Zara Yaqob
| Zara Yaqob ዐፄ ዘርአ ያዕቆብ | |||||
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| Negusa Nagast | |||||
Possible depiction of Zara Yaqob 18th century | |||||
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |||||
| Reign | 1434 – 26 August 1468 | ||||
| Coronation | 1436 | ||||
| Predecessor | Amda Iyasus | ||||
| Successor | Baeda Maryam I | ||||
| Born | 1399 Telq, Fatagar, Ethiopian Empire | ||||
| Died | 26 August 1468 (aged 68–69) Debre Berhan, Ethiopian Empire | ||||
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| Dynasty | House of Solomon | ||||
| Father | Dawit I | ||||
| Mother | 'Egzi'e Kebra | ||||
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Church | ||||
Zara Yaqob (Ge'ez: ዘርአ ያዕቆብ, Zarʾa Yāʿǝqob; 1399 – 26 August 1468) was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty who ruled under the regnal name Constantine I (Ge’ez: ቈስጠንጢኖስ, Ḳʷasṭanṭinos; Amharic: ቆስጠንጢኖስ, Ḳosṭänṭinos). He is known for the Geʽez literature that flourished during his reign, the handling of both internal Christian affairs and external wars with Muslims, and the founding of Debre Birhan as his capital. He reigned for 34 years and 2 months (r. 1434-1468).
The British historian Edward Ullendorff stated that Zara Yaqob "was unquestionably the greatest ruler Ethiopia had seen since Ezana, during the heyday of Aksumite power, and none of his successors on the throne – excepted only the emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie – can be compared to him."