Axum and the Jewish Kingdom of Semien: A Forgotten Alliance

In the highlands of Ethiopia, after the fall of Axum's power, a Jewish kingdom emerged that would challenge the Christian empire for centuries. This episode follows the rise of the Beta Israel community and the legendary Queen Gudit (Yodit) who sacked Axum in the 10th century. We explore the Kebra Nagast's warnings about Jewish rebels, the Sassanid influence on Red Sea politics, and the mysterious 'Gudit Stelae' that still stand today. Historians debate whether Gudit was a Jewish queen, a pagan invader, or a Christian rival. We also examine how the Zagwe dynasty that followed claimed Solomonic legitimacy through the Ark of the Covenant. The story of Semien reveals a deep, often overlooked Jewish–Christian conflict in medieval Africa that shaped Ethiopia's identity. #BetaIsrael #QueenGudit #Semien #EthiopianJewish #KebraNagast #ArkOfTheCovenant #ZagweDynasty #Adulis #SassanidEmpire #RedSea #10thCentury #EthiopianHistory #Axumite #SolomonicDynasty #GuditStelae #AfricanHistory #FexingoHistory #History #KingdomOfAxum #AksumiteEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo