# Emperor Baeda Maryam: Ethiopia's Solomon of the 15th Century

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ethiopia-s-ancient-empire-africa-s-hidden-superpower-fexingo-history-7829654/emperor-baeda-maryam-ethiopia-s-solomon-of-the-15th-century
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ethiopia-s-ancient-empire-africa-s-hidden-superpower-fexingo-history-7829654/emperor-baeda-maryam-ethiopia-s-solomon-of-the-15th-century.md
Podcast: [Ethiopia's Ancient Empire: Africa's Hidden Superpower — Fexingo History](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ethiopia-s-ancient-empire-africa-s-hidden-superpower-fexingo-history-7829654)
Published: 2026-07-09T12:58:58+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/ethiopias-ancient-empire/episode-0149.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/ethiopias-ancient-empire/episode-0149.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ethiopia-s-ancient-empire-africa-s-hidden-superpower-fexingo-history-7829654/episodes/emperor-baeda-maryam-ethiopia-s-solomon-of-the-15th-century
Duration seconds: 351

## Resource

In the shadow of his father Zara Yaqob, Emperor Baeda Maryam ruled Ethiopia from 1468 to 1478, a reign often overlooked but rich with diplomatic intrigue, artistic flourishing, and a surprising turn toward religious tolerance. This episode explores how Baeda Maryam reversed his father's harsh persecution of the Stephanites, welcomed back exiles, and patronized a golden age of Ge'ez manuscript illumination. We follow his embassies to the Mamluk Sultanate and Portugal, including a letter to the Pope that echoes the Prester John myth. Lucas and Luna dive into the Dabra Berhan Selassie church, the role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as a national unifier, and how Baeda Maryam's death from a horse kick set the stage for the instability that followed. A nuanced portrait of a ruler who chose mercy over orthodoxy in a time of change. #BaedaMaryam #EthiopianHistory #ZaraYaqob #Stephanites #Tewahedo #Ge'ez #ManuscriptIllumination #DabraBerhanSelassie #MamlukSultanate #PresterJohn #SolomonicDynasty #15thCentury #ReligiousTolerance #EastAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #EthiopianOrthodox #AfricanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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