Zara Yaqob Net Worth

Background and career

Zara Yaqob (Ge'ez: ዘርአ ያዕቆብ Zarʾa Yāʿǝqob; 1399 – 26 August 1468) was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty who ruled under the regnal name Constantine I (Ge’ez: ቈስጠንጢኖስ, Ḳʷasṭanṭinos; Amharic: ቆስጠንጢኖስ, Ḳosṭänṭinos). He is known for the Geʽez literature that flourished during his reign, the handling of both internal Christian affairs and external wars with Muslims, and the founding of Debre Birhan as his capital. He reigned for 34 years and 2 months (r. 1434-1468).

The British historian Edward Ullendorff stated that Zara Yaqob "was unquestionably the greatest ruler Ethiopia had seen since Ezana, during the heyday of Aksumite power, and none of his successors on the throne – excepted only the emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie – can be compared to him." He was also heavily involved in promoting the longstanding pre-existing veneration and commemoration of St. Tekle Haymanot and strengthening the religious and political role of his monastery, Debre Libanos, and is associated with their rise to prominence over that of Tekle Haymanot’s teacher Iyasus Mo'a, his contemporary Ewostatewos, and Iyasus Mo’a’s Istifanos Monastery.