Newaya Maryam (Ge'ez: ንዋየ ማርያም; throne name Wedem Asfare or Gemma Asfare) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1372 to 1382, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the eldest son of Newaya Krestos.

Newaya Maryam
ዓፄ ንዋየ ማርያም
Emperor of Ethiopia
Reign1372–1382
PredecessorNewaya Krestos
SuccessorDawit I
DynastySolomonic dynasty
FatherNewaya Krestos
ReligionEthiopian Orthodox

Reign

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During his reign, Haqq ad-Din II of the Walasma dynasty gained control of the kingdom of Ifat on the southeastern frontier of Ethiopia in 1376, and began raids against the Ethiopian Empire. He then characterized his expedition as a jihad against the Christian infidels.[1] According to E. A. Wallis Budge, the Royal Chronicles state that "little was known about" Newaya Maryam, and he died without issue.[2] He was buried at Asar, but his descendant Emperor Baeda Maryam I had his body re-interred at the church of Atronsa Maryam.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ J. Spencer Trimingham, Islam in Ethiopia (Oxford: Geoffrey Cumberlege for the University Press, 1952), p. 74.
  2. ^ E.A. Wallis Budge, A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia, 1928 (Oosterhout, the Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, 1970), p. 300.
  3. ^ "Local History in Ethiopia" Archived 2008-12-19 at the Wayback Machine The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 28 January 2008)
Regnal titles
Preceded by Emperor of Ethiopia
1372–1382
Succeeded by