Kingdom of Simien
The Kingdom of Simien (Hebrew: ממלכת סאמיאן), sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of Beta Israel (ממלכת ביתא ישראל), refers to a probably legendary Jewish kingdom said to have been located in the northwestern part of the Ethiopian Empire. The existence of such a kingdom somewhere in the Horn of Africa was first mentioned by the traveller Benjamin of Tudela in the 12th century CE.
Kingdom of Simien ממלכת סאמיאן | |||||||||
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Map of Jewish settlements in Ethiopia | |||||||||
| Status | Jewish kingdom Sovereign Kingdom (350-351)
Axumite Territory (351-960) Reestablished (960-1329) Vassal State of the Ethiopian Empire 1329-1625 | ||||||||
| Location | Semien Mountains and Semien Province | ||||||||
| Capital | Amba Yehouda | ||||||||
| Common languages | Ge'ez, Kayla, Qwara, Amharic | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Ethiopian Beta Israel | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 350 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 351 (Reestablished in 960 until invaded again in 1329 by Ethiopia and annexed in 1625) | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Ethiopia | ||||||||
A late Ethiopian-Jewish legend dates the establishment of a Kingdom of Simien to the 4th century CE, right after the Kingdom of Aksum turned to Christianity during the reign of Ezana. The existence of such a nation plays a significant role in the modern traditions of the Beta Israel.