Mara Takla Haymanot

Mara Takla Haymanot was Negest Negus ( Emperor ) of Ethiopia and the founder of Zagwe Dynasty. In some king lists his name appears as " Mararah ", other than " Takla Haymanot ".

Mara was born in the province of Lasta, which formed its center of power. He was originally a general under Dil Na'od, whose daughter, Masoba warq, his wife was. Mara overthrew his father from the throne and founded the new dynasty.

The date of his accession is controversial, as there are two distinct traditions with regard to the period of the reign of Zagwe Dynasty. The more common is based on 333 years, while the other shall designate a period of 133 years. The Italian scholar Carlo Conti Rossini accepted the shorter interval, and thus ends up by the recognized end of the dynasty in 1270 Zagwe back reckoning, in 1137 for the beginning of the dynasty. He supports this theory with the occupied correspondence between the Pope Yoannis V. of Alexandria and an unknown Ethiopian king who asked for a new Abuna, because the current was too old. Conti Rossini argues that the real reason is to be sought in the fact that the Abuna was the coup by which Mara Takla Haymanot come to the throne, not tolerated.

His kingdom extended over parts of Lasta, Wag, Tigray and possibly the northern part of Begemder. It was so much smaller than that of the later Solomonic rulers.