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Emperor Susenyos: Ethiopia's Catholic Monarch and the Jesuit Crisis
Season 2
Episode 81
Published 3 weeks, 1 day ago
Description
In the early 17th century, Emperor Susenyos converted to Catholicism, sparking a brutal civil war that nearly tore Ethiopia apart. This episode explores Susenyos's reign, the arrival of Jesuit missionaries like Pedro Páez, the forced conversion of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the rebellion led by his own son, Fasilides. We discuss the Council of Gondar, the martyrdom of Abuna Simon, and how the conflict reshaped Ethiopia's religious and political landscape. Lucas and Luna also touch on the legacy of Susenyos's conversion and the enduring trauma it caused.