Yodit: The Jewish Queen Who Conquered Aksum

In the 10th century, the mighty Aksumite Empire — once a global power equal to Rome and Persia — suddenly collapsed. Ethiopian traditions speak of a mysterious Jewish queen named Yodit (also called Gudit or Esato) who led a rebellion that burned churches, toppled the ruling dynasty, and plunged the region into centuries of fragmentation. But who was she really? This episode sifts through Ge'ez chronicles, Arabic accounts from historians like Ibn Hawqal, and archaeological clues to separate legend from history. We explore Yodit's possible origins as a Beta Israel princess, her alliance with the Agaw peoples of Lasta, the destruction of Aksum's last king Dil Na'od, and how her reign paved the way for the Zagwe dynasty. Along the way, we touch on the enduring mystery of the Ark of the Covenant, the fate of Aksum's trade networks, and the Jewish kingdom of Semien. It's a story of conquest, faith, and the rise of a new Ethiopia from the ashes of an empire. #Yodit #Gudit #QueenYodit #AksumiteEmpire #BetaIsrael #EthiopianHistory #ZagweDynasty #DilNaod #IbnHawqal #Lasta #Agaw #Semien #ArkOfTheCovenant #Ge'ez #10thCentury #EthiopianJews #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo