King Susenyos and Ethiopia's Catholic Experiment

In the early 1600s, Emperor Susenyos made a choice that nearly tore Ethiopia apart: he converted to Catholicism, broke with the Orthodox Church his ancestors had defended for centuries, and opened the door to Portuguese Jesuit influence. Why would a Solomonic emperor risk everything? This episode follows Susenyos's rise from a rebel prince to a warrior king who crushed the Oromo and Adal forces, then explores the political calculus behind his conversion — an alliance with Portugal against the Ottoman-backed Adal Sultanate. We delve into the Jesuits' own mission, led by the controversial Pedro Páez, who built a palace at Gorgora and translated Catholic texts into Ge'ez. But the forced conversions and burning of Orthodox tabots ignited a civil war. Susenyos's own son, Fasilides, would reverse everything, expelling the Jesuits and restoring Orthodoxy. A story of faith, power, and the limits of religious tolerance in an ancient empire. #Susenyos #EthiopianEmpire #Jesuits #PedroPaez #Fasilides #SolomonicDynasty #Catholicism #OrthodoxChurch #Gondar #Gorgora #AdalSultanate #Oromo #Ge'ez #Tabot #EthiopianHistory #ReligiousConflict #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo