| Negus Ezana | |
|---|---|
 Gold coin of Ezana of Axum | |
| King of Axum | |
| Reign | 320s – c. 360 AD |
| Predecessor | Ousanas |
| Successor | MHDYS |
Ezana (Aizan) | |
|---|---|
| King | |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo ChurchEritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
| Feast | 1 October and 27 October |
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Ezana (Ge'ez:ዔዛና,‘Ezana, unvocalized ዐዘነ‘zn), (Ancient Greek:Ἠεζάνα,Aezana) was the ruler of theKingdom of Aksum (320s –c. 360 AD). One of the best-documented rulers of Aksum, Ezana is important as he first adopted for his country the religion ofChristianity and the name ofEthiopia. Tradition states that Ezana succeeded his fatherElla Amida (Ousanas) as king while still a child; his mother,Sofya, served as regent until he came of age.
Ezana was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum to embraceChristianity,[1] after his Phoenician slave-teacher,Frumentius, converted him.[2] He was the first monarch afterZoskales to be mentioned by contemporary historians, a situation that leadStuart Munro-Hay to comment that he was "the most famous of the Aksumite kings beforeKaleb."[3] In early life he considered himself a son ofAres, but later inscriptions show a growing attachment to Christianity. His childhood tutor, the Syrian ChristianFrumentius, became head of theEthiopian Church. A surviving letter from theArianRoman emperorConstantius II is addressed to ‘Ezana and his brotherSaizana and requests that Frumentius be sent toAlexandria to be examined for doctrinal errors and be replaced byTheophilos the Indian; Munro-Hay assumes that ‘Ezana either refused or ignored this request.[4]
Ezana also launched several military campaigns, which he recorded in his inscriptions. A pair of inscriptions on astela inGe'ez found atMeroë is thought of as evidence of a campaign in the fourth century, either during Ezana's reign, or by a predecessor likeOusanas. While some authorities interpret these inscriptions as proof that the Aksumites destroyed the kingdom of Meroë, others say that archaeological evidence points to an economic and political decline in Meroë around 300.[5] Moreover, some view the stela as military aid from Axum to Meroë to quell the revolt and rebellion by the Nuba. However, conclusive evidence and proof as to which view is correct is not currently available.
On some of theAksumite coins minted during ‘Ezana's reign appears the motto inGreekΤΟΥΤΟ ΑΡΕΣΗ ΤΗ ΧΩΡΑ – "May this please the country". Munro-Hay comments that this motto is "a rather attractive peculiarity of Aksumite coinage, giving a feeling of royal concern and responsibility towards the people's wishes and contentment".[6] A number of coins minted bearing his name were found in the late 1990s at archaeological sites in India, indicating trade contacts in that country.[7] A remarkable feature of the coins is a shift from a pagan motif with disc and crescent to a design with a cross. ‘Ezana is also credited for erecting severalstelae andobelisks. An inscription in Greek gives the regnal claims of Ezana:[8][9][10]
I, Ezana, King of the Kingdom of Aksum andHimyarites and ofReeidan and of theEthiopians and of theSabaites and of Sileel (?) and of Hasa and of the Bougaites and of Taimo...
Ezana is unknown in the King Lists even though the coins bear this name. According to tradition, EmperorsAbreha and Asbeha ruled Ethiopia when Christianity was introduced. It may be that these names were later applied to ‘Ezana and his brother or that these were their baptismal names.[12]
Along with his brother,Saizan (Sazan), Ezana (Aizan)[13] is regarded as a saint by theEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church andCatholic Church, with afeast day of the first of October[14] and on 27 October.[15]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Ethiopian saints by feast day | ||
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