ABSTRACT
But before they could do this they had to remove from their path Za Dengel and Susenyos (Socinios?), the son of ’Abeto Fasiladas, the son of 'Abeto Ya‘kob, the son of Lebna Dengel Wanag Sagad. The conspirators seized Za Dengel and exiled him to the Island of Dak in Lake Sana, but he soon escaped and took refuge in the mountains round about that lake. They then turned their attention to Socinios, a nephew of Malak Sagad, and a cousin of Za Dengel, and the nearest heir male to King Wanag Sagad Socinios was a natural son of Fasiladas, but had inherited his fathers estates, and had fought in his uncle’s wars. Some of his estates had been filched from him, and as Za Dengel and he were close friends as well as cousins, he hoped that these would be re stored to him when Za Dengel became king. Now the boy Ya‘kob (Jacob), whom the conspirators wished to set upon the throne, was the son of Malak Sagad by a secondary wife called ’Emma Bet Haragua, and therefore illegitimate. As it was to the interest of Socinios to sweep this bastard from the throne, and his cousin Za Dengel having been removed, to take his place, the conspirators sent a body of soldiers to seize him and bring him to them. Socinios however suspected what they were going to do, and leaving his estates he removed himself secretly to the south, and soon became a personage among the Galla. He joined his forces to those of Za Dengel, which were considerable, and determined to help his cousin to become king of Abyssinia. Meanwhile the conspirators had seated Ya‘kob, an illegitimate son of Malak Sagad, on the throne.
