Abraham of Makuria
Encyclopedia
Abraham was ruler of the Nubia
n kingdom of Makuria
.
According to Severus of El Ashmunein
, upon the death of king Simon
, Zacharias
the son of king Merkurios
then appointed Abraham, "a valiant youth attached to the palace" to succeed Simon.1 However, Abraham proved to be an unsatisfactory ruler, and refused the advice of his mentor, bishop Kyriakos, and in the end sent him with letters "full of false testimonies" to Patriarch
Michael I
. Patriarch Michael invoked a synod
where king Abraham's accusations were read, and Abraham's plea to replace bishop Kyriakos with his own nominee, a man named John.
Despite the outrageousness of king Abraham's claims the synod acquiesced to his demands, but in response to a miraculous event Kyriakos was permitted to return to Makuria, where he settled in a monastery. Severus claims that for the remaining 24 years of the former bishop's life, no rain fell in Makuria, "every year the people were visited by a pestilence, and that those who bore false witness against him were suddenly struck blind". When he learned what had happened, the former king Zacharias deposed Abraham and exiled him to an island in the middle of the Nile
, replacing him with Markos
.
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
n kingdom of Makuria
Makuria
The Kingdom of Makuria was a kingdom located in what is today Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt. It was one of a group of Nubian kingdoms that emerged during the decline of the Aksumite Empire, which it had been part of from approximately 4BC to AD 950...
.
According to Severus of El Ashmunein
Severus Ibn al-Muqaffa
Severus ibn al-Muqaffaʿ or Severus of El Ashmunein was a Coptic Bishop, author and historian. In Arabic, his name is spelled Sawires ساويرس. Severus is sometimes confused with Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa.He was bishop of Hermopolis Magna , in Upper Egypt, around the end of the tenth century...
, upon the death of king Simon
Simon of Makuria
Simon was ruler of the Nubian kingdom of Makuria.According to Severus of El Ashmunein, Zacharias declined the kingship when his father Merkurios died, and appointed his kinsman Simon to server instead, so he could devote himself to a religious calling.1 After an unspecified period of time Simon...
, Zacharias
Zacharias I of Makuria
Zacharias I was a ruler of the Nubian kingdom of Makuria.According to Severus of El Ashmunein, Zacharias was the son of his predecessor, Merkurios.1 Severus gives the impression that his reign was brief, for he states that "Zacharias did not choose to become king, but occupied himself with the...
the son of king Merkurios
Merkurios of Makuria
Merkurios was ruler of the Nubian kingdom of Makuria. Authorities believe that during his reign Makuria absorbed the Nubian kingdom of Nobatia....
then appointed Abraham, "a valiant youth attached to the palace" to succeed Simon.1 However, Abraham proved to be an unsatisfactory ruler, and refused the advice of his mentor, bishop Kyriakos, and in the end sent him with letters "full of false testimonies" to Patriarch
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
Michael I
Pope Michael of Alexandria
Pope Michael I of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .When Pope Michael was thrown into prison by Abd al-Malik, king Kyriakos of Makuria marched north into Egypt at the head of an army said to number 100,000 men to free the Pope of Alexandria...
. Patriarch Michael invoked a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
where king Abraham's accusations were read, and Abraham's plea to replace bishop Kyriakos with his own nominee, a man named John.
Despite the outrageousness of king Abraham's claims the synod acquiesced to his demands, but in response to a miraculous event Kyriakos was permitted to return to Makuria, where he settled in a monastery. Severus claims that for the remaining 24 years of the former bishop's life, no rain fell in Makuria, "every year the people were visited by a pestilence, and that those who bore false witness against him were suddenly struck blind". When he learned what had happened, the former king Zacharias deposed Abraham and exiled him to an island in the middle of the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
, replacing him with Markos
Markos of Makuria
Markos was ruler of the Nubian kingdom of Makuria. According to Severus of El Ashmunein, Markos ruled for only six months.1Markos was made king by the former king Zacharias after he had deposed Abraham and exiled him to an island in the middle of the Nile...
.