AMDA TSEYON

(AmharicPillar of Zion) died 1344? ruler of Ethiopia from 1314 to 1344, best known in the chronicles as a heroic fighter against the Muslims; he is sometimes considered to have been the founder of the Ethiopian state. The earliest Ethiopian chronicle tends to support this hypothesis, for it concerns Amda Tseyon's reign. Moreover, the earliest known examples of the written Amharic language are hymns praising him. His image is reminiscent of that of Henry V of England in his transformation from a youthful carouser to an audacious warrior and ruler. Most of his wars were against the Muslim kingdoms to the southeast, which he was able to fight and generally defeat one by one, despite their plans to unite against him. Hence, he substantially enlarged his kingdom by gradually incorporating a number of smaller states.