Representations of the History of Beta ʾƎsrāʾel (Ethiopian Jews) in the Royal Chronicle of King Śarḍa Dǝngǝl (r.1563‒1597): Censorship, a Philological and Historical Commentary

The Ethiopic chronicle of Śarḍa Dǝngǝl contains a detailed historical account of the military campaigns of the King to subdue and convert the Beta ʾƎsrāʾel to Christianity. Two accounts of the second military campaign have been transmitted in different manuscripts. In one of them, the Beta ʾƎsrāʾel devotion to their faith and their strong resistance are shown with certain sympathy. The other shows no appreciation for the Beta ʾƎsrāʾel, who are portrayed as cowardly enemies of St Mary. I compare selected passages from the two accounts, suggesting an explanation as to how and why the two versions of the story in the chronicle came into being.