclosure, but fear that he would make his son Fasil heir to the throne led to a battle between his courtiers (who wanted the ailing Emperor to proclaim an heir) and the Imperial Guard (who were loyal to the Solomonic dynasty). Victorious, the Imperial Guard proclaimed Dawit III Emperor 30 January. Meanwhile, Emperor Yostos was still alive in the palace, forgotten in his sick bed until his death. He was given a respectful burial in Ledata church. [Bruce, "Travels", vol. 4 pp. 55ff.]

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • History of Ethiopia — Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, with one of the longest recorded histories in the world. Earliest History Ethiopia has seen human habitation for longer than almost anywhere else in the world, possibly being the location… …   Wikipedia

  • Dawit III of Ethiopia — Dawit III (Ge ez ዳዊት, throne name Adbar Sagad Ge ez አድባር ሰገድ, to whom the mountains bow ), also known as Dawit the Singer, was nəgusä nägäst (8 February 1716 18 May 1721) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Iyasu …   Wikipedia

  • Menelik II of Ethiopia — Menelik II Emperor of Ethiopia Coronation 3 November 1889 Predecessor Yohannes IV Successor Lij Iyasu (designated but uncrowned Emperor of Ethiopia) …   Wikipedia

  • Dawit II of Ethiopia — Dawit II Anbasa Seggad Emperor of Ethiopia Emperor of Ethiopia Reign 13 August 1507 – 2 September 1540 Coronation …   Wikipedia

  • Susenyos of Ethiopia — Susenyos Emperor of Ethiopia Reign 1606–1632 Coronation 1608 Born 1572 Died 1632 Predecessor …   Wikipedia

  • Dawit I of Ethiopia — Dawit I[1] (Ge ez ዳዊት dāwīt, David ) was nəgusä nägäst (1382 6 October 1413) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the younger son of Newaya Krestos. Life Taddesse Tamrat discusses a tradition that early in his reign Dawit… …   Wikipedia

  • Menas of Ethiopia — Menas Emperor of Ethiopia Reign 1559–1563 Died 1468 Predecessor Gelawdewos Successor Sarsa Dengel …   Wikipedia

  • Demetros of Ethiopia — Demetros Emperor of Ethiopia Reign 25 July 1799 – 24 March 1800 and June 1800 to June 1801 Died 1802 Buried Ba ata, Ethiopia Prede …   Wikipedia

  • Histoire De L'Éthiopie — Cet article fait partie de la série: Histoire de l’Éthiopie Histoire ancienne Pays de Pount ( 3000 / 1000) D mt ( 800 / 700) Aksoum ( 100 / …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Histoire de l'Ethiopie — Histoire de l Éthiopie Cet article fait partie de la série: Histoire de l’Éthiopie Histoire ancienne Pays de Pount ( 3000 / 1000) D mt ( 800 / 700) Aksoum ( 100 / …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”