Debre Berhan is a town in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, about 120 kilometers north east of Addis Ababa, on the paved highway to Dessie. It was an early capital of Ethiopia and afterwards, with Ankober and Angolalla, was one of the capitals of the kingdom of Shewa. As of 1994, Debre Berhan has a population of 38,717 people. Amhara (አማራ) may refer to: Amhara, an ethnic group of Ethiopia. ... Addis Ababa as seen from space. ... Dessie or Dese is a city in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, with a population as of 1994 of 97,314 people. ... Ankober is a town of Ethiopia, at one time the capital of the historical Shewa kingdom and later district. ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

History

Debre Birhan was founded in the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob, in response to a miraculous light that was seen in the sky at the time. Believing this was a sign from God approving the death by stoning of a group of heretics 38 days before, the emperor ordered a church built on the site, and later consturcted an extensive palace nearby, and a second church, dedicated to Saint Cyriacus. Zara Yaqob spent 12 of the last 14 years of his life. The Emperor of Ethiopia (Amharic ንጉሠ ነገሥት, niguse negest, King of Kings) was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. ... Zara Yaqob (throne name Kuestantinos I or Constantine I) (1399 - 1468) was negus (1434 - 1468) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... For the U.S. hockey teams victory in the 1980 Winter Olympics, see Miracle on Ice, or Miracle (movie) According to many religions, a miracle is an intervention by God in the universe. ... The term God is capitalized in the English language as a proper noun when used to refer to a specific monotheistic concept of a Supreme Being in accordance with Christian, Jewish (sometimes as G-d - cf. ... Stoning is a form of capital punishment in which the convicted criminal is put to death by having stones thrown at them, generally by a crowd. ... Personal Life A Roman nobleman, Cyriacus converted to Christianity during his adult life and renounced his material wealth, giving it away to the poor. ...

Historian Richard Pankhurst offers the date of 1456 for the date of the founding of this church, providing a plausible argument that the light in the sky was Halley's Comet, which could have been in Shewa that year, although the traditional dates (10th day of the month of Maggabit, i.e. 6 or 7 March) do not conincide with the days that the comet was most visible (13 through 17 June).¹ // Events July 7 - Joan of Arc acquitted (but she had already been executed). ... Comet Halley as taken with the Halley Multicolor Camera on the ESA Giotto mission. ...

While his Baeda Maryam did spend the first part of his reign in Debre Berhan, the new emperor eventually returned to the established itinerant practice of living in a permanent encampment that was constantly on the move through the realm. The departure of the court led to a decline in the population and importance of this town. Pankhurst explains that the needs of the imperial court and army -- who numbered in the thousands -- for firewood and food was so burdensome that, "it could not remain in any one locality for more than four months, nor return to the same place in less than 10 years due to the resultant shortage of food",² which doomed the existence of any captial city in this period. Baeda Maryam (He who is in the Hand of Mary) (1448 - 1478) was negus (1468 - 1478) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ...

While little more than a large village, Debre Berhan is mentioned a few times in the 16th century, the first time as a mustering center by Emperor Lebna Dengel against the invading armies of Ahmad Gragn. After he defeated Lebna Dengel at the Battle of Amba Sel, Ahmad gathered his troops there twice, at the second time making his famous claim to his followers that "Abyssinia is conquered!" then led them into the highland provinces of Tigray, Begemder, and Gojjam.³ Dawit II or David II, better known by his throne name Lebna Dengel (1501 - September 2, 1540) was negus (1508 - 1540) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Tigray region. ... Begemder was a province in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Gondar. ... Gojjam, or Gojam, was a province in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debra Markos. ...

The village returned to importance in the reign of Asfa Wasan (1775-1808), Meridazmach of Shewa, who built a palace in Debre Berhan, and divided his time amongst this town, Ankober and Angolalla.⁴ The succeeding Meridazmaches prized Debre Berhan as a hunting lodge for its surrounding plains, and used it as a riding place.⁵ His son Sahle Selassie rebuilt Debre Berhan after it had been raveged in Oromo raiding, and built a church dedicated to the Trinity in this capital.⁶ List of Rulers of Shewa (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) See also Ethiopia Lists of incumbents ... The Oromo are an African ethnic group found in Ethiopia and to a lesser extent Kenya. ... The Trinity is God, according to the teaching of the churches which represent the majority of Christians. ...

Local economy

Debre Berhan is a famed center of rug making. Rug-making is an ancient craft, and covers a variety of techniques. ...

Landmarks

Despite its historical importance, none of the buildings Zara Yaqob built exist today, and no obvious 19th century construction is visible. The present church, although located on the site of the 15th century church, was built in 1906 at the orders of Emperor Menelik II. Menelik II (August 17, 1844 - December 12, 1913), Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia was negus negust (emperor) of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ...

Notes

1. Richard R.K. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Towns: From the Middle Ages to the Early Nineteenth Century (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), p. 37
2. Pankhurst, Ethiopian Towns, p. 41
3. Pankhurst, Ethiopian Towns, p. 40
4. Pankhurst, Ethiopian Towns, pp. 188f
5. Pankhurst, Ethiopian Towns, p. 280
6. Pankhurst, Ethiopian Towns, p. 190