Fesseha 5

Ethiopia's 5000 Year History, from Noah until the EPRDF, Fesseha Yaze Kassa, AD 2011

translated and annotated by Ras Feqade, AD 2021

### Chapter 5. The Agazyan Era of Reign.

That all those histories we saw would succeed, is in the era when the kings of the Tribe of Ham would reign within Ethiopia consecutively. Even though the earlier writers and writings that included Ethiopia's history (who made their main source History of Kings) do not pass without listing their names and the eras when they ruled, there is no situation where it was possible to report together the history they fulfilled. Therefore being as our source is within the country, it will have propriety if we dissect and absorb in each of the other countries.

And so, on the grounds that, as far they were listed as the source of kings, and their names and the eras when they ruled is settled, who fulfilled what in his era is still yet unknown, it is impossible to consider that they died without fulfilling anything. If what they fulfilled in their era is unknown, if the fortune is there, it provokes a sizable realization to know what they fulfilled in their era.

Thus what we saw earlier, after they listed the kings until Piori I, beginning as some from Noah, as some from Ham, as some from Kush, as most from Sebtah, a separate thing is manifested on Piori's era.

Those called the 'Tribe of Agazyan' are substituted. This is the conclusion of many. If it was said "Of whom all?", the answer is "All the writers who list the kings of the Tribe of Ham." For the foreign writers who believe it such as Jean Morie, for writers within the country who agree such as Aleka Taye, Blattenguetta Heruy, Tekletsadek Mekuria, etc...

*The history in short is this. Those listed until Piori I are the Kings of the Tribe of Ham. Likewise Ham's brother Shem begets nine children. One of the nine is called Arfaksed. And he begets Salah, Salah Ebor, Peleg and Joktan. Joktan moreover begets 13 children. And from these 13 tribes, the five, meaning those called Saba, Abal, Ophir, Abimar, Hawila, separating from their brethren, quitting the distant Middle Eastern country, approached toward Yemen and settled. And when they lived in Yemen, when it troubled them while they fought the kings of India, as the king list listed above indicates, in the era when Ham's seed, Piori I reigned, in 1972 BC, they left Yemen and came crossing to Ethiopia, and three tribes settled, Saba in Tigre, Abal in Adal, Ophir in Ogaden.* And as soon as they came, they lived the first five years paying tax to the Tribe of Ham, to Piori I.

[Aleka Taye's *History of the World* gives the date 1582 BC (1590 BC Eth. calendar) for the coming of the Joktanites from Yemen to Kush, he says in the 10th year of Piori I. My own estimate for this crossing, in the 10th year of Piori I, is 1701 BC. They were subject to Piori I five years, or until the end of his reign in 1696 BC.]

In my synchronization, this migration came in the midst of Moses' ten year campaign on behalf of Sobekhotep III against Piori over his stepmother Meroe, 1706-1696 BC, when Piori's queen, Thesbas or Tharbe, is said to have gone over to Moses. It was apparently in the wake of this defeat by Moses that Rama of Kosala then invaded Kush, ending the dynasty in 1696 BC.

Amidst this, the king of India Rama /Berhama/ came to Ethiopia, fought and defeated Piori, and by usurping the kingdom, began to rule the people like slaves. At this time these children of Joktan took courage, gathered together from where they were, fought Rama, defeated his army and killed him, and they set the people free, the Tribe of Ham. And having counseled and agreed, they crowned Aknahus of the tribe of Saba. And they held the country they set free, and they were handed the kingdom. By this reason they were called Agazian. They tell us. It means 'liberators' in Geez.

The writers agree in this. What baffles them a little is what says 'King of India'. And a few of the writers we mentioned have passed making open for us questions of the kind 'If this is so how did a king of India come? How was he famous?' by saying 'The kingdoms that arose and were famous at that time... Babylon?' Even though they cannot tell us in detail about how, they believe in the succession of authority.

