Nothing important oc curs in the history of .1byssinia, from the death of Theodorus in i 412, ti::Z • ra oh as cended the throne in 14,3,I. Toe pal tiality co his nistorians has represented this monarch .1.s ahoWer Solomon, an exact model of what a sot ercign be. 11e was remarkable lor his curiosity with regard to the politics, manners, and religion of other count les; and, ny his de sire, an embassy, consisting of priests Iron the siman CUM cot at Jerusalem, was sent to the council of Florence. The Roman pontiff, pleased with an event which seemed to promise the introduction of his spi ritual sovereignty into the most important kingdom of Africa, ordered a painting to be taken of the embassy, which is still to be seen in the Vatican. A convent was obtained for the Abyssinians at Rome, which, though still preserved, is seldom visited by those to whom it is appropriated. A party was henceforth formed in Abys sinia in favour of the church of Rome ; and, during this reign, began those religious disputes, which rendered the name of Franks, or Frangi, so odious and danger ous.
This perfect sovereign, this model for future princes, W as the first who introduced religious persecution into his dominions. The established religion was that of the Greek church; but it was corrupted, in many places, by filahometan, and even Pagan superstitions. Sonic families, accused of worshipping the cow and the ser pent, were dragged before this zealous monarch, who immediately sentenced them to death. Their execution was followed by a proclamation, that whoever did not wear on his right hand an amulet, with this inscription, • I renounce the devil for Christ our Lord," should for feit his property, and be liable, besides, to corporal punishment. This persecution, which soon became general throughout the kingdom, was committed to Amda Sion, the Acah Saat, a person whose affected austerity had procured him the confidence of the king, by whom he was so highly distinguished, that, when he appeared abroad, he was attended by a number of sol diers. with drums, trumpets, and other ensigns of mili tary dignity. The cruelty of this odious inquisitor was reprimanded in a public assembly, by certain priests from Jerusalem ; the persecution was suppress ed, and the king now turned his thoughts from religion to the civil improvement of his dominions.
The opulence of the Moorish states, arising from their extensive trade, was frequently employed in the pur poses of rebellion. It became necessary, therefore, to inquire into the circumstances and dispositions of the several governors. With this view lie divided the em
pire more distinctly. and, on the frontiers of the Maho metan states, formed several new governments, which he gave to his Christian soldiers, that they might be ready to check the first tendency to revolt.
The last transaction which is recorded of this mo harch, places his character in a very unfavourable light. The queen, impatient to see her son in possession of the throne, had formed the design of obliging Zara Ja , oh to associate him as his partner in the government. The plot was discovered by her husband, who ordered her to he scourged to death ; and the young prince, who, +hough free from the guilt of her conspiracy, had Yen tuned to perform the usual solemnities at her grave. was loaded with irons, and banished to the top of a mountain. lo this siatation, he was saved from death only by the ihterterence of the monks of Debra fosse and Debra who pretended to have discovered, by prophecies, visions, and dreams, that none but B„eda Mariam should succeed his lather on the throne.
From the time when the princes of the royal Emily had been massacred by Judith, the custom of confining them on a mountain had been discontinued. But Ikeda Mariam was so convinced, by the imprudence of his mother, and his own sufferings, of the necessity of re viving it, that all his male relations were arrested by his command, and sent prisoners for life to the high mountain of Gesh•m on the confines of Begenider and Amhara. Soon after, he undertook an expedition against the Dobas, a barbarous but wealthy race of shepherds, Pagans by religion, who constantly made inroads into his kingdom, and committed the greatest enormities. The king of Adel had invited these shepherds to send into his dominions their wives, their children, and most valuable effects; while he himself would cut off the Abys sinian army from provision. This proposal was made known to Bxcla Mariam, who, with a large body of horse, took possession of a pass called Fendera, through which they were obliged to march; and, when they arrived at that place, their whole company was cut to pieces, without distinction of age or sex. After laying waste their country, and forcing them to renounce their reli gion, he sent his army against the kingdom of Adel, where his general obtained a complete victory. But while he himself was hastening towards that country, resolving to reduce it to the lowest state of subjection, he was seized with a sudden illness, which occasioned his death.