Zagwe dynasty
Kingdom in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea (1137–1270)
Zagwe dynasty
The Zagwe dynasty (Ge'ez: መንግሥተ ዛጔ) was a medieval Agaw monarchy that ruled the northern parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It ruled large parts of the territory from approximately 1137 to 1270 AD, when the last Zagwe Negus Za-Ilmaknun was killed in battle by the forces of the Amhara NegusYekuno Amlak. The Zagwe are most famous for their king Gebre Meskel Lalibela, who is credited with having ordered the construction of the rock-hewn monolithic churches of Lalibela. The name "Zagwe" is thought to derive from the ancient Ge'ez phrase Ze-Agaw, meaning "of the Agaw", in reference to the Mara Tekle Haymanot, the founder of the dynasty. This term does not appear in contemporary sources, neither in indigenous documents nor in accounts of foreign observers. Writer David Buxton has stated that the areas under the direct rule of the Zagwe kings apart from the centre of power in Lasta "probably embraced the highlands of modern Eritrea, Tigray, Wag and Bete Amhara and thence westwards towards Lake Tana...
Read on Wikipedia · Image Taddesse Tamrat, CC0
Open boosters, collect cards and trade them. Free to play.
Play for free