In this excerpt from The Glorious Victories, the religious dimensions of Amda Siyon’s drive to conquer Muslim territories are brought to the surface. The passage describes the pivotal moment in the campaign. On the verge of defeat by the Muslim “rebels,” Siyon’s forces fell back in fear and confusion. Then, just when it seemed that all was lost, God intervened “through the hand of Gabra Masqal [Amda Seyon]” and the “rebels were cast into the depths of the earth.” As you read the account, think about what it suggests about the relationship between Siyon and his people. Did the author of The Glorious Victories want readers to see Siyon as another Moses? As another Menilek?

What tongue, what speech, what wisdom could tell and interpret it, for it is impossible (to do so); and our story is (written) not (from) vainglory nor to display (our power) to the sight of men, but that we may tell of the goodness of God. On the morning of that day came a sentence of death upon the Christian people; they were frightened and wavering, as if drunk, moving uncertainly like men drunk with wine; their courage had flown, and in despair they cried with one voice, and He heard their cries and desired to save them. But again at mid-day the rebels brought back to them the fear of death, and God sent fear down upon them; and there blew in their midst a great tempest, and the dust of the earth covered them. Their eyes were darkened and their strength failed; their courage weakened, their hands and feet were bound, and they were not able to cross (the water of) Jordan, which the king had caused to be sprinkled before them on the face of the earth; they fled backwards, (though) none of the enemy pursued them; they were exterminated by a strong right hand in an instant. But on that day, as they were in the twinkling of an eye, through the hand of Gabra Masqal the rebels were cast into the depths of the earth. Then was the master of the flock praised by the sheep when he destroyed the goats; and the ewes which were born in the womb of the water blessed him, their shepherd, because he herded them with a staff of iron and saved them from the mouth of the jackals. The ravaging jackals are Satan, the goats are the rebels, and the sheep are the Christian people. The shepherd is Christ, who is the true shepherd of the sheep, the first-begotten of the Father, (begotten) before the world, and the son of the pure dove, that is the Holy Virgin, the glory of heaven and earth.

Now let us return to the story. When the right hand of God had cast the rebels into a pit in the earth, He was praised abundantly, as He was praised (when) Pharoah and all his army were cast into the sea. The Christian people rejoiced, just as Marya sister of Moses rejoiced, and they glorified God with a loud and joyful voice saying, “Thy right hand, O Lord, is praised; Thy right hand has forcefully exterminated the enemy; Thou didst extend Thy right hand and the earth engulfed them; the strength of Thine arm is greater than a rock. Who among Thy saints is glorious like Thee? Glory to Thee, O Christ, and to the benign Holy Spirit, the savior of us all, world without end, Amen.”

Source: The Glorious Victories of Amda Seyon, King of Ethiopia, translated by G. W. B. Huntington (1965), 463w from pp. 96–97. © Oxford University Press 1965. By permission of Oxford University Press.

Questions to Consider