| Solomonic Dynasty
The restored Solomonic lineage started
in 1270 with Emperor Yekuno’s declaration to be the lineal descent
Menelik I, offspring of King Solomon and Queen Makeda (Queen of
Sheba or Queen of Saba). All succeeding Ethiopian rulers confirmed
their having full filial rights and obligations by birth to Yekuno
Amlak and, by that means, to King Solomon and Queen Makeda. The
information known today about the Solomonic Dynasty comes from a
combination of Egyptian, Syrian, and Abysinian text. The Kebra
Nagast, a royal chronicle compiled in Abyssinia in the 14th
century, warrants the reestablishment of the Solomonic line. A good
portion of the book is consigned to the origin of Emperor Menelik I
who was the son of King Solomon and Queen Makeda.
In conformity with the legend, Queen
Makeda ventured from Abyssinia to Jerusalem to examine and acquire
from the wise and great rule of King Solomon. Queen Makeda was
proselytized to Judaism and she gained knowledge and understanding
of Middle Eastern statecraft by study, instructions, and experience.
When Queen Makeda resolved to go back to Abyssinia, King Solomon
persuaded her to have super with him in his imperial palace. While
staying over for the night, she was compelled to go to bed with the
king. In his dreams that night the king saw that the Queen would
beget him a son, and that God’s blessings would be with him and his
country. When the child, Menelik I, eventually grew to be a man, he
journeyed to King Solomon and was proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia by
King Solomon.
This tale is also partly retold in
the bible in 1 Kings 10, 1-13:
- [1] And when the queen of
Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the
LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
[2] And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with
camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones:
and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all
that was in her heart.
[3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not
any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
[4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's
wisdom, and the house that he had built,
[5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his
servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel,
and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the
house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
[6] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I
heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
[7] Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and
mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy
wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
[8] Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which
stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
[9] Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee,
to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel
for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
[10] And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of
gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there
came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of
Sheba gave to king Solomon.
[11] And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from
Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and
precious stones.
[12] And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the
house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and
psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were
seen unto this day.
[13] And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her
desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her
of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country,
she and her servants.
During the high point of the restored
Solomonic dynasty, strict regulations were set over all the
Christian territorial division of the kingship, also embodying
surrounding areas. There were successful connected series of
military operations forming a district phase of a war against Muslim
provinces, which acquired the dynasty power over the trade routes to
the Red Sea. The expansion also led to the spread of Christianity in
the southern highlands. The Orthodox Church rearranged to strengthen
its religious practices, and nonbelievers were converted. Imperial
control was reinforced over what was a disorganized administrative
state.
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