Baeda Maryam I
| Baeda Maryam I | |
|---|---|
| Reign | August 26, 1468 – November 8, 1478 |
| Predecessor | Zara Yaqob |
| Successor | Eskender |
| Born | 1448 Debre Berhan |
| Died | November 8, 1478 Abasi Wera Gabayi |
| Wives |
|
| Issue |
Eskender, Na'od |
| Ge'ez | በእደ ማርያም ba'ida māryām |
| Dynasty | Solomonic dynasty |
| Father | Zara Yaqob |
| Mother | Seyon Morgasa |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity |
Baeda Maryam I (Ge'ez: በእደ ማርያም?; ba'ida māryām "He who is in the Hand of Mary," modern be'ide māryām) (1448 – November 8, 1478) was Emperor (nəgusä nägäst) (August 26, 1468 – November 8, 1478) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty.
Born at Debre Berhan, he was the son of Zara Yaqob by Seyon Morgasa.
Towards the end of Zara Yaqob's life, the Emperor became increasingly convinced that members of his family were plotting against him, and had several of them beaten. Baeda Maryam I's mother died from this mistreatment in 1462, and Baeda Maryam I buried her in secret in the church of Maqdesa Maryam, near Debre Berhan, and donated incense and other gifts to support the church. Zara Yaqob then directed his anger at Baeda Maryam I, until members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church repaired the rift between the two, and Zara Yaqob publicly designated Baeda Maryam I as his successor.
With his own mother dead, Baeda Maryam I gave Eleni, a wife of his father, the title of Queen Mother. She proved to be an effective member of the royal family, and Paul B. Henze comments that she "was practically co-monarch" during his reign. However, Edward Ullendorff notes Baeda Maryam I was unable to hold together the far-flung empire his father left him: "some of the outlying provinces recently conquered began to grow restive; the feudal lords whom Zar'a Ya'qob had only ephemerally brought under central control reasserted their regional authority; and the senior clergy relapsed into some of the old-established ways of conduct and ecclesiastical organization."
Emperor Baeda Maryam I conducted a campaign against the Dobe'a early in his reign, but they had fled with their cattle, camels, and he was unable to track down any of them. He subsequently rode into the area himself, but the Dobe'a recognized him from a distance and were able to flee, their possessions already having been evacuated. At this point, the "Dankalé," the ruler of the Danakil (better known as the Afar), offered to intervene and help in the Emperor's campaign. He sent the Emperor a horse, a mule laden with dates, a shield, and two spears to show his support, along with a message saying, "I have set up my camp, O my master, with the intention of stopping these people. If they are your enemies, I will not let them pass, and will seize them." Ba'eda Maryam sent his men against the Dobe'a again, but his men were defeated and suffered heavy casualties. Ba'eda Maryam was by this point infuriated, criticizing his soldiers for attacking without orders and stating his determination to remain in the Dobe'a country until he had subdued the country to the point where he could sow grain there and his horses could eats its crop.
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