Baeda Maryam I facts for kids

Baeda Maryam I (meaning "He who is in the hand of Mary") was an important ruler of Ethiopia. He was born in 1448 and ruled as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1468 to 1478. He was also known as Cyriacus. Baeda Maryam I was part of the Solomonic dynasty, a famous line of emperors. His time as emperor included many military actions, especially against a group of people called the Dobe'a. They lived in the western mountains of the Ethiopian Highlands.

Early Life of Baeda Maryam

Baeda Maryam was born in a place called Debre Berhan. His father was Emperor Zara Yaqob, and his mother was Seyon Mogesa.

Towards the end of his father's rule, Emperor Zara Yaqob became worried. He thought some family members were planning against him. He had some of them punished. Sadly, Baeda Maryam's mother passed away in 1462 because of this. Baeda Maryam secretly buried her near Debre Berhan. He also gave gifts to the church there.

After this, Zara Yaqob became angry with Baeda Maryam. But leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church helped them make peace. After that, Emperor Zara Yaqob publicly named Baeda Maryam as the next emperor.

Ruling the Ethiopian Empire

Since his own mother had passed away, Baeda Maryam I gave Eleni the title of Queen Mother. Eleni was one of his father's wives. She was a very helpful member of the royal family. Some historians say she was almost like a co-ruler during his time.

However, Baeda Maryam I found it hard to keep his father's large empire together. Some areas that had recently been conquered started to cause trouble. Local leaders, who his father had only briefly controlled, began to regain their power. Also, the senior church leaders went back to their old ways of doing things.

Campaigns Against the Dobe'a

Early in his rule, Emperor Baeda Maryam I led a campaign against the Dobe'a people. But the Dobe'a fled with their animals, and he could not find them. He rode into their area himself, but the Dobe'a recognized him and escaped again. They had already moved their belongings.

At this point, the ruler of the Danakil, also known as the Afar, offered to help. He sent the Emperor gifts and a message. He promised to stop the Dobe'a if they were the Emperor's enemies. Baeda Maryam sent his soldiers against the Dobe'a again, but his men were defeated. They lost many soldiers.

Emperor Baeda Maryam was very angry. He criticized his soldiers for attacking without orders. He said he would stay in the Dobe'a country until he had defeated them. He wanted to make the land peaceful enough to grow crops there.

Continued Efforts and Success

The Emperor then sent Jan Zeg, the governor of Bale, to fight in the region of Gam. Sadly, Jan Zeg was killed. A sickness, like cholera, also spread among his soldiers. This made the Emperor feel even worse. He decided to go back to Tigray.

In Tigray, he called upon one of his best fighting groups, called Jan Amora ("Royal Eagle"). This group was eager to join the fight. The twelve Dobe'a leaders learned about this new attack. They began to flee with their families and animals into the lowlands of Adal.

However, the Emperor found out about their plans. He launched another campaign against the Dobe'a. He sent the governors of Tigray, Qeda, and Damot to chase them. This new campaign was successful. Many Dobe'a were captured or killed during the attack and the chase.

Peace and New Beginnings

After this defeat, many Dobe'a people became Christians. They asked the Emperor for his forgiveness. The Emperor returned their animals and gave them more from other southern areas. He also placed soldiers in their country.

He built a church in Dobe'a land, dedicating it to the Virgin Mary. He also planted fruit trees and vines there, just as he had promised. Baeda Maryam soon returned to the Dobe'a country. He appointed governors and helped organize the people's lives. He also encouraged them to celebrate the death of the Virgin Mary every January. On this day, he gave out bread, beer, and honey wine. He also ordered the Dobe'a to become farmers instead of bandits. Then, he left the country for the last time.

Baeda Maryam I moved his court to the Gurage country. From there, he launched campaigns in Dawaro and Bale. His constant fighting led to a peace agreement with Sultan Muhammad of Adal. This peace allowed him to focus on his southern borders. He then successfully campaigned against the Falasha people in his northern lands who were causing trouble. But when Sultan Muhammad died, war with Adal started again.

His Final Years

Baeda Maryam I passed away suddenly from an illness in Abasi Wera Gabayi. He was buried in a tomb at Atronsa Maryam. This was a church he had built between the Abay and Jamma rivers. This church was known for a painting of Mary and Christ. The painting was made by an artist named Brancaleon, who was from Venice and lived in Ethiopia.

His tomb was later destroyed in 1709 during a raid by the Oromo people. They attacked the church, and threw Baeda Maryam I's coffin over the nearby cliffs. Another story, told by the explorer Richard Burton, says that on his deathbed, Baeda Maryam I asked to be buried facing Adal. This was because he had spent ten years trying to control that area without success.