Degna Djan
Encyclopedia
Degna Djan was an Emperor
of Aksum (9th or 10th centuries). Paul B. Henze states that his throne name was "'Anbasa Wedem", which tradition states was his oldest son's name. His younger son was Dil Na'od
.
E. A. Wallis Budge
provides an account of the most familiar tradition about Degna Djan, that upon his deathbed he asked Abuna
Peter to decide which of his two sons should succeed him. Abuna Peter selected Del Na'od, but upset with the decision 'Abasa Wedem is said to have bribed an Egyptian monk Mennas to go to Alexandria and convince the Patriarch of Alexandria
to remove Abuna Peter so 'Anbasa Wedem could claim the throne. Mennas returned with forged papers that made him Abuna, and he consecrated 'Anbasa Wedem as king. Del Na'od's supporters thereupon collected troops and deposed 'Anasa Wedem; upon learning the truth, Patriarch Cosmas excommunicated Mennas—but Mennas had died by that time.
Taddesse Tamrat repeats traditions that Degna Djan both led military expeditions as far south as Ennarea, and commanded missionary activities in the highlands of Angot and the modern region of Amhara
. Because the Gadla of Tekle Haymanot
states that Degna Djan lived 18 generations—or 400–600 years—before the saint (c.1215), "this brings Digna-Jan to the first half of the ninth century."
Taddesse Tamrat also mentions a tradition that makes him, not his son Dil Na'od, the last king of Axum.
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
of Aksum (9th or 10th centuries). Paul B. Henze states that his throne name was "'Anbasa Wedem", which tradition states was his oldest son's name. His younger son was Dil Na'od
Dil Na'od
Dil Na'od was the last negus of Axum before the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia. He lived in either the 9th or 10th century. Dil Na'od was the younger son of Ged'a Jan , and succeeded his older brother 'Anbasa Wedem as negus...
.
E. A. Wallis Budge
E. A. Wallis Budge
Sir Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge was an English Egyptologist, Orientalist, and philologist who worked for the British Museum and published numerous works on the ancient Near East.-Earlier life:...
provides an account of the most familiar tradition about Degna Djan, that upon his deathbed he asked Abuna
Abuna
Also see Leaders of ChristianityAbun is the honorific title used for any bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as well as of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church...
Peter to decide which of his two sons should succeed him. Abuna Peter selected Del Na'od, but upset with the decision 'Abasa Wedem is said to have bribed an Egyptian monk Mennas to go to Alexandria and convince the Patriarch of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
to remove Abuna Peter so 'Anbasa Wedem could claim the throne. Mennas returned with forged papers that made him Abuna, and he consecrated 'Anbasa Wedem as king. Del Na'od's supporters thereupon collected troops and deposed 'Anasa Wedem; upon learning the truth, Patriarch Cosmas excommunicated Mennas—but Mennas had died by that time.
Taddesse Tamrat repeats traditions that Degna Djan both led military expeditions as far south as Ennarea, and commanded missionary activities in the highlands of Angot and the modern region of Amhara
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
. Because the Gadla of Tekle Haymanot
Tekle Haymanot
Tekle Haymanot or Takla Haymanot was an Ethiopian monk who founded a major monastery in his native province of Shewa...
states that Degna Djan lived 18 generations—or 400–600 years—before the saint (c.1215), "this brings Digna-Jan to the first half of the ninth century."
Taddesse Tamrat also mentions a tradition that makes him, not his son Dil Na'od, the last king of Axum.