Zagwe

Zagwe was a medieval Ethiopian dynasty that ruled parts of northern Ethiopia from about the 10th to the 13th centuries. The dynasty is named after the Zagwe region in the northern highlands, and its core power center was Roha in the province of Lalibela (modern-day Amhara Region). The Zagwe period followed the decline of the Aksumite Empire and preceded the Solomonic Dynasty.

Religious and cultural life: The Zagwe rulers promoted Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and supported monastic centers. They oversaw the construction of monumental architecture, including the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela (late 12th–early 13th century), which are the best-known legacy of their era and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Administration and economy: The polity combined centralized royal authority with a feudal-like system of provinces. Agriculture and trade, including routes to the Red Sea, sustained the kingdom.

Decline and succession: The Zagwe dynasty began to decline in the late 13th century and was eventually overthrown by Yekuno Amlak, who founded the Solomonic dynasty around 1270. The reasons for the transition are debated and documented mainly in later chronicles. The Zagwe era is remembered for its distinctive architecture and its role in shaping Ethiopian Christian culture.