Newaya Maryam Explained

Newaya Maryam
Geez: ዓፄ ንዋየ ማርያም
Succession:Emperor of Ethiopia
Reign:1372–1382
Predecessor:Newaya Krestos
Successor:Dawit I
Dynasty:Solomonic dynasty
Father:Newaya Krestos
Religion:Ethiopian Orthodox

Newaya Maryam (Geez: ንዋየ ማርያም; throne name Wedem Asfare or Gemma Asfare) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1372 to 1382, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the eldest son of Newaya Krestos.

Reign

During his reign, Haqq ad-Din II of the Walasma dynasty gained control of the kingdom of Ifat on the southeastern frontier of Ethiopia in 1376, and began raids against the Ethiopian Empire. He then characterized his expedition as a jihad against the Christian infidels.[1] According to E. A. Wallis Budge, the Royal Chronicles state that "little was known about" Newaya Maryam, and he died without issue.[2] He was buried at Asar, but his descendant Emperor Baeda Maryam I had his body re-interred at the church of Atronsa Maryam.[3]

Notes and References

  1. [J. Spencer Trimingham]
  2. E.A. Wallis Budge, A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia, 1928 (Oosterhout, the Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, 1970), p. 300.
  3. http://130.238.24.99/library/resources/dossiers/local_history_of_ethiopia/A/ORTAST.pdf "Local History in Ethiopia"