David II (Ethiopia)

Lebna Dengel , oil painting by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, around 1560

Lebna Dengel ( Amharic ልብነ ድንግል ləbnä dəngəl [ lɨbnə dɨnɡɨl ]; * 1497 ; † 1540 ) was founded in 1508 under the name of David II Negus ( Emperor ) of Ethiopia .

Life

Trained by the Portuguese , he wanted to limit their influence in the country and prematurely waged war against the Sultanate of Adal without their help . The initial successes in 1516 were followed by heavy defeats against the far more energetic Sultan Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghasi , who had declared him the “Holy War” in 1529 (“Thirty Years War” until 1559). In 1540, the hapless and weak emperor finally lost his life and empire in this so-called "Mohammedan storm". His successor was only able to fight back the Muslims with Portuguese help.

literature

Wilhelm Baum: Lebna Dengel (Dawid II.). In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 20, Bautz, Nordhausen 2002, ISBN 3-88309-091-3 , Sp. 897-899. ( Article / beginning of article in Internet archive )

Web links

Commons : David II. - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

predecessor	Office	successor
Na'od I.	Emperor of Ethiopia 1508–1540	Claudius

personal data
SURNAME	David II
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Lebna Dengel; Ledna Dengel; ልብነ ድንግል
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Negus (Emperor) of Ethiopia (1508–1540)
DATE OF BIRTH	1497
DATE OF DEATH	1540