Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Queen Eleni: The Diplomat Who Saved Ethiopia
Description
This episode tells the remarkable story of Queen Eleni, a Muslim-born slave who became one of Ethiopia's most powerful and savvy rulers. Widow of Emperor Zara Yaqob and regent during the reign of her step-grandson Baeda Maryam, Eleni ran the empire for decades, forging a groundbreaking alliance with Portugal that brought the first European embassy to the Solomonic court. We explore her political genius, her patronage of religious arts, and her role as a queen mother who outmaneuvered noble rivals. Along the way, we look at the famous letter Eleni sent to the king of Portugal in 1509, which led to the arrival of the Portuguese ambassador Francisco Álvares, whose writings remain a key source on medieval Ethiopia. This is a story of power, faith, and diplomacy at the highest level—and a reminder that Ethiopian history is full of women who shaped empires.