Susenyos and the Jesuit Convert That Nearly Split Ethiopia

In the early 1600s, Emperor Susenyos made a choice that nearly tore Ethiopia apart. After decades of internal conflict and pressure from Portuguese-backed Jesuit missionaries, he became the first—and only—Solomonic emperor to publicly convert to Catholicism. This episode traces Susenyos's rise amid the wars of the Zemene Mesafint, his alliance with the Jesuit Pedro Páez, the theological clashes between Miaphysite Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism at the 1626 Council of Derssanié, and the violent backlash that erupted when he ordered mass conversion. We explore the role of his son Fasilides, who would later expel the Jesuits and restore Ethiopian Orthodoxy, and the enduring impact on national identity. Key figures include Emperor Susenyos, Pedro Páez, Abuna Simon, and the rebel leader Za-Sellase. This is a story of faith, power, and a fragile African empire resisting European religious domination. #Susenyos #EthiopianEmpire #Jesuits #PedroPáez #CouncilOfDerssanié #Miaphysitism #Catholicism #EthiopianOrthodox #Fasilides #Gondar #ZemeneMesafint #Gojjam #AbunaSimon #Za-Sellase #EastAfrica #Missionaries #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo