Negasi Krestos

Nagasi KrestosNagasi Krestos,

Historical context In the 16th century, Christian Abyssinia was devastated after the conclusion of the long running Ethiopian–Adal War, which culminated in the defeat of the Adal Sultanate and their Ottomans backers during the Battle of Wayna Daga. The toll of the war was immense, the war ravaged Christian realm avoided near extinction. In this vulnerable state, a new threat emerged from the south, the Oromos migrated northwards and began a series of conquests into Shewa, Gurage, Welega, Bete Amhara and other areas.

Until about the end of the 16th century Shewa was an important part of the Empire of Ethiopia. The Shewan towns of Barara (precursor to Addis Abeba), Tegulet and Debre Berhan served as the capitals for a number of the Emperors and Debre Libanos was a religious centre of national importance. Shewa was almost completely lost to the Imperial authority by the end of Sarsa Dengel's reign, and de facto separated from the Gondarine kingdom during most of the 17th century. Local Shewan tradition (collected by Heruy Wolde Selassie) claims that the late 17th century rulers of some fourteen Shewan districts formally remained subjects of the Gondarine kings, but had no royal governor. Royal chronicles, however, report that Anestasyos was Sahafe Lam of Shewa under atse Iyasu I, and that the next Sahafe Lam, Demetros, initiated a series of campaigns of reconquest of Shewan territories from his native Merhabete against the Oromos.

Biography Background Born in the parish of Agancha in the Gera district of historical Menz province. There are several traditions about Nagasi's lineage; the official account from the Shewan dynasty (as told by Serta Wold, councillor of Negus Sahle Selassie in the 1830's and 1840's) is that he was a male line descendant of the Solomonic Emperors through abeto Yaqob, the fourth son of Lebna Dengel, who remained in Shewa. Yaqob's great-grandson, Lebsa Qal, was a wealthy landowner in Agancha, and married SenebeitSenebeit

Nagasi emerged as the most important Amhara chief in the area. His large following helped him to accumulate wealth. He founded the church of Kidane Mehret in Agancha where he established his base.

Quote frame |quote=They say, Gassa (or Rim) means a land on which we settle by chasing out the Galla with our force, power and skill. Thus Nagasi began to allot plots of land or Rim.|source=Adage collected by Asma Giyorgis Through these he succeeded in establishing an autonomous state of Shewa by the end of 17th century. Pankhurst credits Negasi Krestos with moving the capital of Shewa to Debre Berhan from the old center in Tegulet; Nagasi's stone palace was still visible when Rochet d'Hericourt visited Debre Berhan in 1840.

In the early years of the 18th century, Nagasi travelled to Gondar to pay homage to Emperor Iyasu I, where he died of smallpox. According to Donald Levine, Nagasi was buried in the church Fit Abbo, "where his grave -- as well as the field he camped on, Nagassi Meda -- remain objects of historical interest today."

He did not succeed in obtaining the title Meridazmach, which later was unilaterally adopted by his son and heir Sebestyanos. His death away from his domain plunged Shewa into a period of disorder, and the territories he conquered reverted to their original rulers.