[Fesseha here discourses at length, for several paragraphs, about the legendary Semiramis of Babylon making war on India, etc. which are omitted for brevity.]

Blattenguetta Heruy's book called "Wazema" says "The Piori I who had ruled in Ethiopia from the tribe of Ham's party, has taxed these the three tribes of Joktan 5 years. But later a king of India called Rama came to Ethiopia and fought Piori, and at the time when he took the kingdom, these the three tribes of Joktan from Ogaden, Adal and Tigre took courage and agreed, and calling and crowning Aknahus, from the seed of Saba who was over Tigre, "Saba II", they fought with King Rama of India, defeated and killed him. And because they liberated the country Ethiopia from subjection, and the people from slavery, they were called Agazyan. In the Geez language Agazi means 'set free'. But Agazyan means 'those who set free'. And the country was called Nation of Ag'azi. And their language was called Geez," and when he quotes a source, he guides us by saying "See the first book of Morion, p. 237." And when he continues, he furthers the table in saying "And the names and numbers of these tribes of Joktan called Agazyan are written following this." Jean Morie Culbo, Conti Rossini, Albert Kamerer etc. are the previous writers who were the main foundation for all the stories we find thenceforth. They are who widely wrote the history of Ethiopia. All writers who write the former history of Ethiopia, cannot journey outside of these great authors. What they wrote is in arising from native scrolls and from other countries royal histories and chronicles, from the monuments, etc. Therefore it is proper for us to thank them. When we come to our matter, we will find the question being what made language a foundation.

They were called Ag'azyan. The Ge'ez translation means 'liberator' [*netsa awchi*] in Amharic. Their tribe is Joktan. It is Yokthan in Amharic. In Ge'ez he is called Yokathen. In English he is called Yekatan [sic]. This is a name of a tribe. Or the name of a man of one stem that descended from Shem. Therefore it has no problem. Who called them Ag'azian? The native people? Or did they themselves tell them 'Call us Agazyan'? Who at that time (1977 BC) was a Geez speaker? If it were that they came from there, how about what was their language they had? is the question.

All the records of history where the history of ancient Ethiopia is set forth, and were translated into Amharic, and were written in Ge'ez, what they tell us is that it was from the Sabaean language that Ge'ez came. For example, as the first father of Ge'ez would be Sabaean, Sabaean begets Ge'ez, as Ge'ez would be separated being called old and new, civilized and uncivilized, what we see is when Ge'ez again begets Amharic. And in future we will find Amharic going while it is improved and grows at each time, yet that it had what is called old and new. When we say, What was the language spoken by the race of Kush of the tribe of Ham, before the coming of the Agazyan /Tribe of Joktan/? How about the alphabet it was written in? we are persuaded it was the Sabaeans who came taking the alphabet from civilized countries. And without being only these, civilized tribes of Shem have followed, who entered Ethiopia at each time in the later era, and were the Tribe of Saba, and arose from South Arabia. The Joktanites who came in this era may not have had an alphabet. Because the history was written in the later era. But their language had a difference with the native people. Whoever would give them this name, it is a name given in the era when they were, yet the later era writer does not write their history saying "Enough, let's call them Agazyan." From this perspective it will be meaning, that they came taking it from that country where they were. And this is what past authors tell us.

We have seen that there were plenty of historical documents found enrolled by Semitic tribes who came in the later era. It has been said the history of the Ethiopians who were before their coming moreover, is enrolled in the Ancient Egyptians' script. When other tribes resembling these entered from the civilized countries, from Babylon, Assyria, Phoenicia (Tyre), from the Hebrews, etc..., and as the basis of their gods, their culture, their language and their script, would be from the listed countries, it being more or less clear that they entered South Arabia to Yemen, and then crossing the sea entered the present-day Ethiopia, it being more or less known their tribe was Semitic, it has been believed that they entered taking together with them civilization, language and the alphabet.

And when the appellation of Ethiopia and area of rule is called by mouth or written, being what includes both sides of the Red Sea, what is south of Egypt as far as now northern Sudan, and today's eastern and western borders, it has been called "Ethiopia" in all kinds of writing. When in Hebrew it is called Kush, when the Torah was translated, as we shall find henceforth, what says Kush being translated in Greek as Aithiopia, when it was translated from Greek to Ge'ez it has been called Ethiopia, and from Ge'ez to Amharic Ethiopia [*`Ityopphya*].

That it is said that they came in the later era, be it words, history, speech or tools, be it language or alphabet, it always raises a question when something connects with Ethiopia, there is always a controversy. And the reason is because it came going from here and returning. Let us raise the question that was said, and after the Table we shall arrive at the other one.

The ancient Sabaean language and alphabet is father for Ge'ez. The Ge'ez is father for Amharic. Who is grandfather of Ge'ez? Grandfather is what it was called. Or who begat Sabaean, /Suba/? Let us seize and continue this in what was asked. The other won't go anywhere. We see what is called Cushitic, Semitic. And if it says the Sabaeans brought it from Phoenicia, from Hebrews, it isn't what makes progress.

#### List of Kings of the Ag'azyan reign, from Aknahus Saba II until Queen Makeda (1977-1005 BC)

No. - List of the Kings' names - Time they waited in authority in years - Era BC when they ruled

[Once again I have added variant names in Tekletsadek 1959, and the years of reign according to my own calculations.]

* 1 - Aknahus Saba II - 55 - 1977-1922 [1688-1633 BC]
* 2 - Nekhti Kalis - 40 - 1922-1882 - Nekhti Kalnso [1633-1593 BC]
* 3 - Kasyop'i - 19 - 1882-1863 - Kesiyopi [1593-1574 BC]
* 4 - Saba II (Saba Shaba) - 15 - 1863-1848 - Sabi II [1574-1559 BC]
* 5 - Ityoppis I - 56 - 1848-1792 [1559-1503 BC]
* 6 - Lakendun Niwor Ori - 30 - 1792-1762 - Lakendun Nower Ori [1503-1473 BC]
* 7 - Tut Imhab - 20 - 1762-1742 - Tut'emheb [1473-1453 BC]
* 8 - Harhitor Sheni - 20 - 1742-1722 - Herhator [1453-1433 BC]
* 9 - Ityoppis II - 30 - 1722-1692 [1433-1403 BC]
* 10 - Benuka - 17 - 1692-1675 - Senuka [1403-1386 BC]
* 11 - Bonu I - 8 - 1675-1667 [1386-1378 BC]
* 12 - Mumazis - 4 - 1667-1663 - Mumazes [1378-1374 BC]
* 13 - Aru'asa - 7 months - 1663-1663 [1374-1373 BC]
* 14 - Amin Asaro - 30 -1663-1633 - Amin Asor [1373-1343 BC]
* 15 - Ori (II) - 30 - 1633-1603 [1343-1313 BC]
* 16 - Piori II - 15 - 1603-1588 [1313-1298 BC]
* 17 - Amin Amhat I - 40 - 1588-1548 - Omin'emhat I [1298-1258 BC]
* 18 - Tsaw'e - 15 - 1548-1533 [1258-1243 BC]
* 19 - Aktisanis - 10 -1533-1523 [1243-1233 BC]
* 20 - Mindis - 17 - 1523-1506 - Mandis [1233-1216 BC]
* 21 - Protews - 33 - 1506-1473 - P'rotows [1216-1183 BC]
* 22 - Amoy - 21 - 1473-1452
* 23 - Anki - 5 - 1452-1447 - Konsi
* 24 - Bonu II - 2 - 1447-1445
* 25 - Sabi III - 15 - 1445-1430
* 26 - Jegons - 20 - 1430-1410 - Jegonso
* 27 - Senuka III - 10 - 1410-1400
* 28 - Angabos I - 50 - 1400-1350
* 29 - Mi'amur - 2 days - 1350-1350
* 30 - Kelina (Queen Sadoni) - 11 - 1350-1339
* 31 - Zegdur I - 40 - 1339-1299
* 32 - Herhator II - 30 - 1299-1269
* 33 - Hertor III - 1 - 1269-1268 - Herhator III
* 34 - Nekti IV - 20 - 1268-1248 - Nekte IV
* 35 - Titon Setyi - 10 - 1248-1238 - Titon Sotyo
* 36 - Hermente I - 1 month - 1238-1238 - Hermentu I
* 37 - Amin Amhat II - 5 - 1238-1233 - Amen Emhat II
* 38 - Konsab I - 5 - 1233-1228
* 39 - Konsab II - 5 - 1228-1223
* 40 - Senuka IV - 5 - 1223-1218
* 41 - Angabo /Hezbay/ - 40 - 1218-1178 - Angabo II Hezbay
* 42 - Amen Hestet - 30 - 1178-1148 - Amen Astat
* 43 - Herhar - 16 - 1148-1132 - Herhor [1098-1083 BC]
* 44 - Piyankya I - 9 - 1132-1123 [1083-1074 BC]
* 45 - Thenot Sem I - 17 - 1123-1106 - Thenotsim I [1074-1057 BC]
* 46 - Thenot Sem II - 41 - 1106-1065 - Thenotsim II [1057-1015 BC]
* 47 - Maseherta - 16 - 1065-1049 - Masaherta [1069-1053 BC]
* 48 - Ramen Koberm - 14 - 1049-1035 - Ramenkoperm [1015-1001 BC]
* 49 - Thenot Sem III - 7 - 1035-1028 - Thenotsem III [1001-994 BC]
* 50 - Sabi IV - 10 - 1028-1018 [1001-990 BC]
* 51 - Tewasya Dews /Agabos/ - 13 - 1018-1005 [990-977 BC]
* 52 - Makeda Queen - 31 - 1005-974 [977-946 BC]

(source: Blatten Guetta Heruy Wolde Selassie 1913 AD)

[It is almost as difficult to find information, events, anecdotes or details for the 52 names on this list, as for the preceding dynasty of Kush-Ham, aside from #1, Saba II Aknahus (who united the Joktanites against Rama of Kosala) and #52 (Makeda Queen, aka the Queen of Sheba said to have visited King Solomon of Israel).

However, Aleka Taye gives anecdotes mentioning #4, 5,and 6; and kings #3, 19, 20 and 21 were known to Ancient Greek sources; #17 and #18 are recognizable as Viceroys of Kush, and Tekletsadek Mekuria mentions #43 and 44, who along with #45-49 are recognizable as High Priests of Thebes who also had considerable power in Egypt at the time. From these sources in particular, a bare bones picture of this time frame may be sketched out. In addition, #3, 12, 13, 30 and 52 seem to have been the regnant queens in this era according to available sources.

My dates for the last ten names #43-52, especially those who were High Priests of Thebes known from Egyptian records, can now be pinponted fairly securely to the years 1098-946 BC. King #21, Proteus, is also known in Greek historiography as ruling Ethiopia during the Trojan War to the fall of Troy, which is dated 1193-1183 BC. By counting the given reign lengths backward from this anchor all the way to the first, we arrive at the date 1688 BC for the beginning of Saba II Aknahus, which is only 8 years after the end of Piori I already calculated for 1696 BC, and this suggests that Ethiopia / Kush was under the subjection of king Rama and the Kosalans for these eight years, before the tribes of Joktan managed to liberate them.

This leaves a gap from 1183 BC until 1098 BC, only 85 years, for the 21 names of kings #22-42 between Proteus and Herihor, whose reign lengths add up to 325 years. This can only mean these kings were reigning concurrently, most likely in different areas with the kingdom subdivided for these 85 years, some of these names having the appearance of Egyptian, others Kushitic, others Semitic. It is not possible to get more years between the Fall of Troy (1183 BC) and the High Priests of Thebes (Herihor, 1098 BC).

The third name, Queen Kasiopi (1593-1574 BC), is known to Greek historians as Queen Cassiopea of Ethiopia, mother of princess Andromeda - who was rescued from the Red Sea and married by the Greek adventurer Perseus. Upon Perseus' return to Argos he founded Mycenae, which can be dated to ca. 1561 BC. The range calculated for Kasiopi is thus a good fit for the mother of Perseus' spouse Andromeda.

Kasiopi's successor, #4, called Sabi II Shaba (1574-1559 BC), is called by Taye as "Sebi II Ayba". He wrote: "*The first father of the Shenash is Hamati. Hamati begat Guma, Zheget, Gonga, Dura; and these four brethren the fathers of the Shenash entered Ethiopia in the Era of Agazyan, in the 29th year that Ayba II whose name is called Sebi II, and this happened in the year of the world 3679, in 1061 BC, the era when Jacob entered Egypt. At the time these fathers of the Tribe of Shenash lacked land in Canaan, being sent from there they entered the land of Egypt. And they became quite rich in the land of Egypt, and they learned the wisdom of the Egyptians and all things of sorcery. Even so, as they didn't have one square foot of land there, they lacked a grazing spot for their cattle...*" Eventually these Hamathites migrate up the Nile and Blue Nile to its source, joining the three previous Canaanite emigrations to Kush, and becoming the Shenash peoples. Since Sebi II is said on the kinglist to have ruled but 15 years, it could not have been his 29th year, nor could 19th be correct; we must assume this immigration took place in his 9th year, ie 1565 BC, which synchronizes perfectly in my estimate for them abandoning Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Joshua.

Regarding the following king #5, Ityopphis I (1559-1503 BC), Taye says"*Ityopphis I is the grandson of Akhunas called Saba, and son of Bulqaya. And his mother is daughter of the king of Tuch. She is called Agle'e. Ityopphis I ruled 56 years, from 3644-3700 Year of the World, from 1856 to 1800 BC. And the country was called Ethiopia by his name. After Ityopphis I died, his son Lakendun II, whose name was called Nower'ori, was substituted in the kingdom. Ityopphis I's children are five. And they are Lakendun, Saba, Noba, Belew and Kelew. His first son Lakendun inherited the kingdom. But the four divided and held country inheritances...*" Saba in the region that already bore his name, Belew to his north in Eritrea, to the Atbara and Tekaze, Kelew to the southwest of Saba, and Noba west of the Atbara to the White Nile sources, which now received the name Nobia or Nubia. While all Taye's dates seem wildly inconsistent, at least his figure of 56 years for Ityopphis I is consistent with the kinglists. It is a pity he does not have any details for other reigns.

The next two kings, Tutemhab and Herhator, seem to have Egyptian names, coinciding with Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut's activity in "Punt" (1471 BC). Following Herhator is Ityopphis II in 1433 BC, which may signify a return to native or non-Egyptian rule pushing the frontier with Egypt back to Napata at that time.

Egyptian domination is thought to have returned under Pharaohs Horemheb, Seti and Ramesses II, and matching this time exactly we have the names Amin Amhat I (1298-1258 BC) and Tsaw'e (1258-1243 BC), corresponding perfectly to two Egyptian Viceroys of Kush at the same times, Amenemopet and Setau, once again confirming the chronology.

Right after this we have Aktisanis (1243-1233 BC), known to Diodorus and Greek histories as Actisanes, who campaigned against the Egyptians, was captured by them, nose amputated and exiled to Sinai or the Aegean. Then Mandis (1233-1216 BC), known in Greek as Mendes, whom Diodorus called Egyptian, then Proteus (1216-1183 BC) as mentioned above, ruling to the fall of Troy. After that is the 85 year gap in dates that are certain, when there must have been 3 or more kings ruling concurrently, whether in the name of Egypt or Kush or Saba.

Next, Herihor and his successors are fairly well known as also High Priests of Thebes who were virtual pharaohs in Upper Egypt, but not always with the same dates as when they held the title King of Ethiopia, as one family member would shift titles to another. Note that the name Thenot Sem or Thenotsem is a miscopy for Penotsem, the Ethiopian form of Egyptian Pinudjem, while the name given as Ramenkoperm, is usually rendered in Egyptian as Menkheperre.]

What we saw are the names of the kings who reigned beneath the Agazyan era of reign, and the eras when they ruled, from Aknahus Saba II until Queen Makeda, on the basis of past writers in our country. Before we enter another matter, let me point out one thing for you. When all writers list these kings, it is calling the one set on row number 15 "Ori" that they pass him. But on Blatten Guetta Heruy Wolde Selassie's *Wazema*, it is being called "Ori II" that he is set forth.

As it is known, when "II" is said, that is to distinguish if there is one who ruled previously by this name. The reason why he said Ori II is clear. There is nothing saying "Ori" in the list of kings of the Tribe of Ham. Even on his own list, when he lists 22 kings beginning from Sebta until Piori, he didn't introduce what says Ori. But he has called this one II. And that I put it in parentheses is to impart to you this my amazement. "Ori" means one of the seed stems from Adam. While it says Adam begat Seth, Seth Enos, listing nine seed stems, just as we find Noah on the 10th, Ori is father of a subtribe found within the second stem Seth's branch.

Therefore as we saw in our preface, it is because the Ori himself who was father of the Tribe of Ori was said to have ruled in Ethiopia before the deluge. I could not find information on him. And he [Heruy] has told us that he didn't write of him, saying no one believes it. And so because it was written being said Ori had ruled in Ethiopia before the deluge, 970 years after Adam was created, even though they don't believe in him and don't include him, it burdening them to pass without revealing another Ori before this Ori, it means they have called this Ori II.

[There are similarities between the traditional "antediluvian kinglists" of Ethiopia and Mesopotamia, the antediluvian pharaohs listed by classical Arabian writers, etc. and actual pharaohs of the Old Kingdom, particularly noticeable in the name "Sneferu' appearing on several such lists. These pharaohs, as known to archaeology, referred to themselves as the "Following of Horus" and considered themselves descended from Horus (Heru), who may ultimately correspond with Henuh (Enoch) son of Cain. The name Ori most probably being derived from the same Horus, it seems more correct to say Ori was a stem of Cain and not Seth. The antediluvian kings were centered in Egypt and much further down the Nile, and this does not in my opinion justify calling this Ethiopian king Ori "II", as much as the fact that he had a real predecessor called Lakendun Nower Ori, which Fesseha seems to overlook in this discussion.]

It is quitting all this that we began yesterday's history from Noah. When we continue, we find the foundation of divisions of eras of rule in Ethiopian history a thing that sat delineated. It is divided being called

* 1. Era of reign of the Tribe of (Noah-Ham-Kush)
* 2. Agazyan Era of reign - BC
* 3. Agazyan Era of reign - AD
* 4. Era of reign of the Tribe of Zagwiye
* 5. Kings of Shewa
* 6. Era of reign of Gonder
* 7. Era of reign of Shewa

The first list of names of kings of the era of reign of the Tribe of Ham, is what we saw earlier. Now moreover we have seen the replacements, who descended from the Agazyan /race of Joktan/; and henceforth we will find others.

[remainder of chapter 5 and chapters 6-9 are skipped at present, translation continues with Fesseha 10.

Omitted chapters:

* Chapter 6 - The correct name of Ethiopia.

* Chapter 7 - The difference and unity of Aksumite Ethiopia and Nubian Ethiopia.

* Chapter 8 - Ethiopia in the Great Scripture.

* Chapter 9 - The civilization of Egypt.]

Thank you Fiseha BZ Negn