- Sebestyanos
Sebestyanos (reigned c.1703 - c.1718) was a ruler of
Shewa , an important Amhara noble ofEthiopia . He was one of the sons ofNegasi Krestos . Abir states that he ruled for 15 years, although noting that Harris claims he ruled for 25 years, and d'Hericourt 33. [Ref Ethiopia|Abir-1968|pages= p. 147 n.1]According to Donald Levine, Sebestyanos' father, Negasi Krestos, proclaimed in his will that his oldest son Akawa would inherit his "throne". Sebestyanos would receive his spear, silver cutlass, and gilded shield. Land and money would go to his other five sons. However, drought and famine afflicted Shewa: the nobility deposed Akawa in favor of his younger son Daña. Dreading the fighting that he knew would follow, Sebestyanos fled
Menz to the safety of Merhabete, where he served the governor. Meanwhile, his relatives grew dissatisfied with his brother Daña, and successfully lured Sebestyanos back to Menz, where his victories over the neighboringOromo inevitably led him to fight his brother. He defeated Daña and proclaimed himself ruler of Menz. [Donald N. Levine, "Wax and Gold: Tradition and Innovation in Ethiopia Culture" (Chicago: University Press, 1972), p. 32]Pankhurst states that during his reign Shewa clearly expanded its boundaries at the expense of their Oromo rivals. As a result, he founded a number of towns, including
Doqaqit ,'Ayne , andEyabar . [Ref Ethiopia|Pankhurst-1982|pages= p. 186]Although his father Negasi Krestos failed to gain the grant of the title of
Meridazmach from Emperor Iyasus I, Sebestyanos assumed the title. He continued the conquests of his father in upperYifat . [Abir, pp. 146f.]According to Levine, Sebestyanos died "by a curious accident". His son
Qedami Qal had been rebuilding some of the churches that had been destroyed byAhmad Gragn , one of which was in Doqaqit dedicated to St. Michael. Part of the ceremony required thetabot in the church in 'Ayne, where his father was living, and it was secretly removed to Doqaqit. Sebestyanos understood this as an act of rebellion, and set forth to capture and discipline his son; however, in the ensuing battle one of Qedami Qal's servants accidentally killed the Meridazmach. [Levine, "Wax and Gold", p. 33]Notes
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.