Za Dengel
Za Dengel was negus negust (throne name Asnaf Sagad II) (1603 - 1604) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. He was the son of Lesana Krestos, the brother of Sarsa Dengel.
He was made Emperor by Ras Za Sellase, who intented Za Dengel to be little more than a figurehead. However, Za Dengel summoned the Jesuit Pedro Páez to his court at Dankaz, who persuaded him to embrace Catholicism.
This religious conversion led to Za Sellase not only withdrawing his support, but actively working against him and stirred up a revolt in Gojjam. Za Dengel marched to the plain of Bartcho to put down this revolt, but despite the help of 200 Portugese musketeers, Za Dengel perished in battle on October 24.
Reference
- E. A. Wallis Budge. A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia, 1928. Oosterhout, the Netherlands: Anthropological Publications, 1970. The sections about Za Dengel and his cousin Yaqob cover pp. 375-383.
| Preceded by: | Emperor of Ethiopia | Succeeded by: |
| Yaqob | Yaqob |