Gebre Mesqel Lalibela
Gebra Maskal Lalibela ( äthiop. ገብረ መስቀል ላሊበላ, even simply " Lalibela ", ላሊበላ ) was Negest Negus ( Emperor ) of Ethiopia and a member of the Zagwe Dynasty. He is revered as a saint of the Ethiopian Church. According Taddesse Tamrat, he was the son of Jan and brother of Seyum Kedus Harbe. According to tradition, his reign lasted 40 years. Getachew Makonnen Hasen reported that this is the period from 1189 to 1229. This emperor is known for its rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, which he either built themselves or were in order.
Lalibela (later renamed in his honor in Lalibela ) either born in or Adefa Roha in Bugna. One, according to tradition, he went due to the enmity with his uncle Tatadim and his brother, King Kedus Harbe, into exile. His half-sister is said to have almost killed him by poison. Since Lalibela came to the lifetime of his brother to power, believes Taddesse Tamrat that this succeeded by force of arms.
Today, there are no reports on the construction of its 11 rock-hewn churches in Lalibela. The resulting later hagiography of the king, Gadla Lalibela, indicates that he himself carved these churches from the stone and was merely supported by angels.
About his main queen, Masqal Kibra know quite a bit. She moved Abuna Mikael to appoint her brother Hirun bishop. A few years later left the Abuna Ethiopia, went to Egypt and complained that Hirun had obtained his office illegally. According to another tradition, they convinced the King Lalibela in favor of his nephew Na'akueto La'ab cede; However, after 18 months of bad rule, she asked Lalibela to return to the throne. Taddesse Tamrat believed that the end of the reign of Lalibela, in reality, not so friendly designed. He believes that this tradition is to cover a short period in which Na'akueto La'ab seized power in itself. Whose reign was ended by Lalibela's son Yetbarak. The construction of the rock-hewn churches, Bet Aba Libanus, was given as a memorial to Lalibela after his death by Masqal Kibra in order.
In contrast to the other Zagwe kings, a considerable proportion is preserved documents about his rule, including the Gadla Lalibela. Around 1210 attended an embassy of the Patriarch of Alexandria and his court left a report on him, Na'akueto La'ab and Yetbarak. The Italian scholar Carlo Conti Rossini has published several of the remaining from his reign received land grants.