| 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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