Ethiopia's Age of Princes: A Saga of Rivalry & Rebirth

The Zemene Mesafint:  Ethiopia's Age of Princes
What happens when an empire loses its center? When emperors wear crowns but hold no real power?
We're discussing the Zemene Mesafint, a pivotal period in the history of ethiopia, often with untold stories. This era saw ethiopia uncolonized but fragmented, with regional princes holding sway over the ethiopian emperor.
This is the story of Ethiopia’s Zemene Mesafint – the Age of Princes (1769–1855). A century of broken unity, endless wars, and puppet emperors in Gondar, where the Solomonic crown glittered but carried no weight. Warlords like the Yejju Oromo regents, Ras Mikael Sehul of Tigray, and Ras Hailu of Gojjam ruled the land while the people endured famine, taxation, and displacement.
In this podcast, we explore:
The fall of Gondar’s glory and the death of Iyoas I.
The rise of the Yejju Dynasty and the Enderase regency.
Regional lords in Tigray, Gojjam, Shoa, and their endless rivalries.
How the Orthodox Church, Oromo clans, and shifting alliances shaped politics.
The suffering and resilience of ordinary Ethiopians during civil strife.
The rise of Sahle Selassie of Shoa as a quiet force of stability.
The dramatic story of Kassa Hailu, later Emperor Tewodros II, who ended the Age of Princes and sought to reunify Ethiopia.
📖 Chronicles, proverbs, and traveler accounts bring this era to life:
"The king sat upon the throne, but the sword was in the hand of Yejju."
"In one year, the palace wore three crowns, yet the people wore none but misery."
👉 If you’re passionate about African history, Ethiopian civilization, kingship, and resilience, this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
Podcast Introducton-00:00
From Gondar’s Glory to Gondar’s Decline-04:31
The Yejju Dynasty and the Rise of the Regional Lords-08:01
Ras Mikael Sehul Reign-11:50
Chaos in Gondar-15:32
War, Intrigue, and Endless Civil Strife-18:20
Rituals Amid Ruin in Ethiopia-22:05
The People's Struggle-23:55
The Role of the Church-25:00
The Rise of Kassa Hailu-30:30
The Era of Princes-32:08
Closing Remarks and Book Recommendations-35:10
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Maps:
https://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/cultural-places/ancient-ethiopia/fasil-ghebbi.html
https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/ethiopia