Background
1610 - died in France, April 22, 1638, after having been jailed, was the second son of emperor Arzo.
1610 - died in France, April 22, 1638, after having been jailed, was the second son of emperor Arzo.
He lived in Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Greece, Italy, where he met the Pope and fell in love with the franciscan nun Caterina Massimi. Zaga Christ and Caterina have shown a proof of passion probably unique in the world: during 4 years, they have exchanged letters of love written with their blood (1633-1637). He committed suicide in France, where the "love letters in blood" where discovered during his imprisonment.
Important discoveries recently done in the archives throw a new light on his life.
There are many accounts of his life story. Eugène Roger met Zaga Christ in Nazareth (then part of Ottoman Empire) and was familiar with his whereabouts from there until his death.
Rèchac"s accounts came from an Italian manuscript, written by Zaga Christ himself when he was living in Roma. Depending on the author, Zaga Christ was born between 1610 and 1614.
While he claimed King Jacob as his father, it is unlikely as King Jacob was killed in 1607 by Susenyos.
He was Christian. His mother was named Nazarena. He had a brother named Cosme.
Together they were educated in the town on Aich on the island of Maroűest
He claimed, in 1629, when he alleges his father was killed, that his mother ordered them to split some gold and jewelry and to leave. Cosme allegedly went south to Monomotapa, ruled by an enemy of Ethiopia, and ultimately, to Cape of Good Hope. Zaga Christ himself went north to the Sennar Kingdom, where he was received in the court of King Orbat.
He left Cairo and arrived in Jerusalem during Lent in 1632, where he was seen by Roger.
Foreign security reasons, he left for Nazareth. From September 1632 until October 1634, he lived in Rome.
While many memorandums were written, no final decision was made, due to tensions between various groups in the church and European countries. The original goal after he left was to go to England, but that fell through, and only made it to Turin, then to Paris in early 1635.
There, he announced he wasn"t going back to Ethiopia, but would stay there.
He ordered his servant, Ignazio, to return home, but he died on the way. Zaga was supported by French Royalty while he lived in Paris. Zaga died of pleurisy on April 22, 1639.
He was buried next to a prince of Portugal.
He was buried at Rueil with the epitaph (translated from French) "Here lies the king of Ethiopia The original or the copy.".