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Emperor Susenyos and the Catholic Schism That Split Ethiopia
Season 4
Episode 152
Published 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Description
In the early 17th century, Emperor Susenyos converted to Catholicism after Jesuit missionaries convinced him of the Pope's authority. This triggered a brutal civil war between Catholic converts and traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Susenyos eventually abdicated in 1632, and his son Fasilides restored the Orthodox faith, expelling all Jesuits. This episode explores the political and religious turmoil of the era, including the roles of Pedro Páez, the Council of Derssanie, and the construction of Gondar's Debre Berhan Selassie church. We discuss how Ethiopia's unique Tewahedo Christianity clashed with Roman Catholicism, and how the conflict shaped the nation's identity for centuries to come.